IThey were born in La Rochelle, two generations of Bleuets leaders, under-20 world champions and among France’s greatest potential in the 3rd tier. However, Matthias Haddad-Victor, 23, and Oscar Jegou, two years his junior, will only face Stade Français this Saturday (21:05). Blame the former’s physical problems last season and the latter’s out-of-sport problems, four months after his selection with the Blues and after a rape complaint against Hugo Auradou in Argentina – he is awaiting examination. application for dismissal -, will continue his career.
Their joint participation is not insignificant for the group. Without Levani Botia (forearm) for months, affected by minor injuries to Haddad-Victor and the versatile Ultan Dillane, La Rochelle’s third line did little and varied in profile. The powerful Grégory Alldritt and Paul Boudehent (selected for the November tests) already have 466 and 509 minutes, compared to 483 for Judicaël Cancoriet, who is suspended for the next four matches. Only No. 2 Kane Douglas and hopeful Edouard Richer replaced them. What to create tiredness was palpable in the damp place and the extremely brave Montpellier on October 26 (16-0).
The first ended up short
These conditions would not have favored them, but the absence of these two breakout players was conspicuous. Facing a tight MHR and furiously defending his survival and purpose, Rochelais knocked on the door without knocking. A memory of the first 24 days of last season. However, Haddad-Victor and Jegou started the 25th race in Toulouse. If the experiment was shortened, due to the premature knockout of the “MHV”, the caravel would have found a certain speed in the wake of its younger brother. This was confirmed in the play-off in Toulon (29-34) and gave the 1.90m, 90kg winger a notable lead against the Pumas (13-28).
“They bring speed with a good rugby IQ and ability to read gaps”
With Anten Dillane, La Rochelle’s third line will have a new face against Yoan Tanga’s Parisians. “It’s going to be a fight in the corridors or in the first act before you think about the game before the restart,” says Brice Dulin. Without speed, we will have very little space, it will be difficult to move or maneuver around them. But these are players whose instincts can help make the difference. » Will Skelton adds: “They bring speed with good rugby IQ and an ability to read gaps.” While they are very strong in defense, they know where to put their heads and what they can do with the ball. »
Dulin believes that “Oscar is first and foremost a 3rd row who sticks to the ball, always supports and does not have the lungs to compensate for the inactivity of some.” “From the beginning of the season, the others have shown their qualities. But above all, we are looking forward to everyone being able to ‘adapt’ to be able to combine different profiles depending on the compositions and the game we want to play”, analyzes Rémi Talès, who is responsible for three quarters of the seafaring. We will probably have to wait another month for that.