The opponent: Brive, the ogre of the division
Halloween will have passed this Friday when the match kicks off, but Brive has all the makings of a scary monster. Second in Pro D2, with the third best attack, CAB has one, if not the best squad in the championship. Courtney Lawes, 105 caps with the XV de la Rose, is the best illustration of this.
The fact: a first in a staggered schedule
This is new this season, VRDR will not play at 7:30 p.m. For the first time this season, the championship broadcaster has decided to postpone a Drômois match to 7 p.m. The opportunity for supporters to show off, notably with the anniversary of the 16th checkers group, who have planned to make a tarpaulin for the occasion.
The player: Sven Girlando, first start of the season
With his test registered in Nice, he allowed the VRDR to protect itself a little from the locals. In the process, Sven Girlando continues with his first start of the season. A situation that he has not experienced since April 12 and a trip to Béziers. The former Biarritz Olympique player will have the opportunity to prove himself in a third center line position where there is currently no hierarchy.
The number: 6,000
The public holiday and the good temperature forecast gave ideas to Valence Romans supporters. This Thursday, there were already 5,300 places sold for the reception in Brive. With last minute purchases, it is not impossible that the threshold of 6,000 spectators will be crossed. Enough to break the record for the biggest attendance of the season for the club.
The sentence: “I'm sure they watched footage from last season over and over again”
During the 2023-2024 season, Brive came to take a spanking from Pompidou (45-10). A confusing result for a National promotion facing a Top 14 relegation. A year later, Fabien Fortassin is convinced that this match is still in the Brivistas' minds. “I know the Brive staff well and I am convinced that they watched the images from last season over and over,” said the coach.
