Faced with Provence Rugby, we must “expect a war”, assures Sylvain Charlet, coach of the Béziers forwards

Sylvain Charlet s'attend à un match particulièrement âpre. Laurent François – Midi Libre

Sylvain Charlet, coach of the Béziers forwards, ensures that his players are ready to face a very strong Provence rugby team which arrives Thursday January 18 (9 p.m.) at the Raoul-Barrière stadium.

Isn't there a particular pressure to play this match against Provence Rugby, the second ?

We are receiving a great team from Aix, as we have received from other very successful training courses. We meet the second, there is, of course, something to do, but we have to take this match as it comes. At the risk of putting additional pressure on yourself that doesn't need to be there. We have to be sure of what we are doing, of the game that we are proposing, of the confidence that we have in ourselves, at the moment, of the consecutive matches that we have won. Let's keep that, let's take care of ourselves before taking care of others.

How to keep players grounded ?

We don't tell them anything in particular. They know it very well. They have confidence in themselves. Everything they have in their hands, they went and got it. They just need to keep that, believe in themselves and the match will go very well.

What objective was set for the players, first place?

Everyone sets personal goals. I hope and wish that every player thinks big, beyond what we offer today. A competitor always wants better. We want first place too. When you are a top athlete, you look further, towards what you want tomorrow.

Hence the importance of this match, no ?

Indeed. We must not forget that it will be a big match, one of the big posters of Pro D2. We deserved what we got. In addition we will be supported by a large number of people. The sixteenth man will count a lot.

What type of match do you expect ?

We expect a war. Aix had a big disappointment against Grenoble and we are on a good run. If they want to do something, they have to come and take points from us in order to stay stuck in the first two places.

What are the strengths of this team ?

It's a team that's a lot like us. In conquest, we are pretty much the same. It's a copy and paste from Béziers. I don't know if there will be big flights. But we can expect a tough match up front, with two good defenses. 

How are the players ?

I feel them very well. They know what awaits them and what is at stake in this match.