Offensive ineffectiveness, outdated defense, chronic instability: new observation of failure at the CAB

Ah the famous expected points dear to coach Fabien Galthié, present in Maurice-David’s bays… If we take into account this data provided by AiA Sports, CAB should have won 31-17 against Provence Rugby given the 61% possession, 74% occupancy, per 6 minutes 24 passes in the opposing 22 (compared to 50 seconds for Aix!). Yes, but the reality on the ground is quite different. The Brivists systematically came up against the Provençal defensive curtain, unable to create gaps despite their territorial domination. Conversely, each Provencal incursion highlighted Corrèze’s defensive deficiencies. “We didn’t score despite several opportunities in front of their line, regretted the second line and captain Anthony Coletta. Mentally, you lose part of the fight. And then, on their attacks, they score too easily. This shows their superiority. This is what quickly made the difference in this match. If we calculate all the energy spent to score and the energy they spent to score… it makes the difference. Then, when you go back to defense, you are inevitably more tired. We pay him cash.”

So apart from the fatigue gained in attack, how can we explain these defensive deficiencies? Response from manager Pierre-Henry Broncan: “First, there is a very good attack in front. Then, Saïd (Hirèche) is a young coach. We had the best defense coach in Brive last season (Joe Worsley), we finished best defense in the championship. Saïd will be a very good coach. Today, going from player to coach is always difficult. It’s a learning process for him too. If you want to win this championship, the two main weapons are defense and conquest, when you have that, you’re not far from winning… Unfortunately, we didn’t have that and they were better than us in these areas.

Stable cattle!

The departure of Joe Worsley wonderfully illustrates the lack of stability within the Corrèze club for several seasons now and the departure of Jeremy Davidson in 2022. A chronic instability which does not allow the CAB to turn a corner. “There is a feeling of waste… The season would have been different if it had been managed differently.”railed Coletta joined by her manager. “The waste is this lack of stability in the club. I arrived in December 2023, and we were looking for a qualification in the last match. The following year, we qualified in the direct semi. So, yes, we lost it, but you don’t arrive like That in the semi-final. Building on it would have been beneficial to the team. Instead, I came back in December, a bit like my first year, it sucked. I hope the club has learned too, at least tonight.” A lucid observation.

“When you don’t win, you go back to work, you try to analyze why you’re not winning. It’s too easy to dismiss guys overnight.” While Broncan will soon take the reins of the Georgian selection, he wanted to leave a message to his successor: “Sportingly, I wish Greg Patat a lot of success, but also a lot of stability.” It now remains to be seen whether this call for stability will finally be followed by effects at the CAB.