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Michalak (Racing 92) : « On attend le match parfait à l'extérieur »

L'entraîneur adjoint du Racing, Frédéric Michalak, durant le match de Top14 entre l'Union Bordeaux-Begles (UBB) et le Racing 92 au stade Chaban-Delmas à Bordeaux, le 16 juin 2024. (Photo by ROMAIN PERROCHEAU/AFP via Getty Images)

L’entraîneur adjoint du Racing 92 Frédéric Michalak attend de son équipe qu’elle fournisse une performance de référence en Top 14 à l’extérieur cette saison. Le déplacement à Pau, ce week-end, pourrait en être l’occasion, espère-t-il.

La dernière fois que Frédéric Michalak s’était exprimé devant la presse, c’était à l’issue de la défaite du Racing 92 à Bayonne (32-15, 7e journée).

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L’adjoint de Stuart Lancaster en charge de l’attaque avait alors fustigé le match de ses joueurs : « Ce n’est pas respecter le maillot, l’héritage d’un club. […] On est encore une petite équipe et on doit se remettre en question. »

Depuis, le Racing a battu péniblement Perpignan dans un parfait résumé de son début de saison, alternant le chaud et le froid.

Video Spacer

The time Freddie Michalak drank champagne out of a water bottle before kicking at goal.

Video Spacer

The time Freddie Michalak drank champagne out of a water bottle before kicking at goal.

Pour RugbyPass, l’ancien international (77 sélections) évoque avec lucidité les limites franciliennes du moment mais aussi ses espoirs pour la suite.

Par Anthony Tallieu

Frédéric, le Racing 92 est 8e et compte 10 points de retard sur la 2e place avant de se déplacer à Pau. Que vous inspire cette position ?

« On est à notre place. On a montré un début de saison un peu poussif même s’il y a eu de bonnes choses. On perd aussi à Castres et contre La Rochelle dans les dernières minutes et ces points auraient pu nous permettre d’être en haut du tableau. Mais on ne peut pas juger nos performances uniquement en regardant notre nombre de points. Le Top 14 est dur, les joueurs travaillent très dur, toutes les équipes sont compétitives et ce seront les plus résilients qui termineront dans les 6 premiers. »

Rencontre
Top 14
Pau
23 - 33
Temps complet
Racing 92
Toutes les stats et les données

Vous aviez eu des mots forts après votre lourde défaite à Bayonne. Vos joueurs ont-ils apporté la réponse que vous attendiez contre Perpignan ?

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« On a fait une très bonne première mi-temps, puis les vieux démons de l’indiscipline sont revenus. On a fait trop de fautes et on a pris trois cartons jaunes. Après, nous entraîneurs sommes encore dans l’émotion après un match et on a tendance à voir le négatif. Quand on prend un peu de recul, on se pose aussi la question de l’engagement et de l’attitude. De ce côté-là, on attend le match parfait à l’extérieur, où on va montrer de l’agressivité et une équipe unie comme on peut le faire durant la semaine. J’espère que nous arriverons à le faire à Pau. »

Pénalités

15
Pénalités concédées
9
3
Cartons jaunes
0
0
Cartons rouges
0

« Nous avons les joueurs pour devenir une grande équipe »

Être une grande équipe, n’est-ce pas aussi savoir tuer les matchs à domicile quand l’occasion se présente et récupérer des bonus, ce que vous n’avez pas su faire contre l’USAP ?

« Il faut savoir être impitoyable en effet. On a fait une très grosse entame contre Perpignan mais le retour de vestiaire a péché. Oui, les grandes équipes ont cette capacité à domicile de réenclencher une dynamique et de ne pas faire autant de fautes. On s’est pénalisés tout seuls à en faire autant et à ne pas être pragmatique dans les zones de marque. »

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Depuis le début de la saison, le Racing peut produire de belles séquences de jeu et subir de grosses baisses de régime au cours d’un même match. Comment l’expliquer ?

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« Sur 80 minutes, il y a des temps forts et des temps faibles et c’est toute la difficulté de savoir gérer ces temps faibles. Si vous prenez deux cartons jaunes pendant un temps faible, c’est plus difficile. Mieux gérer ces périodes, mieux concrétiser aussi nos temps forts… nous parlons évidemment de ces sujets. Comment être meilleur tactiquement ? Comment être plus clair dans notre façon de jouer ? Ce dont je suis persuadé, c’est que nous avons les joueurs pour devenir une grande équipe. Mais le résultat final fera ou non de nous une grande équipe. »

« On ne peut pas se comparer à Toulouse »

L’équipe n’a-t-elle pas aussi perdu en leadership pour gérer ces temps faibles avec les départs cet été de plusieurs joueurs d’expérience comme Siya Kolisi, Wenceslas Lauret ou Juan Imhoff ?

