“We have to restart our season”

On the occasion of the presentation of the Champions Cup season this Tuesday in England, Jandry Marais, the South African second line of the Bahrain Federation, returned to the disappointing start of his club and the presence of his compatriots in the new version of the league. European Cup.

How do you see the arrival of the South African teams in the Champions Cup?
Fabulous. During the France and South Africa match (30-26November 12)It was impressive to see the physical level of the Springboks. In the Sharks team, twelve players played this match in Marseille. So it will be on the same level. We are very excited to play against them.

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UBB will play the Sharks (Dec 16 and Jan 14). Will it be a special moment against your former team?
For me it will definitely be special because I played there ten years ago (between 2009 and 2013). Players are no longer the same (Laugh), but there are still a few employees that I know little about. I am so happy to find this team.

Does the arrival of the South Africans give a new dimension to the Champions Cup?
I am proud because I believe that this competition is now the largest in the world. Only Australians and New Zealanders are missing. It will be interesting to see how the South Africans perform. We’ll see how they work at club level, because it’s always different in terms of selection. We’ll see if they can perform as well as the Springboks.

On December 16th, maybe you’ll take on your future coach, Yannick Brough, who’s on the Sharks crew?
I can only think of Brive this weekend (a smile). Then we’ll see how you fare against the sharks. But right now, I don’t think about it at all.

Could this Champions Trophy allow UBB to gain new momentum after a disappointing start to the season?
We have to restart our season. We already have difficulties abroad. We need continuity to find momentum. At the moment we win, lose, win, lose… We need to get three or four wins together like we did in the past, to get us back into the top 14 and start the Champions League well. Glass.

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What do you need to switch to a positive string?
We lack consistency. And a bit of luck, too, because we’re kind of lacking. In Perpignan this weekend (losing 23-20)-There is Santi Follow Favorite who connects before being flattened, then Jeff who scores but the try is not awarded. In the first match of the season against Toulouse (Loss 25-26)Madush Favorite He scores a try, but the referee whistles forward. There is always a need for a little luck and confidence too. We need to express ourselves better.

How was the group after the defeat in Perpignan this weekend?
It was difficult because we were so close to winning, like in other away games. We have the papers in hand but we’re not quite there in the end. It’s the 10% that we miss. The top 14 is pretty tight this year. We need to win away to allow us to break into the top six.

Departure of Christophe Orius Was it digested by the group?
We still have our attacking coaches (Julian Learley) and three-quarters (Frederick Sharer) Who does a great job. We’re a little tighter, because we know they need us. It’s rugby, every week, it’s tough.

Should the group of leaders, of which you are a part, take matters into their own hands?
We should we should. We no longer have Christophe (Oreos). It’s tough, there are still seven months of competition. As players and leaders, we have to go the extra mile, otherwise it will be impossible and it will end very badly. »