Rugby – Pro D2 / Manny Edmonds, future three-quarter coach of SU Agen: « This team has a lot of potential »

Oyonnax has just lost at home to Provence Rugby (16-20). Is it a blow for a direct qualification in the semi-finals?

Provence Rugby deserved their victory, they were much more aggressive than us. Especially in the first half. We couldn’t come back to second. It’s a real shame for us because after Bayonne’s defeat at Carcassonne on Thursday we thought we were going to be able to get this second place. It’s a little more complicated now. We’re going to have a slightly longer road.

We imagine that for your last season in Ain you are keen to bring the club back to the Top 14?

That has been the goal since my arrival four years ago. We always answered present, but we never went further than a semi-final. We hope that this time we will be able to do it even if we complicated the task by losing on Friday evening.

Which team made the best impression on you in this Pro D2?

Mont-de-Marsan, largely. The arrival of Du Plessis did them good. They lacked a professional ten last season. They have targeted their recruitment well. They are a very clean team who know exactly how they want to play. It doesn’t matter if it’s home or away, it’s the same thing.

You will be the coach of the ¾ of the SUA next season. It was Bernard Goutta who contacted you?

Yes, we have known each other for a very long time. We were players together in Perpignan. When he left to train in Colomiers, I was in Béziers. We were not far from coming together to work together. Then he went to Clermont and I to Toulon.

How did you experience the season at the Agenais club?

It was complicated in the sense that the players were in a very difficult mental position with thirty-five games without a win. You come down from Top 14 and you chain seven defeats, I think we had never seen that in Pro D2. Bernard (Goutta) then arrived, but even before that Sylvain (Mirande) and David (Ortiz) did a good job. The group reacted after the departure of Régis Sonnes. Bernard brought a little more management, leadership. This is his strong point. I know him well since he was my captain when we were at USAP. He brought that side. From January they had a very decent season. It’s a team with a lot of potential. We saw when they came to Oyonnax that they had very good youngsters. We need to rebuild with these good young people while keeping the good elements of the current team.

You mentioned potential. The objective will be to play the qualification?

With the group we have, we are capable of doing good things. But it’s not up to me to set the club’s goals. My job at the moment is to bring in some good players to increase the level, at least in depth, by three-quarters.

Precisely, the names of Théo Belan and Baptise Lafond have been mentioned. Are these players that we could find next season?

We are in contact with several players. For the moment nothing is done…

What positions are targeted?

We are looking at the center, indeed. We are also looking for a winger and we will see if we can also project ourselves into the position of scrum half.

Paul Graou is leaving, what about Théo Idjellidaine who was on loan and who belongs to Stade Toulousain?

Normally he will be with us.

As a former opening half, a word on Raphaël Lagarde’s extension?

I spoke with him a few weeks ago, it was also my wish that he stay. I think our best recruitment is to retain most of our players. He still has the qualities to play in Pro D2. Beyond that, he wants to help the two youngsters, Thomas Vincent and Émile Dayral, progress. We have a very good training center with very good young people. If we can keep a few experienced players to help the youngsters get on. I am for. We did exactly the same thing here in Oyonnax. I stayed there for four years and the young people who were starting to rub shoulders with the Pro D2 at the time are today’s starters. And they are very good rugby players. Why not use these young people if they have qualities? The club wants to rebuild, the best way to do that is with these young people. With Dayral and Vincent, we have two very good number ten.

Last question, when will you arrive in Agen?

It’s a good question (laughs). Everything will depend on the end of the season in Oyonnax. The last accession game is June 12. I’m getting married then on June 18… So we’ll see after that. Certainly at the end of June.