Super League: Wigan still suffocated by the Dragons in Brutus

An English time for eighty minutes and the return of the irreducible British fans (250) deprived of Gilbert-Brutus for two years. The decor of this Dragons – Wigan finally took on the intoxicating scent of the Super League and its clashes in the land of the Dragons.
It is also at the foot of the Bonzom stand that the Catalans communed, first among themselves and with their supporters who had decided to brave the elements to follow this clash of the fifth day.
Without the backbone of the three mainstays – Julian Bousquet, Sam Kasiano and Dylan Napa – their successors, Mike McMeeken, Jordan Dezaria and Gil Dudson gave the Warriors front six cues. Very quickly the tone rose in the middle, where Micky McIlorum dictated the good and the bad around him.
By mastering their subject, never panicking and evolving with great serenity, the Dragons inflicted on Wigan their first defeat of the season with efficiency.
The Warriors, by only offering challenge in front and – one by one – at the level of the middle block, hit a wall. A building that has never cracked, like last season (48-0).
The defensive performance remains the highlight of this meeting for the Dragons who, instead of cutting on the exteriors, preferred to slip before making the decision. That of throwing their vis-à-vis into touch as Tom Davies and Arthur Romano did well.
The 16-0 at the break already reflected the gap between the two evening opponents. The first try comes from an initiative taken by Mitchell Pearce out of scrum. A different tempo which deceives the vigilance of the English (6-0). Wigan thinks they have found the parade by countering the slightest actions and gestures of Sam Tomkins, except that it is Micky McIlorum who takes the kicking game on his own. Mika Goudemand scored his second try of the season following the pass at the foot of his hooker (16-0).

The Catalans Dragons, it’s the foot

In the second half, Wigan continue to close the outsides in defense and go up hard on the ball carriers. But the Dragons have the intelligence to find the rhythm and create opportunities thanks to their kicking game. Josh Drinkwater adjusts for the double from the Australian opener (47th), then he passes on foot for Samisoni Langi (62nd). Two winners. If the scrum half lit up the evening with Mitchell Pearce, the Dracs showed themselves to be efficient in the game of occupation and pressure on the foot. A rise in power since the very first day. “Yes, we were good in the occupation and the pressure we carried. The conditions were tough, but all the tries we scored were based on the team’s previous efforts and that’s something to remember,” Steve McNamara said at a press conference. No time to savor, the Robins arrive hoping that the weather will be kinder on Friday evening.