Brive and Perpignan, who are struggling to stay in the top flight, have no representation in the expanded group of 42 players currently preparing for the fourth game of the 6 Nations Tournament against England. Pau, hardly better off in the standings since doubled by USAP this weekend and therefore first relegation, has one. Not the usual, Émilien Gailleton, top scorer in the Top 14 and left at the disposal of the U20s, but the third row Sacha Zegueur.
One is also the meager total of Clermont, disappointing this season, with the only Damian Penaud, and Racing 92, which blows hot and cold and could only send Gaël Fickou (Nolann Le Garrec is injured in the hamstrings). The common point of these six clubs: to be less well represented at the CNR this week than Oyonnax, which provides the selection with the right pillar Thomas Laclayat and the winger Enzo Reybier. Quite a feat for a club playing in Pro D2, even if Fabien Galthié has already proven since the start of his term that he does not refrain from drawing from this championship, as he was able to do with Melvyn Jaminet in 2021.
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Zegueur, the other representative of the Oyo formation
In any case, the Oyonnaxian manager Joe El Abd welcomes this great presentation. “We are all very proud, whether it’s me, all the staff, the managers and the players. For our part, we even consider that we have three Oyomen with the France team with Sacha Zegueur, who is currently playing in Pau but who has been training in Oyonnax since the age of 10”.
Sacha Zegueur in 2019 with Blueberries
Credit: Getty Images
Thomas Laclayat is not new to the France group. Fabien Galthié has already taken him in his luggage during the last summer tour in Japan and has been calling him to Marcoussis since the start of the Tournament. A bit like his club in Pro D2 (first with 23 points ahead of second), the right-hander walks on water, he who is Oyo’s top scorer with 10 tries since the start of the season. Almost unreal for a pillar.
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Laclayat is ready and waiting for that
“He is very strong in melee and in conquest but he is also a modern pillar, very explosive and dangerous when he carries the ballsaid by El Abd. In defense, he is also able to recover the ball on the ground. I would say he is a very complete player“.
Never capped so far, he could see his destiny change this week due to the suspensions of Uini Atonio and Mohamed Haouas. “I think he’s ready. He was prepared for this. He has already been in the France group last year in Japan, he has been with the Blues since the start of the Tournament and now he is waiting for that. I don’t know if he will be in the 23 on Saturday but I hope he gets his chance“.
Thomas Laclayat during the Blues tour in Japan in 2022
Credit: Getty Images
We aim to be a training club
The hope of being on the scoresheet at Twickenham, his teammate Enzo Reybier, a real surprise on Galthié’s list, has very little. At 20, it’s more of a first contact with the very high level that may await him tomorrow. His manager Joe El Abd describes him as a player “very active, very lively, playing with a touch of madness. He reminds me a bit of Gabin Villière“. A nice compliment for the one who now represents the face of quality Ainoise training.
In addition to Laclayat and Reybier, Oyonnax also has two U20 internationals in its ranks: hooker Julien Ratajczak and second row Antonin Corso. “It is the reward of a long-standing work where the emphasis has been placed on trainingassures El Abd. We aim to be a training club that helps young players progress to allow them perhaps one day, like Thomas next year with Racing, to join the best teams.“. A future that is already combined in the present for a club called upon to defend its chances in the Top 14 next season.
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