Pro D2: in Béziers, fifteen-a-side rugby is mainly played at forty

Les avants de Béziers (ici Youssef Amrouni) à l'image d'un groupe biterrois qui avance de concert. MAXPPP

In Colomiers where they won (19-23) Thursday January 11, the Biterrois once again played a perfect match. With, on the match sheet, players who are not all usually starters. Proof that ASBH can count on all its elements.

This Friday, January 12, on the side of the ASBH, and even its supporters, some had a slightly more difficult awakening than at the # 39;usual… They celebrated as they should the victory at Colomiers (19-23), a sixth success in a row for Béziers, with a third half having lasted early in the… morning! This away victory, against an opponent who had not yet bitten the dust at home, should be worth gold when the time comes to do so. the accounts.

The Béziers camp, which now occupies 3rd place in the ranking, tied on points with Provence Rugby, the 2nd, but only one length behind Vannes, the leader (beaten 24 -10 in Valence Romans, this Friday January 12), is more than ever one of the serious contenders for the final sprint of Pro D2.

A group of more than 40 players

Especially since in this game at Colomiers, ASBH proved once again that it can count on its entire squad. Even when there is movement and changes in the ranks, the team maintains its level of play. This Thursday, on the Columérin meadow, Australian scrum half Mitch Short started , Samuel Marques being on the bench. Ditto for Victor Dreuille who tended to be a substitute lately. This time he attacked the match from the back. And just like Short, he fulfilled his contract perfectly. A situation not without interest. There are fourteen days left to go and the journey will still be strewn with pitfalls: "We know, of course, that we will certainly have difficult moments, as was, for example, the case at the start of the season , confirms Benjamin Bagate, the sports director of ASBH. We can count on a group of more than 40 players and that's very good. In fact, when there are changes, the mindset remains the same. As I often say, it is the fruit of all the work accomplished by Pierre Caillet who shaped this team in his image. We do not neglect anyone in the workforce. Those who are out of the group on match day understand this very well. As long as the decisions are fair and explained, there is no reason why they should not understand it. This group effect is important. Knowing that it is different from what I have known until now. The players may well "challenge" all the time, they have character, they are interested in everything, show intelligence."

All on the same wavelength

Enough to move forward quickly and without complexes, everyone in the workforce being on the same wavelength. This creates, moreover, a whole movement behind the team. More and more supporters are following the club. There were almost 6,000 of them when Aurillac came to the Raoul-Barrière stadium on January 5 and nearly 400 people made the trip to Colomiers: "I think that people recognize themselves in this team because it never gives up, has values ​​and takes pleasure in giving them, analyzes, delights, Benjamin Bagate. A communion is created with this demanding public."

"A long and difficult championship"

Thursday January 18, Béziers will host Provence Rugby, one of the big players in the championship which crushed Dax (54-26) this weekend. In the process, on Friday January 26, it's Agen, dominated 46-13 at Mont-de-Marsan, who will arrive at the Raoul-Barrière stadium. Enough to conclude a particularly crucial month of games, before heading to Montauban (February 9), after a weekend break: "This championship is very long and difficult, insists the sports director. We know that every match is a challenge. This is why even if we are confident, we never come out on top."

One of the recipes for happiness in Béziers, where rugby union is played at forty players.