Cristian Spachuk, coach of the Amazones Elite 1, takes stock before the first game of the championship against Montpellier this Sunday at 15h30 in Lesdiguières.
How do you see this new season in Elite 1?
I think the girls will find another new challenge, last year they made the discovery. Everything went well, great, and now we have to show that it wasn't just a coincidence. They have done the job, they have learned things and we must demonstrate it this year, we must validate what they did last year.
What is the strength of this French Champion team?
It's a group that's been working together for quite some time, it's girls with abilities, they play a different rugby from ours and they have different constraints. They are for many followed at the international level and therefore they have a higher level than ours, but that does not prevent us from showing character in difficult moments during the game, a cohesion that will allow us to get our heads out of the water and show that it is not only the strength that counts, it is not because you are bigger or that you go faster that you will succeed.
What were the main areas of work you did to prepare for this match?
We focus mainly on ourselves, we have points to work on, especially in defence. We have girls who have just arrived, to integrate them into a collective it takes a long time. And the truth is that we've had almost all the staff in training for a very short time. Even if we started the season 1.5 months ago /2 months ago, we are almost full for 15 days and so we have to move a lot of things and try to get something beautiful out in a very short time.
What are you going to say to the girls on Sunday morning?
It will remain between me and them...
Photo : K. Valentin
Auteur : FCG Rugby