« Nous avons dans l’équipe actuelle des joueurs qui ont du leadership. Je pense à Owen Farrell ou Nolann Le Garrec malgré sa jeunesse. On a aussi du poids devant en termes d’expérience. Maintenant, il est évident que l’expérience collective, il faudra la créer et cela demandera du temps ! On essaie de l’accélérer sur et en dehors du terrain. On a eu 18 départs, dont certains anciens joueurs, et je suis d’accord qu’il faut recréer cette énergie et cette expérience collective. Plus on va jouer, plus on connaîtra d’échecs et plus nous en tirerons les leçons. Il faut passer par là pour être meilleur demain. »

Vous êtes issue de l’école toulousaine, labellisée “french flair”. Comment concilier cela dans l’animation avec la vision anglaise très structurée du manager Stuart Lancaster et des autres Anglais du club ?

« Nos derniers essais ont pourtant bien été marqués sur des contre-attaques, donc sur du jeu déstructuré ! Maintenant, essayer de jouer comme Toulouse, cela ne se fera pas au Racing pour la bonne et simple raison que le Racing a sa propre identité et elle est différente. On ne peut pas se comparer à Toulouse, c’est impossible. Et puis le french flair, ça vient très souvent d’un bon jeu au pied d’occupation qui permet d’enclencher des contre-attaques et des jeux de transition. On est capables de le faire ici au Racing. »

Comment ?

« Ici, ce n’est pas l’école anglaise mais l’école du Racing. On a tous des parcours différents, on doit trouver ensemble le meilleur liant et c’est ce qui fait la richesse de ce club. Derrière, j’ai des Anglais, des Français, des Fidjiens… et la question est de savoir comment, avec nos cultures différentes, bien jouer ensemble. C’est le jeu du Racing et je sais que ça va venir. »

Top 14

P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Toulouse
8
6
2
0
29
2
Bordeaux
8
6
2
0
28
3
Bayonne
8
5
3
0
22
4
Stade Rochelais
8
5
3
0
22
5
Toulon
8
4
4
0
19
6
Clermont
8
4
4
0
19
7
Castres
8
4
4
0
19
8
Racing 92
8
4
4
0
18
9
Lyon
8
4
4
0
18
10
Pau
8
3
5
0
15
11
Montpellier
8
3
5
0
14
12
Stade Francais
8
3
5
0
14
13
Perpignan
8
3
5
0
14
14
Vannes
8
2
6
0
11

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Comments on RugbyPass

I
IkeaBoy 2 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.”

Good lad, just checking. So you’re not a bot! Chelsea bombed the 2008 final more than United won it. John Terry… couldn’t happen to a nicer fella.


“The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made.”

So the difference between 2021 and 2023 would of course be TWO YEARS. 24 months would account for 3 different seasons. They contested ECL finals twice in two years. The first in 2021 - which they lost - was still the first elite European final in the clubs then 141 year history. Explain clearly how that’s not an achievement? Guess what age he was then…


“I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright.”

I thought you don’t care what certain managers did 10 years ago…

Why would I address Eddie Jones? Why would he be deserving of a single sentence?


“I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.”

So you haven’t watched even a minute of Super Rugby this year?


“lol u really need to chill out”

Simply frightful! If you’re not a bot you’re at least Gen-Z?

171 Go to comments
f
fl 3 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca”

Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.


“The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made. With Barcelona, Pep made the semi final four consecutive times - with City he’s managed only 3 in 8 years. This year they didn’t even make the round of 16.


To re-cap, you wrote that Pep “has gotten better with age. By every measure.” There are some measures that support what you’re saying, but the vast majority of the measures that you have highlighted actually show the opposite.


I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.


I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright. You’ve also not addressed Eddie Jones.


I agree wrt Schmidt. He would ideally be retained, but it wouldn’t work to have a remote head coach. He should definitely be hired as a consultant/analyst/selector though.


“Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.”

lol u really need to chill out lad. Kiss and Schmidt would both be great members of the coaching set up in 2025, but it would be ridiculous to bank on either to retain the head coach role until 2031.

171 Go to comments
I
IkeaBoy 3 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca. The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.


His time with City - a lower win ratio compared to Bayern Munich as you say - includes a 100 PT season. A feat that will likely never be surpassed. I appreciate you don’t follow soccer too closely but even casual fans refer to the sport in ‘pre and post Pep’ terms and all because of what he has achieved and is continuing to achieve, late career. There is a reason that even U10’s play out from the back now at every level of the game. That’s also a fairly recent development.


How refreshing to return to rugby on a rugby forum.


