My Away Game Diary: Tour de Lacaune (Challenge Vaquerin 2012)

Thursday

On Thursday (very early) morning I began my journey with travel buddy Craig Chalmers to set off from Prestwick airport on our journey to France to watch Glasgow Warriors play against Casters in the Lacaune stage of the Challenge Vaquerin 2012.

It was a great start, with Craig as prepared for a sunny country as a polar bear would be, forgetting his sunglasses and wearing jeans, and me a little on edge due to not being the biggest advocate of flying. However, all went well and the flight was uneventful.

On landing at the very quaint and economically built Carcassonne Airport, we picked up our rental car. To my joy it was a cute fiat 500 in black which was duly named Remée, and started off on the adventure that would be driving in France for the first time.

Remée

The trip up to Lacaune was an education in speed management and hairpin road navigation, on the right (wrong) side of the road.

Lacaune is a proportionally challenged (or bijoux) town, set amongst the mountains of the south of France. A beautiful place totally open with a cosy feel born of small town living.

On our recce of the town we discovered it had 3 bars/cafes, 2 hotels and 2 restaurants (some of those overlap).

We went for a casual walk up the main street to the rugby ground and managed to bump into almost half the team on the way there.

It was a great chance to chat to some of the players in the more relaxed environment of their training camp compared to the tense atmosphere of a match, and the boys were appreciating the sunshine that we so rarely see en Ecosse. Due to the size of the town, it was inevitable that our path would cross with the team and dinner ended up with a half shouted conversation across the bar terrace!

Internet and phone signal was a challenge in Lacaune, as where we were staying was remote and beautiful, however, our social media addiction did not adapt to being cut off so abruptly.

Friday (Match Day)

The discovery of a bar with free WiFi (where we were not stealing) was key to Friday. The first game was at 4pm but we were advised to head up early because it got busy, not sure how busy that would be we took the advice and planned to head up for 3.

Lunch in a local pizzeria (in France) was interesting, I tried some local meat from the Charcuterie Lacaunaisse and Craig, requested a tomato sauce less pizza, which took some convincing the waitress brought: Il n’est pas normal.

The first game we watched was Albi vs Beziers. It was a pretty good game, a friendly like the upcoming Glasgow game but with the added local rivalry. The set up of the tournament was brilliant €14 to get in for two matches where you are standing pitch side with a brilliant view in the sunshine, a French brass band and there was beer so Craig was a happy man.

Towards the end of the first game the Castres team arrived and blocked our view, they did sit down once we asked them to though. The Glasgow team came and sat down without being asked, our boys are well trained!!

 

Match Report.

Below is a summary of the game, I understand it may not make sense without times but it was difficult without a clock and noting that there were many water breaks.

Crunching tackles going in from both sides. Castres were Dominant and spent lots of time in the Glasgow half. A Glasgow penalty from a collapsed scrum put us into their half.

Following some more Castres pressure in the Glasgow half following a 10m line out the ball is cleared.

The scrum calls were very slow from Romain Poite leading to many scrum penalties.

Mr Poite was using the new scrum calls of Crouch, Touch, Set.

Glasgow pushing into Castres half but shoved into touch at the 22m. Castres clearing kick from the line out went dead. The second clearing kick did not go dead, Glasgow line out 22m Castres have a penalty 10m from the Glasgow line for collapsing the maul. Time stoppage for water.

Score 0-0

Sub. Pyrgos for McConnell.

Try Castres from a maul following a line out. Conversion unsuccessful 5-0

Glasgow have a 5m line out.

Penalty to Castres for good off feet resulted in a line out at halfway. Play was very to and fro.

Strong break from Castres has left them solidly in our 22. Sub Low for Reid. The Castres push continues and another penalty against Glasgow at scrum. Warning given

Finally some Glasgow pressure which was ended by a penalty for holding on. Castres scrum 1/2 way

Castres making good use of their backs forging into the Glasgow half. Penalty tap at halfway results in continued pressure. Next penalty is a kick from 20m.

HT score 8-0

And we're back.

Castres awarded and missed penalty kick. Many changes at Half Time including Jackson for Wight.

Glasgow penalty gives us a line out on the 22m line.

Lot of play around the halfway line. Ball changing hands lots. Subs including a first game for Paris. Another scrum error gave Castres a line break

Try for Taylor Paris!!!

Came through a great break by Seymour and with Paris’ first touch of the ball. Conversion is good from Jackson. 8-7

Penalty for Glasgow kicked successfully by Jackson.

Glasgow in lead 8-10

60min 8-10.

Still scrappy owing to rust but amazing potential in the new boys

Castres spending lots of time in Glasgow 22. This period of time was ended with a gorgeous cross field kick leading to a try.

Conversion missed 13-10

Lots of powerful tackling and possession switching. Play continuing between the 22m lines.

Wonderful break from McGuigan with a glorious loop results in a beautiful try. Converted 17-13

Yellow card for Jackson for persistent infringement at the ruck.

Lots of faff and penalties on the Glasgow try line. Doesn't look good. Another warning given.

Try Castres. Converted 20-17

Full time 20-17

Standouts:

Mcguigan was class, McDonald and Swinson put in some seriously tough shifts and look very impressive. Also we can't forget that Paris scored with his first touch of the ball. There was also a typically strong performance from Troy Nathan.

Après la partie

After the final whistle we stayed at the pitch side until we noticed that apparently the done thing was to invade the pitch. We took the opinion of when in France do as the French do.

Our casual pitch invasion meant we got the chance to chat to the boys immediately following the game. They were knackered, and rightly so, but so pleased to be back playing.

Following the game we were booked in for dinner at the team hotel. We had mixed reports on the food: Dr Haggerty told us it was fantastic but Duncan told us it wasn’t up to much although the bread was great!

I can confirm that the food was great and quite a few of the boys stopped to say hello while we were eating.

Best thing about the Warriors is that they have so much time for the fans and

are always willing to have a chat, which is so very appreciated.

There is very little to do in Lacaune at night so after dinner we said cheerio, well done and safe journey to the team and headed back to the middle of nowhere.

Saturday

A day trip beckoned for Saturday, with the sat nav taking the reigns.

On recommendation (of Toony himself) we headed to Albi, a nearby city.

We had already watched Albi play rugby we now wanted to see their city. The city was beautiful with wonderful architecture and it had a rugby shop!!!

The journey back was….interesting. The sat nav decided, that, instead of going on a main road a more scenic route through a farm would be better. It wasn’t.

 

As our journey continued we stopped and climbed to the highest point in the region at 1100m to take in the view which was phenomenal!

Back in Remée for the final stretch of the journey we got to about 6km outside Lacaune when a deer bolted out in front of the car. I got the fright of my life!! An emergency stop saved us, Remée and the deer from certain death!

 

Sunday

Overnight we had thunder, lightning and mahoosive hailstones!!! It was amazing and terrifying at the same time. The hailstones were so extensive that there were still piles at the roadside on the way back to the airport later that morning.

 

The trip to Lacaune was eventful and exciting. The matches were very enjoyable and I honestly can’t recommend away trips more. It is great being the XVI warrior home or away!!

                                                        

Local Mascot or A Cooked Clyde as he was referred to

Spreading Warrior Nation touch Team to our neighbours across the channel

Words by Fiona Burns, Editing by Mary Williams, Pictures courtesy of Craig Chalmers & Fiona Burns