the essential
For this second match of the calendar year, Sporting hosts Villeneuve-sur-Lot at the Camille-Guibert stadium. A match to be approached with serenity, of course, but also with seriousness and rigor to avoid disappointment.
In the first leg, the Decazevillois won 26 to 25 at the end of a very successful second half and thanks to a penalty try on the last action, a logical try whistled by a referee determined to apply the regulations. It's a team that doesn't travel too badly with a victory in Bergerac and, if it has four defeats (Malemort, Lormont, Belvès and Cahors) on the clock, it returned from Lormont with a defensive bonus.
“A difficult team to maneuver”
A serious team which currently occupies 5th place with 31 points for 6 victories and 5 defeats with 2 defensive bonuses and 1 offensive bonus. The Lot et Garonnais recently had a defeat at Cahors before the break and a 17-13 victory over Malemort at home last Sunday.
A formation that coaches Julian and Rous announce is “catchy with a feeling of revenge since we beat it at the last minute in the first leg”. And added “very hard to maneuver. They are not excellent in all areas but play with a good hinge. The key word will be distrust.”
Victory is imperative for Loïc Rouquette and his boys following the announcements of objectives, at the truce, from the coaches in the same way as the imperatives dictated by President Frédéric Mathou.
In the group, Sporting will particularly follow the results of the confrontations between Lormont and Bergerac but also Malemort – Vergt tomorrow, all direct competitors for qualification.
An identical group to receive Villeneuve
The trip to Bergerac did not add any additional injuries so the coaches decided to keep the same group for this reception.
As for Adrien Falgayrat, he will appear before the disciplinary committee on January 23 and could have 3 or 4 matches to serve. If Thomas Sigal suffers from a back injury, Antoine Pisano should return to the field after the block in February.
Anthony Julian asks his players “to avoid tomorrow the small errors which pollute our game and to be disciplined. Sunday, we still take 16 penalties and 2 cards, it's too much” while Étienne Rous warns “that they are very performing well in defense, it's up to us to adapt and we modified certain things during the week.” Of which act.
