La pelote basque, une alliée du rugby
On connaissait le principal point commun entre le rugby et la pelote basque avec la chistera, sorte de gant en osier, long et étroit, recourbé et qui sert à renvoyer la balle sur un mur (le fronton).
En rugby, on n’a ni gant d’osier ni mur, mais on désigne par la chistera ce mouvement astucieux se passant dans le dos pour transmettre le ballon et qui peut se présenter comme une option opportune pour les joueurs occupant le poste de demi de mêlée. On parle aussi de passe à l’aveugle ou passe dans le dos, mais c’est nettement moins poétique.
Dans diverses situations de jeu, les joueurs peuvent être amenés à expérimenter cette action spécifique, cherchant ainsi à déstabiliser la défense adverse. L’effet de surprise est d’autant plus efficace s’ils parviennent à exécuter ce geste avec succès régulièrement.
La pelote basque pour se ressourcer
Ce qu’on savait moins, c’est que, au-delà de ce geste technique, la pelote basque était aussi une incroyable source d’inspiration pour les rugbymen. C’est par exemple le cas pour Camille Lopez, ancien demi d’ouverture du XV de France (34 ans, 28 sélections) et actuellement à l’Aviron Bayonnais où il est en plus capitaine.
Dans une interview à L’Equipe, il reconnaît que, parfois, il n’en peut plus du rugby. « Ce n’est plus ma tasse de thé », admet-il affirmant dans le même souffle qu’il ne sait pas encore si la saison 2023-2024 sera sa dernière.
Pourtant, à Bayonne, non loin de là où il a ses origines (Oloron-Sainte-Marie, dans les Pyrénées-Atlantiques), Camille Lopez raconte qu’il renaît. « Je peux vous assurer que ça m’a fait du bien de changer de projet après huit années à Clermont (2014-2022, ndlr) », reconnaît-il en livrant l’un des secrets de sa renaissance mentale : la pelote basque.
« Il faut savoir s’échapper même si on a un emploi du temps hyper chargé. Il faut arriver à trouver le temps, à penser à autre chose, à faire autre chose, à petites doses. Depuis que je suis revenu ici par exemple, je rejoue pas mal à la pelote. Cela me fait du bien », explique-t-il.
La pelote basque bon pour le jeu aérien
Un autre joueur qui a été bercé par la pelote basque pendant des années, c’est Brice Dulin, arrière du XV de France (33 ans, 37 sélections).
« J’y ai joué de 6 à 14-15 ans », raconte-t-il dans L’Equipe. « C’est une petite balle, tu es sans cesse en train d’anticiper la lecture du coup de l’autre, savoir où ça va taper, où ça va aller pour arriver au bon moment, couper la trajectoire. »
Ce sport ancêtre du jeu de paume a donc permis à Brice Dulin, entre autres, de travailler sa lecture du jeu, particulièrement sur les ballons hauts, alors qu’il est reconnu comme l’un des rares joueurs français à exceller dans ce domaine.
« Ça m’a énormément aidé, sur le timing et la lecture des trajectoires. Aujourd’hui, il y a un côté inné dans l’approche des duels aériens parce que j’ai fait ça dans le passé », affirme-t-il.
Comments on RugbyPass
I don't know why peoplenare upset here. If foreign fans think they are poor for their clubs and back it up with stats then it's probably true. Snyman would have been a legend in the NH if he was fit though. He just transforms Munster into a winning machine. Pollard is 100% the most disappointing one and his win rate outside world cups gives a good indicator. For all his clubs his average win rate is around 52%, inbetween world cups for the Boks it's 55%. Compared to other elite flyhalves who have 70%+ win rates for their clubs. If anything Manie is a far better investment if you looking for a flyhalf given that when he is on the pitch teams on average win 76% of games.
44 Go to commentsWhich captains were not human?
2 Go to commentsIt left him open to savage sledging most memorably POMs ‘Sh1t McCaw’ comment which prompted a national NZ meltdown. Cane was later substituted in that game. He had some redemption in the RWC quartfinal against Ireland but unfortunately he will be remembered for torpedo-ing his team with that red card in the final with NZ already 12-3 down.
2 Go to commentsThere should be a smaller number of teams cut off to play finals after the regular season, of course. However, with all due respect, the Crusaders aren’t playing well enough to even make that cut. They may have a late rally, if they can get some key players back from injury, but this is still a speculation as it stands. They will still have to rely on other results going their way too - their season is now entirely out of their control.
10 Go to comments1 week for two cynical and dirty plays? Absolutely pathetic punishment. He should’ve at least received 2 weeks - 1 week per trip. The guy is a cheating moron and liability. He should go back to league.
2 Go to commentsTest rugby is different level Some players are just big time players when the stakes are high they play better. The boks often lost to AUS on tour as they wanted to beat AB. Even at school level this is the case where some guys play better in tough games.
44 Go to commentsLet’s hope he misses more than just the Force game or the Reds won’t get very far in the finals.
2 Go to commentsThanks Nick. I’m looking at the other 7 options in Australia and they don’t seem to be close behind Fraser at the moment? Even before reading this I thought he was well ahead. A random one - Slipper and Allalatoa seem to be getting well beaten in the scrum. I can’t remember this happening often before. Is it a technique/teamwork issue or are their bodies finally past it?
32 Go to commentsNZ is now entrenched in Div 2 of womens rugby. Canada would be thrashed by the likes of France or England. Europe are Div 1, with massive competitions, massive money…
2 Go to commentsBlackadder dies not deserve selection. He has not played enough games. Finau is just better. Kaino's replacement at Blindside On form TJ should be the starting 9 .
129 Go to commentsThe difference is Cotter..
6 Go to commentsThey can’t handle the level of comp in the NH. Pollard was a complete waste at Montpellier - and was the backup 12 when he left. Kitschoff was stealing his paycheque every week at Ulster,- getting absolutely rinsed by backup THs in the URC. There is a reason all the Boks go to Japan - they don’t have it in them to be able to compete. And yes, they won the RWC. Where Barnes and O'Keeffe were the direct reason for that tragedy occurring.
44 Go to commentsTrouble with Jones is he has so many impractical innovations. Kemeney wasn't good enough in any position for top level test rugby. I like how Vern has Papalii playing. He's always had the workrate when in form, although I'm not sure that he quite has Cane's mongrel.
32 Go to commentsPut those results on the old CV and send it in to the crusaders bro.
1 Go to commentsJust go with a top 6 system where the top 2 teams go straight to the semi-finals and the other 4 teams fight it out for the other 2 semi-final spots.
10 Go to commentsIt’s a shame that Baxter wasn’t nominated for DoR of the season. what he did is more impressive than McCall imo
1 Go to commentsSeveral boks said during World Cup they play so hard to give people back home hope. As an Englishman the Springboks Captain’s life story is an inspiration which should give us all hope and inspiration. Rather like that other great South African, Nelson Mandela
44 Go to commentsFox News, Tucker Carlson, Jordan Peterson and Joe Rogan? Yikes.
1 Go to commentsThat is harsh though. Messi has/had a reputation for trying to keep his feet and keep dribbling for goal. Many of his brethren were the histrionic divers but not him.
2 Go to commentsMcReight is certainly one of the first picked. He’s going to be the glue, a Wallaby with some rugby IQ and the everywhere man for the Wallabies.
32 Go to comments