Rotation Strategy and New Opener for Olympic Anglet: Thomas Pulon and Arnaud Dhuin Take the Field

Since the start of the season, the Olympic Anglet staff has chosen not to choose a starting ten, and thus to alternate between Thomas Pulon and Curutchet to guide the play of his team. So far, the two openers have shared playing time. The first city has started three matches and the second the other two. “These two players…

Since the start of the season, the Olympic Anglet staff has chosen not to choose a starting ten, and thus to alternate between Thomas Pulon and Curutchet to guide the play of his team. So far, the two openers have shared playing time. The first city has started three matches and the second the other two. “These two players are almost at the same level, with different qualities. The choice to use one or the other depends on the strategy you want to implement. Thomas Pulon has a much longer footwork than that of Thomas Curutchet, he can slide at the back, but in the conduct of the game, they are quite similar,” estimates Sébastien Fauqué, a fine connoisseur of the position. In the penalty shootout exercise, the two boys displayed interesting reliability. Curutchet, thanks to three penalties, allowed the AORC to win against Rennes. Pulon (10 points at the foot) was decisive last week against Salles.

However, this Sunday in Graulhet, it is with a new opener that the Angloys will appear on the pitch of the Tarn team. With Thomas Curutchet concussed and Thomas Pulon heavily used, Sébastien Fauqué has decided to entrust the keys to the Basque game to Arnaud Dhuin, while Pulon will start on the bench. Dhuin, who was injured during the friendly matches, returned to the center, with the junior team the last two weekends. This time, it will be at the opening that he will make his debut, with the premiere. “His recovery, with the hopes, went very well,” says Fauqué. It was my logic to reintegrate him into the group and I think it’s the right time to give him playing time. I want to start him at Graulhet to get him back into the swing of things straight away. »

“The best pass of the group”

At the club since 2019, Dhuin settled in Anglet after having moved around quite a bit, since he successively defended the colors of Tyrosse (2016-2019), Chalon-sur-Saône (2015-2016) and Nevers (2014-2015 ). He had worn the Rowing, Dax and Cambrai jerseys when he was younger. “Arnaud is a guy who has a lot of technical qualities,” continues his coach. He has a very good pass, perhaps the best of the whole group, on both sides. He can play ten or center, he’s a good defender and he reads the game well. In fact, he’s a fairly complete player. Now he needs to regain his confidence and have playing time again.” It starts this Sunday, in Graulhet.

Heel puzzle

Anglet and Graulhet are neck and neck before this match. Both teams have 11 points. “We would like to leave them behind, but we know that we are going to come up against a fairly rough team,” warns Sébastien Fauqué. For this trip, the Basques will have to adapt since they have broken heels. Indeed, Damien Mena (biceps) will be absent for several months. Maxime Berho sprained his ankle during the warm-up last week, but he played against Salles. It is uncertain for this weekend, while Théo Lascubé will join the group.

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