“I prefer to insist on these phases today”: for the moment, the MHR prioritizes defense over attack

Sam Simmonds and the Montpellier team worked on the ground game this week. Midi Libre – DORIAN CAYUELA

Before the trip to Bayonne this Saturday, September 28, the MHR focused on different offensive sectors this week.

In the informal duel between Benoît Paillaugue, in charge of the attack, and Geoffrey Doumayrou, head of the defense, the latter takes the advantage. In defense of the former scrum-half, the staff led by Joan Caudullo has made defense and conquest its top priorities for this start of the season. “I prefer to focus on these phases today. I remain convinced that if we are good at this, we will not be in the last”, assures the Montpellier manager, two days before the trip to Bayonne, a team just as fragile.

The figures confirm the postulate desired by the staff. With 53 points conceded in three matches, the MHR is the best defense in the Top 14. But at the same time, with 59 points scored, it is the penultimate attack in the championship.

The offensive performance against Toulouse revealed the shortcomings of this team when it carries the ball, even more so in the face of what is the best in France. 1 crossing (giving him a try) and 22 lost balls, two figures relating to the amorphous Hérault attack against the Red and Black.

We worked a lot on offensive rucks

One of the main explanations: the crazy weather lost in ruck zones.“We worked a lot on the attacking rucks. To be able to play rugby, you need fast rucks to create space in the opposing defence. We worked a lot on that Monday and Tuesday”, assures Caudullo. “If you start from a slow ruck and you want to play your duel, you face a repositioned defence”, adds fullback Julien Tisseron. Consequence: the forwards do not play in the forward movement, are forced to start again on a set phase, and the three-quarters struggle to create an extra number.

Defense above all

And in this case, there may be a lack of an X factor to restart the machine. “Behind, we do not have super solid sizes. On the first two or three phases, if we do not advance, it is more complicated”, analyzes Tisseron. The absence of a Jan Serfontein in the center of the field, to try to break the opposing line, is felt.

The return of a Paul Willemse, the rise of Stuart Hogg and Madosh Tambwe, a team in the process of finding its bearings… Some signs show that improvements are coming. But the credo does not change. Not yet. "Last season's top six had the best defenses. I'm not saying we're not going to play rugby, but we need to focus on that. Benoît Paillaugue's work is great, but I prefer to prioritize defense and conquest", insists Caudullo. And to try shots away, like the next two days in Bayonne and Stade Français, these two elements can be enough. The time for flights, even if a desire to move the ball more is advocated, will have to wait.

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