Each in turn ... While the neighbors of Racing 92 have just been hit by a wave of Covid contamination (nine cases), the Stade Français Paris, for its part, recently saw the end of the tunnel after being heavily affected at the start of season.
On the ground, the two clubs of Ile-de-France are in diametrically opposed situations.
The Ciel et Blanc have, Saturday in the semi-final of the Champions Cup against the Saracens, played their sixth game of the season (two in friendly, two in Top 14, two in the European Cup).
The "Pink Soldiers", for their part, were deprived of preseason friendlies, they saw their first Top 14 meeting against Bordeaux-Bègles postponed and, on Saturday, they will therefore only play their second match since the resumption of rugby. , facing Bayonne.
On the occasion of the second day, the players of Gonzalo Quesada had hit hard by winning with the manner in Castres (16-22).
“We spent a month without being able to train collectively and properly.
It disturbed us, recognized this week Julien Arias, the coach of three-quarters of Paris.
Afterwards, we were lucky that things went well in the first game.
But this is not a guarantee of certainty for the following matches.
The Covid episode, the victory in Castres, is behind us… ”
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Saturday, the Stade Français will find its enclosure of Jean-Bouin, for the first time since February 15 and a success against La Rochelle (21-20).
But only in front of 1,000 people.
“An empty stadium, it's weird, regrets the international center Gaël Fickou.
This had never happened to me but we will have to disregard all that: we are getting ready to play.
And to win, above all. ”
And to continue: “We had 15 days to prepare, it allowed us to review our systems, to insist, to go into details.
There, we will chain seven matches in a row.
It may have been beneficial to us not to have resumed right away, even if the frustration was present because of this long time without playing. "
"We know that we will have good days, more difficult days"
Julien Arias
While we could fear a lack of rhythm and intensity for their recovery in Castres, the Parisians had dominated the Tarnais, in the game and in the desire.
“We are very happy, for those who had the chance to play in Castres, to be able to find the field.
We've been waiting for this for seven months, says hooker Laurent Panis.
We do this sport, we are here for that.
This is something that was sorely missed.
We can't wait to play again at home, it's been a long time since we could do it. "
Above all, it will be necessary to confirm after the brilliant success against CO.
"We try to progress in our state of mind, in our game. We know that we will have good days, more difficult days," warns Julien Arias, however.
Bayonne brought down Clermont
No room for error, therefore, against Aviron Bayonnais who managed to bring down Clermont (21-19) on the second day.
“The tests are there every weekend.
We started well in Castres, it's up to us to continue our progress, continues Julien Arias.
Every weekend, all counters are reset.
There is excitement, we are ready after 15 days of preparation.
But there is great humility to be had in this Top 14. "
Especially after the disillusionment of last season, stopped when the Stade Français was last.
No question of igniting for the Parisians.
“Bayonne is a team that never gives up.
It's going to be a complicated game, ”warns second row Paul Gabrillagues.
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