Paloise Oath: Attissogbe and Whitelock, like two symbols

“At the back, we have to support our strikers, especially against very strong teams like Stade de France, who want to dominate the opponent in attack,” emphasizes Thomas Carroll. We are here to help them. Adults do a sick job but we have to be with them, on the same wavelength to maintain these defensive stages. Not really known for his cutting skills, Atesugbe makes the point of his companion on the opposite wing: although he made two mistakes, he made 8 tackles to stop the Parisian attacks. Conversely, Whitlock was known for excelling in the dark task, rarely emerging into the light under the green and white shirt. The New Zealander increased his attack, gaining several metres, while at the conclusion of an attacking bonus test.

Minimum rule, maximum virtues

Situations that prove the department is growing, according to Thomas Carroll: “We are all very strong but very interconnected, no one goes out alone, we support each other a lot. Let’s keep going, that’s what will lead us to victories.” One Paw, one Paw. Two advantages that allow To the Béarnaise rope team not to loosen and stay stuck to the tops. “They are a team of workers and players who have worked together for a long time. The group has changed little, but the youngsters have shown emulation and their work is paying off, smiles Sebastian Piqueronis. Everyone rewards himself. There is a state of mind that leads everyone to improve themselves and give their best. As long as we have this minimum base, and this desire to do each other’s best, we will advance in the top 14.

The emergence of Théo Attissogbe, who has already made 6 appearances in the Championship this season, validates Pau’s model, based on promising youth mentored by highly referenced veterans such as Luke Whitelock. If necessity is the law, pushing each element of the Béarnais workforce to perform tasks useful to the collective balance, the green and white workers do not forget to shine in the areas in which they are best. Against Stade Français, the Under-20 World Champion made a 100-metre run with the ball in hand and beat 6 defenders, involved in all the good moves: restarting the turnover in the 19th minute, then two runs after the start of patterned play to get 2 penalty kicks (20). -6 40, 23-6 50), without forgetting Carroll’s wonderful follow-up kick from 5 meters (48). For his part, the 8-cap All Blacks man was flawless in the tackles (12/12) and distributed the ball perfectly in the number 8.

Two players love the symbols of the Paloise division, which knows how to diversify, while allowing its men to perform the tasks in which they feel most comfortable.