Le mercato XXL d'Oyonnax pour la saison prochaine
Par Idriss Chaplain
D’aucuns pourraient penser que le ciel est bas dans l’Ain. Dernier du Top 14, à 16 points de la 12e place synonyme de maintien et à 12 points de la 13e place qui l’enverrait en barrages à l’aube de la 21e journée du championnat, le club d’Oyonnax semble condamné à la descente à l’échelon inférieur.
Avec pour l’instant 15 défaites (dont la dernière 13-43 face au Racing 92), cinq victoires et un match nul, les hommes de Joe El-Abd n’ont pourtant pas fait de la figuration en cette saison 2023/24. Avec un jeu porté vers l’offensive, ils ont fait honneur à leur statut de champion de France de Pro D2 2023.
Mais l’effectif des Oyomen aura finalement été trop juste pour assumer l’intensité d’une saison de Top 14 si relevée que, pour leur maintien, les Auvergnats sont à la lutte avec… Montpellier, champion de France 2022. Pourtant, de prometteuses éclaircies viennent percer les nuages en cette fin de saison.
Du jeu… et de l’expérience
S’il est avisé de penser que l’effectif semblait manquer de profondeur avec le recul d’un exercice compliqué dans l’élite du rugby français, la dynamique du recrutement est prometteuse.
C’est clair : Oyonnax est en train de bâtir un effectif qui a de quoi faire rêver… et trembler, que le club se maintienne ou qu’il redescende un an après sa montée.
On n’avait plus vu une équipe aussi solide en Pro D2 depuis l’arrivée de Mourad Boudjellal à la tête du RC Toulon à la fin des années 2000.
Comme toutes les équipes qui naviguent entre le Top 14 et la Pro D2, Oyo est vouée à perdre ses éléments les plus prometteurs. Ainsi, le demi de mêlée Charlie Cassang est en partance pour Lyon, tandis que le jeune ailier Enzo Reybier rejoindra l’UBB.
Pour autant, Oyonnax réalise un mercato XXL et bâtit un effectif qui aurait les qualités pour viser un maintien plus que confortable en Top 14.
Une saison 2024/25 qui promet
Afin de compenser le départ de l’ouvreur Jules Soulan à Aix, le club enregistre la venue de l’Australien de Bordeaux Zack Holmes, double champion de France (2019, 2021) et champion d’Europe (2021) avec le Stade Toulousain.
Le remplacement de l’Écossais Rory Sutherland au poste de pilier sera assuré par un autre ancien Toulousain et ex-coéquipier de Zack Holmes : Paulo Tafili. Lui aussi a remporté le Top 14 en 2019 et 2021 ainsi que la Champions Cup 2021. Enfin, le trio des champions d’Europe et de France 2021 est complété par Antoine Miquel, 3e ligne bordelais qui viendra compenser les départs de Filimo Taofifenua (partant pour Biarritz) et Loïc Crédoz (Pau).
Dans la foulée de l’arrivée immédiate de Vasil Lobzhanidze, demi de mêlée international géorgien et joker médical qui restera ensuite deux ans au club, Oyonnax a clairement enclenché la marche en avant. Le club accueillera également Martin Bogado, international argentin ayant participé à la Coupe du Monde de Rugby 2023 passé par Bayonne et les Highlanders.
Quelle que soit la division dans laquelle les Oyomen évolueront en 2024/25, il faudra compter sur eux.
Comments on RugbyPass
This is all being blown totally out of proportion. First of all, since half the Irish team isn’t Irish - it’s very likely that none of the Irish players said that at all and, thus, we’re not being arrogant. Second, since half the Irish team is Kiwi - it’s very likely the Kiwi players were predicting a NZ SA World Cup final. Which they got spot on. Good on them!
