Rugby (Pro D2). Montauban must avoid the trap match, against Nice

They could have crossed paths at the end of last season. But the Azuréens did not want it, by beating Narbonne, to access directly to Pro D2. The Montalbanais could have not crossed paths with the Niçois this season, but they also did not want to, by beating the Narbonnais in an early match. The two teams will therefore cross swords this evening. And if Nice is not yet renowned for being a great land of oval football, it only aspires to become one. Either way, the two teams are no strangers to each other. Relations between US Montauban and the Stade Niçois date back to the 1970s, due to the friendship between the Sapiac educator Edouard Tournou and the Niçois Marcel Volot, whose name the stadium has borne since June. Thanks to this friendship, a host of young Montalbanais participated in the Nice tournament, with a stint in Italy under the benevolent eye of the great Henri Roméro. Despite everything Montalbanais, and Niçois have only met four times in their history, it was in the Federal. The results are shared, with two successes each. The last time the Azuréens came to Sapiac was… in 2011! An eternity in terms of oval balls. That year, strength returned to the “Green and Black”, and the two teams even qualified for the final stages. A lot of water has flowed since then on the side of both teams.

Nice people more comfortable outside

Today, the Niçois discover Pro D2, and occupy a temporary play-off place, 12 points behind the Sapiacains. The ranking must be in favor of the Tarn-et-Garonnais, but everyone has insisted on their vigilance, as the Azuréens have gleaned more points away than at home (victories in Agen 16-12, and Aurillac 25- 16; defensive bonus point brought back last week from Dax 22-19). If the Niçois are more comfortable when it comes to traveling, we will also notice that the Montalbanais have still not experienced defeat at Sapiac, and that they remain on a more frustrating defeat brought back from Colomiers. A defeat which did not please manager Sébastien Tillous-Borde who was quick to let it be known.
If last week, the Sapiacains made their shortest trip of the year, to Colomiers (59 km), this evening they welcome the team furthest from Sapiac, tied with Oyonnax, i.e. 661 km (less than Rouen which was still 714 km from the basin). But it's not the distances that make you win or lose a match.