Q: Did your week of rest do you good before returning to La Rochelle?
A: "It felt good to be able to cut. We hadn't been able to since the end of the Tournament because there were deadlines here too. So it felt good. We know what's at stake in this match. has no more jokers now: we are not in a very good position in terms of points in the standings, especially since La Rochelle is a direct competitor.
Q: Exactly, it's a decisive match, against your opponent from the last Top 14 and European Cup finals...
A: "They are currently in a better dynamic than us. They had a slightly more complicated start to the season but, for the past few months, they have been coming back very strongly with performances against strong teams, like in the triple confrontation against Bordeaux-Bègles which they led very well. It's a team which is very much in place, which is confident, which is in contention on both counts so it will come here to achieve a result, obviously, and also to prepare its final stages of the European Cup."
The 3rd line of La Rochelle Grégory Alldritt is about to score a try against Bordeaux-Bègles, during their round of 16 second leg of the European Cup, on April 16, 2022 at the Stade Marcel-Flandreau XAVIER LEOTY AFP / Archives
Q: You really don't have the right to make mistakes anymore.
A: "We still have the cards in hand, our destiny depends on us: we have three matches to play, three matches to win. If we can. Even if we go through a barrage, which we had managed to avoid. previous years, once we are in the final stages, we know that everything can be decided. That's why we train all season. There is no more pressure than that, we have just want to taste that flavor again in June. (Being eliminated, editor's note) it would be a blow for everyone. A lot of teams also want to take us out, that's the game. But that's for sure that's hard to imagine for us."
Statements taken at a press conference
© 2022 AFP