Vannes-ASBH: defense and iron and identity character, Béziers knows where he will set foot on Friday in the semi-final

Vendredi, les Biterrois savent qu’ils auront face à eux la meilleure défense de Pro D2. MAXPPP – BRUNO PERREL

Hôte des Biterrois vendredi en demi-finale de play-offs, le club breton se distingue par une attaque prolifique (100 essais marqués) qui cache une solidité défensive de qualité. Attention, danger pour l'ASBH.

L’ASBH has been notified. Friday evening, the atmosphere will be hostile. "Here, here, it’s the Rabine!", sing the Breton supporters in chorus at each match, packed like sardines in an enclosure of 11,800 seats and taking pride in having the best attendance in Pro D2 this season.

Welcome to Vannes, land of football and cycling, determined to root its name on the rugby map. To tell the truth, the Vannes Rugby Club (RCV) has no longer been unknown for less than a decade. For the record, in 2017 it became the first Breton club to evolve at the professional level thanks to its rise to Pro D2, triggering a new hype on the banks of Morbihan. Since then, enthusiasm has never waned and ambitions have been continually raised, so much so that today, Vannes is openly aiming for Nirvana in the Top 14.

To do this, we will have to walk on the stomach of the Biterrois. In front of their public and in view of their second place in the regular season, the Bretons are favored by the forecasts. Better, they haven't lost to ASBH since 2018 and gave them a beating (45-17) during their last reunion.

Songs, flags, signage, everything characterizes the Breton spirit

The figures say it all about the ambient euphoria surrounding its accession semi-final, its fourth experience in the play-offs in the space of six years. Third best attack in the championship with 100 tries and 10 offensive bonuses registered, the RCV, a small club of diehards, is distinguished above all by an iron rearguard (only 50 tries conceded), a beautiful allegory of the cause of identity for the defense of their territory.

Besides here, at La Rabine, the visitor knows from the outset where he is setting foot: songs, flags, signage, everything characterizes the Breton spirit, a morning of morals British. Thus, we do not whistle at the opposing scorer, we do not throw a cup at the referee, and yet, we claim to be one of the most fervent audiences. 

Same story on the ground. If the club does not display high-sounding names, it does however present a dynamic, playful and devilishly effective game, like the start of the season when Vannes remained undefeated in the first nine matches with eight victories and one draw.

And guess who resisted him the best during the period ? Béziers, obviously, on the occasion of a sharing of points (20-20, 5th day), blow of ;rsquo;symbolic send-off of the ASBH season. "For us, this is where it all began", testifies manager Pierre Caillet. Enough to foment a "Aqui es Besièrs" in the heart of the battle…