Ireland won a long over due slam in 2009. The last embers of a golden generation was kicked on by a handful of young new players and a new senior coach. Kiss was brought in as defence coach and was the reason they won it. They’d the best defence in the game at the time. He all but invented the choke tackle. Fittingly they backed it up in the next world cup in their 2011 pool match against… Australia. The instantly iconic image of Will Genia getting rag-dolled by Stephen Ferris.


His career since has even included director of rugby positions. He would have an extremely good idea of where the game is at and where it is going in addition to governance experience and dealings. Not least in Oz were many of the players will have come via or across Rugby League pathways.


Gatland isn’t a valid coach to compare too. He only ever over-achieved and was barely schools level without Shaun Edwards at club or test level. His return to Wales simply exposed his limitations and a chaotic union. It wasn’t age.


Schmidt is open to staying involved in a remote capacity which I think deserves more attention. It would be a brain drain to lose him. He stepped in to coach the ABs in the first 2022 test against Ireland when Foster was laid out with Covid. They mullered Ireland 42-19. He was still heavily involved in the RWC 2023 quarter final. Same story.


Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.

171 Go to comments
f
fl 5 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“He won a ECL and a domestic treble at the beginning of his career.”

He won 2 ECLs at the beginning of his career (2009, 2011). Since then he’s won 1 in 15 years.


“He then won 3 leagues on the bounce later in his career”

He won 3 leagues on the bounce at the start of his career too - (2009, 2010, 2011).


If we’re judging him by champions league wins, he peaked in his late 30s, early 40s. If we’re judging him by domestic titles he’s stayed pretty consistent over his career. If we’re judging him by overall win rate he peaked at Bayern, and was better at Barcelona than at City. So no, he hasn’t gotten better by every measure.


“You mentioned coaches were older around the mid-2010’s compared to the mid-2000’s. Robson was well above the average age you’ve given for those periods even in the 90’s when in his pomp.”

Robson was 63-64 when he was at Barcelona, so he wasn’t very old. But yeah, he was slightly above the average age of 60 I gave for the top 4 premier league coaches in 2015, and quite a bit above the averages for 2005 and 2025.


“Also, comparing coaches - and their experiences, achievements - at different ages is unstable. It’s not a valid way to compare and tends to torpedo your own logic when you do compare them on equal terms. I can see why you don’t like doing it.”

Well my logic certainly hasn’t been torpedoed. Currently the most successful premier league coaches right now are younger than they were ten years ago. You can throw all the nuance at it that you want, but that fact won’t change. It’s not even clear what comparing managers “on equal terms” would even mean, or why it would be relevant to anything I’ve said.


“You still haven’t answered why Kiss could be a risker appointment?”

Because I’ve been talking to you about football managers. If you want to change the subject then great - I care a lot more about rugby than I do football.

But wrt Kiss, I don’t agree that 25 years experience is actually that useful, given what a different sport rugby was 25 years ago. Obviously in theory more experience can never be a bad thing, but I think 10 years of coaching experience is actually more than enough these days. Erasmus had been a coach for 13 years when he got the SA top job. Andy Farrell had been a coach for 9 when he got the Ireland job. I don’t think anyone would say that either of them were lacking in experience.


Now - what about coaches who do have 25+ years experience? The clearest example of that would be Eddie Jones, who started coaching 31 years ago. He did pretty well everywhere he worked until around 2021 (when he was 61), when results with England hit a sharp decline. He similarly oversaw a terrible run with Australia, and currently isn’t doing a great job with Japan.

Another example is Warren Gatland, who also started coaching full-time 31 years ago, after 5 years as a player-coach. Gatland did pretty well everywhere he went until 2020 (when he was 56), when he did a relatively poor job with the Chiefs, before doing a pretty poor job with the Lions, and then overseeing a genuine disaster with Wales. There are very few other examples, as most coaches retire or step back into lesser roles when they enter their 60s. Mick Byrne actually has 34 years experience in coaching (but only 23 years coaching in rugby) and at 66 he’s the oldest coach of a top 10 side, and he’s actually doing really well. He goes to show that you can continue to be a good coach well into your 60s, but he seems like an outlier.


So the point is - right now, Les Kiss looks like a pretty reliable option, but 5 years ago so did Eddie Jones and Warren Gatland before they went on to prove that coaches often decline as they get older. If Australia want Kiss as a short term appointment to take over after Schmidt leaves in the summer, I don’t think that would be a terrible idea - but NB wanted Kiss as a long term appointment starting in 2027! That’s a massive risk, given the chance that his aptitude will begin to decline.


Its kind of analagous to how players decline. We know (for example) that a fly-half can still be world class at 38, but we also know that most fly-halves peak in their mid-to-late 20s, so it is generally considered a risk to build your game plan around someone much older than that.

171 Go to comments
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