163 Go to commentsAha. An Irishman with logic! Follow the flow: - Ireland peaks with a >80% win record between 2020 and 2023. And then… - crashes out of another QF at the WC; - Beat a poor French Team; - Beat 6N wooden spoonists Italy; - Play shite against eventual wooden spoonists Wales; - Lose against the most boring, “the worst English team ever” , a team widely regarded as unable to attack; - scrape through against Scotland. This article, No - Trimble, is on the money! Except for one glaring statement: _The Springboks have a few aces in the hole in this debate being the reigning world champions and official world number ones_ There is no debate, boys and girls. There it is. In black and white. “Reigning World Champions and OFFICIAL world number ones”. Come July, the overrated Andy Farrell and this overhyped team are going to enter into a world of hurt.
85 Go to commentsI’d like to know what homoerotic events Daniel enjoyed at 8th man. I clearly missed out!
19 Go to commentsThis article is missing some detail, like some actual context or info about what led to him abusing the ref.
2 Go to comments*They used to say that football is a gentleman sport watched by hooligans and rugby is a hooligan sport watched by gentlemen. How times have changed.*
3 Go to commentsexcept ot wasnt late wasnt late at all so dont know why you all saying its late he commits early and its your fault fir not paying attention
29 Go to commentsNot sure the Bulls need another average utility back in their ranks. Chamberlain has been ok for the Sharks but is by no means an X-Factor player. Bulls bought several utility backs which they barely use. A typical example would be Henry Immelman who plays mostly Fullback. The Bulls however have rarely played him this year and he has played wing or centre. Bulls want to build depth but seems like they have too many surplus players
1 Go to commentsABs lost against a side playing without a hooker - The guy playing, had one shoulder. Line outs were a gimme for the ABs, and the last 8 minutes 14 played 14 against a team that had been smashed 3 weeks in a row… Yet with all that possession, with all that territory, with all the advantages they actually had, especially in the last 8 minutes, they couldn’t buy a point. Those last 8 minutes determined if they outplayed the Boks or not. History will show that the Boks completely outplayed the ABs, especially in those last 8 minutes, the business end of any rugby match
226 Go to commentsWould’ve, could’ve, should’ve, didn’t.
226 Go to commentsKok will become a fan favourite
1 Go to commentsI am really looking forward to Leigh Halfpenny playing his first Super rugby game for the Crusaders Playing a long side his former Welsh and Scarlets team mate Johnny McNicoll.Johnny has been playing great, back in a Crusaders jersey.The attack has strengthened big time. Also looking forward to David Havili at 10. David is a class act, it also allows Dallas McLeod to remain at 12. A good thing.
1 Go to commentsIf he had stopped insisting on playing in the backrow, instead of wing, where everyone told him he should, he would have been a Bok years ago….
11 Go to comments‘Salads don’t win scrums’ 😂 I love that.
19 Go to commentsCan’t wait for the article that talks about misogyny in Ireland. Somehow.
19 Go to commentsI would like to see a rule change, when the attacking team is held up over the try line, by allowing the defensive team to restart a goal line drop out releases the pressure for the defensive team, but what if the attacking team had to restart a tap 5m out from the defensive team it gives the attacking team to apply more pressure, there are endless options for the attacking side and it will keep the fans in suspence.
2 Go to commentsLess modern South African males predictably triggered.
19 Go to commentsMy heart is with Quins, but the head is convinced Toulouse have too much. Ntamack is back, his timing and wisdom has been missed.
1 Go to commentsWow, what a starting line up for the Sharks) Tasty up front,kremer vs Tshituka or venter …fiery ,,Lavannini ,,will he knobble etzebeth? Biggest game for belleau?
1 Go to commentsIt was rubbish to watch, Blues weren’t even present. Did what they had to do, nothing more. Should be better next week against canes.
1 Go to commentsI’ve just noticed that this match has an all-French refereeing team. Surely a game like this ought to have a neutral ref? Although looking at the BBC preview of the Saints game, Raynal is also down as reffing that - so there may be some confusion about who is reffing what.
1 Go to comments