In Paris La Défense Arena,
A surreal press conference.
Before the official announcement of the postponement of the Racing 92-Stade Français Paris match, Laurent Travers, the Ile-de-France manager, spoke to the media.
Unable to officially comment on a decision, which should be known shortly.
After the Champions Cup quarter-final last Sunday, two frontline players from Union Bordeaux-Bègles tested positive for the British variant of Covid-19.
De facto, Racing 92 players are therefore contact cases.
As a precaution, the National Rugby League will therefore postpone the Ile-de-France derby.
The Racingmen were therefore placed in solitary confinement.
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“Our preparation was disrupted by the announcement of positive cases in Bordeaux.
As it was our opponent last weekend, we find ourselves in a delicate situation.
We will have tests done on Saturday morning and Monday morning.
From Tuesday, we will be able to re-train normally if everyone is negative ”, explained the manager of Racing 92. And to add:“ It’s one more puzzle.
We will have to play another weekend, where we might have put players on leave.
This week, we worked and behind, it was perhaps planned a different schedule. "
“We are all subject to the same boat, it's been like that since the start of the season. It's not even adaptation anymore, it's innovation ”
Laurent Travers
The Altoséquanese technician confides: “We will have to be able, once again, to adapt.
We are all subject to the same boat, it's been like that since the start of the season.
It's not even adaptation anymore, it's innovation.
Adaptation is often linked to something you have already experienced.
There, the Covid is something new for everyone.
And we are constantly innovating… (…) We have to have concerns.
It depends on the variants, there are a lot of things that come into play.
We apply what the medical commission (of the League) decides.
Everyone is doing their best. "
For the first time, a Top 14 match will be postponed because of players who are contact cases, while there are no proven positive cases.
“It has to do with the fact that the cases concern frontline players.
These are players who are often in scrum, often in contact.
We would reason differently depending on the positions.
There, these are positions exposed in terms of contact.
I think it's more serious, ”concludes Laurent Travers.
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