This Sunday in Grasse (3 PM), it’s derby day! Stade Niçois, 3rd in the standings, travels to their neighbor and rival, the leader of group 3, Rugby Olympique Grasse. At stake is departmental supremacy, but more importantly, a step closer to playoff qualification.
When the schedule was released, both Grasse and Nice must have marked two dates, those of the derby. If the first leg was highly contested and filled with numerous clashes, the final score of 22-22 suited no one. Since then, both teams have evolved significantly both in terms of ranking and in developing their plays. It’s a high-altitude duel, first against third, that will be offered to the crowd at the Perdigon stadium.
The return to play was tough but fruitful for Stade Niçois. Last Sunday, Gilbert Doucet’s men prevailed over Bedarrides, a direct competitor for the playoffs, without allowing them a defensive bonus point. Three tries, two of which were 60 meters long, showed that the backs were in top form, epitomized by Sorreaux and Fritz. With only one away victory since the start of the season (in Fréjus-Saint-Raphael), the Niçois will need to do better in this second leg to hope for the coveted Top 4, synonymous with qualification for the finals.
“In the match against Bedarrides, there was waste, lost balls. The work this week has focused on those areas. We need to play faster. With few injuries (Cazanave and Commandeur absent due to suspension), everyone is ready,” explains Ludovic Chambriard, the backs coach.
As for Rugby Olympique Grasse, everything is going smoothly. An undisputed leader, Grasse won in Beaurepaire without impressing (26-20). The coaching duo Fraser-Purll is working wonders, getting the most out of a squad aiming for the top of Pool 3. However, the heavy defeat before the vacation break (37-14 at Bedarrides) shows that Grasse is not invincible.
A derby is not a match to play, it’s a match to win. With seven games remaining in the regular season, every point, even offensive and defensive bonuses, matters. Seven points separate the two teams. By the end of the derby, around 5 PM, either Grasse will take an almost definitive lead at the top, or Stade Niçois will re-enter the race for the top spot. Tensions are heating up!
Photo credit and more information: www.stadenicois.fr
