“There is a new energy in this club”, “The mission is not finished”: reactions after Oyonnax – MHR

Patrice Collazo presented himself at a press conference after the MHR victory in Oyonnax. Midi Libre – SYLVIE CAMBON

Lenni Nouchi, Auguste Cadot, Patrice Collazo and Joe El Abd presented themselves at a press conference this Saturday March 2, a few minutes after the MHR victory in Oyonnax (35-39).

Montpellier

Lenni Nouchi, third line and captain of Montpellier : "That's three wins in a row. It feels good because we work hard. The players, we never gave up, we worked hand in hand to raise our heads. The first part of the season was very difficult mentally and physically, we had less and less fun and there is a new energy in this club. It's up to us to continue like this, and it will work itself out.

I was very sad in Perpignan (9th day, eighth consecutive defeat for the MHR), it affected me as a competitor. It weighed on us in everyday life. We were able to bounce back individually and collectively to finally smile at the end of the matches and that’s nice. Three captaincies, three victories, we are on a good stat’ (laughs). The hat-trick ? I was a little lucky especially, with this fallen ball that I picked up (on the third try). It’s also a great stat’ which is a pleasure."

Auguste Cadot, center of Montpellier : "The essentials are assured. It wasn't easy but when you have a victory, it's always nice. We sent each other 200%. We were efficient in their camp, we scored every time we entered their camp. When you're not chasing the score, it's easier to manage the match. Even if we would have liked a calmer end to the match. It's small mistakes that leave them in the match, we have to work on that, so as not to miss anything.

Getting out of the relegation zone counts mentally, that’s obvious. We will have to continue to win, which we validate at home to move away from this zone which is very mentally heavy. Even if we didn't play our best rugby, the defense won. We did not approach it as the match of fear, this match smiled on us, there is a little relief. In the standings, we continue to look ahead, the goal is to move as far away as possible from this red zone. We'll see match by match."

𝐎𝐡 𝐩é𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐝 ! Que ce fut rude mais ils l’ont fait ! ➕4️⃣#TeamMHR #OYMHR pic.twitter.com/OrL4Cfkr9G

— Montpellier Rugby (@MHR_officiel) March 2, 2024

Patrice Collazo, manager of MHR: "We had to win, we won. In a not easy context. Oyonnax had targeted this match, so did we in relation to the first leg. We weakened the situation by making a lot of slag. It put them back in the excitement, in the progress.

Beyond efficiency, we performed in terms of touch, conquest, defense, with a dense and solid front line. We also demonstrated pragmatism in the brand zone. But we make some mistakes. I've never seen a three-way strike. It was complicated to leave Oyonnax at bay and we know the fierceness they put into the fight.

To get an away bonus, you should not take 35 points. Our dross has turned against us every time. In the second half, we regain our distance but we leave them there. We know their state of mind, we knew that they were not going to give up. 

You don't score 40 points just by doing touches and scrums. We played forward, we put them under pressure by carrying the ball, particularly upwind. It’s positive for the team, the club. Maybe we'll have a position we haven't had in a while. We must pay tribute to the players. They gave themselves the means to achieve this performance.

The mission is underway but the mission is not finished. The championship does not end tonight. There is another important reception from Bordeaux next weekend. We encourage players not to just aim for 13th place. We won't be able to flirt with the line. We know that above all, at times, we play more against ourselves. The main adversary, often, is ourselves."

Oyonnax

Joe El Abd, manager of Oyonnax : "There are reasons to believe it. We saw a team that was going to fight until the end. We saw it this afternoon in a tough match from the start. The guys never gave up. There are nine matches left and we will never give up. It’s difficult tonight. But our state of mind, the things that guys show…hellip; Everyone saw a great show, like the Top 14. It was something exceptional. There are reasons to believe it."