“
It's back to school. We have the beautiful clothes, the beautiful satchel and we are going to make a great comeback. What is nice is to find the public and the enthusiasm around the stadiums.
Laurent Travers, Racing 92 manager, is eager for the new season to begin. History to evacuate the real marathon of the last exercise, disappointing in terms of results. “
We are coming out of a very long, very trying season. We made a European Cup final
(lost in October against Exeter, after the postponement of the 2019-2020 season),
another European Cup quarter-final
(defeat at Bordeaux-Bègles)
and a semi-final Top 14
(loss against Stade Rochelais)
,
recalls manager Laurent Travers
.
It was a busy season.
She was good, what would have been good was that she was very good.
"
To discover
The schedule for the new season of Top 14
Read also: Burning recovery for the Top 14
The problem is that the Ciel et Blancs ended their season on a real road trip, a major misfire, against Stade Rochelais (19-9) in the semi-final of the Top 14 in Lille. “
We want to show a whole different face than the one shown in the semi-final against La Rochelle. We took a nice jerk off,
strikes hooker Camille Chat, back from injury.
We were touched mentally and physically. We are lucky to be able to put on a new face.
“Especially since this disillusionment arose a week after a recital, in a barrage, against the neighbor and rival of Stade Français Paris (38-21). Roller coaster ... "
After the quarter-final
(against the Parisians)
, everyone said that we had been conquerors.
A week later, it was the opposite effect
(against the Rochelais)
.
We will have to be more constant in the positive,
recognizes Laurent Travers.
I hope that the players will be able to show their talent on several high level meetings.
"
Only one arrival, that of Baptiste Pesenti
This summer, the Hauts-de-Seine club did not splurge on the transfer market. Just one finish, that of the second international line Baptiste Pesenti (24 years old, 4 selections), from the Section Paloise. With several departures of experienced elements within the pack, including second lines Dominic Bird and Donnacha Ryan and number 8 Antonie Claassen. “
The salary cap must fall over the next three years. Either you make the wages go down or you take out one or two players. In some positions, instead of two players, there is only one. It is a desired choice, we will see for the future
”, justifies Laurent Travers.
Long cataloged as a club of mercenaries, Racing 92 now gives pride of place to local young people. Prancing at the top of the number of Jiffs (players from training courses) lined up per match. A choice defended by the manager of Ciel et Blanc: “
This group of young people will mature. The house knows well all that is "wines"
(the president Jacky Lorenzetti owns vineyards, editor's note)
. We will ensure that this cuvée matures and is more than good.
"The young opener Antoine Gibert (23) continues:"
We've been among the best training centers for a few years now and leading the Jiffs.
I have never felt this mercenary side.
Young people are asserting themselves and taking a little power in the midst of the "old" and the stars who are arriving.
We must continue to prove it on the ground.
"
Being insulted and being bullied, it will put a little pressure on us, it will be good!
Antoine Gibert
"
Perhaps we have abused the youth,
" nevertheless acknowledged President Lorenzetti at the end of the last exercise. But the Altoséquanais leader insists: “
We will look, we will perhaps be more selective, more demanding. But youth will remain our DNA.
No revolution, therefore, on the side of Plessis-Robinson. But the young guard must be the rind, gain in aggressiveness and vice.
In addition to the arrival of the rough Baptiste Pesenti, that of Didier Casadéi - former frontline teammate of Laurent Travers in Brive, European champion in 1997 - goes in this direction.
The former CAB coach is expected to toughen up the Ile-de-France pack.
The Ile-de-France manager confides: “
We played for many years together and we have always exchanged.
I know his values, his state of mind.
But we haven't revolutionized anything compared to the work that was done before.
But it brings a different approach and discourse.
It's a bit of a novelty.
"
Read alsoTop 14: international referee Romain Poite deciphers the new rules
First elements of response, Saturday, for a derby against rival Stade Français. With the return of the public to Jean-Bouin. “
We played too long in silence. We're not going to complain if we don't get along now,
smiles Camille Chat.
We can't wait to hear the audience yelling behind us.
Even in a hostile context? This is not to displease Antoine Gibert: “
Being insulted and being bullied, it will put a little pressure on us, it will be good!
This return to almost normalcy was expected of all. "
I hope that with good weather we will still smell the belly and the grilled merguez
", salivates Laurent Travers.
