The Rugby Club Nîmois travels to the Rhône this weekend to face the Stade Métropolitain. An important match for two teams who occupied the first places during the last two seasons.
Nîmes, currently sixth in Nationale 2, is preparing to face a difficult month of November and December with three trips first against the Stade Métropolitain (9th), a team which will want to reposition itself in the ranking. Then against Rennes, a match which promises to be difficult against the current leader of the group. For its third match, Nîmes will host the other co-leader Orléans before ending the year with a trip to Aubenas (8th).
Before this trip to Villeurbanne, team manager Guillaume Aguilar answered our questions:
How do you view this match against the Stade Métropolitain?
They are starting the season not necessarily up to par with what they have done for two years because they were usually at the top of the table. Perhaps the changes they experienced in the squad disrupted them but they are coming back well.
After of course we analyze our opponent's game, it is important but we have focused on ourselves for the last few weeks and in particular on the points to improve by doing things well by relying on our strengths.
We know that the team is struggling to win away from home, have you changed anything to create a spark?
We are trying to change certain things but above all do what we know how to do well and rely on the basics of this combat and conquest game. A conquest which as soon as it is up to par like against Rumilly or Mâcon poses a problem for us.
How do you view this block of 4 matches against the two leaders in particular?
We have to arrive by playing the best matches possible and not have any regrets because in certain matches like Orléans or Nantes we did not manage to achieve our highlights. We have to take as many points as possible from each match, our goal is not to just take a bonus point but to go for a victory. But it won't be easy, against the Stade Métropolitain we will have to be very disciplined to give ourselves the chance of winning.
The Nîmes, with a busy infirmary, are traveling without certain leaders like Justin Phillips who suffered a concussion against Vienna, Samuel Roche who has rib pain, Tim Guillemin and Thomas Roche are still unavailable.
The Nîmes record the return of Marius Vialle.
It is Valentin Tonin who will wear the captain's armband.
The match will take place on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. in Villeurbanne.
Also read:
RC Nîmois beaten by Vienna at Kaufmann
