The Stade Niçois hosts Bourg-en-Bresse this Sunday (1:25 PM). The two teams are tied for first place.
This Sunday, Stade Niçois is preparing to play a match of utmost importance. At the top of the standings, the Azuréens welcome Bourg-en-Bresse (2nd). Both teams are tied on points, but Nice is ahead in the standings due to a better goal difference. This match is therefore a turning point in this particular season.
If they succeed, the protégés of David Bolgashvili and Martin Jagr would have a good chance at the playoffs and even potentially a home semi-final. Conversely, a defeat could drop Nice to third place. Training sessions, scheduled this week at Parc des Sports Charles Ehrmann, were particularly diligent given the stakes involved.
A status to uphold
At the beginning of the season, Bourg-en-Bresse was predicted to be among the favorites in this National Championship, alongside Albi, Massy, or Narbonne. Nice was considered an underdog. But roles have reversed in recent weeks. Stade Niçois has gradually become the predominant favorite to move up to Pro D2. “We’re not under pressure,” acknowledges flanker Jonathan Mace. “We have to give our all to stay in first place. The playoffs will come if we’re in the top four, so we must maintain our first place.”
This change in status does not unsettle the players, as Jonathan Mace confirms: “It’s not something that came as a surprise. There was quality recruitment. We know we have a good team, and we’ve had a strong start to the season.” This year, the Azuréens are having an exceptional run. They have only lost once, away at Albi (21-19). As the last team undefeated at home, Stade Niçois is eager to extend this winning streak at the Stade des Arboras this Sunday.
A vengeful team against the Niçois
Last week, Nice put in a very solid performance, winning at Bourgoin (14-20). On the other hand, Bourg-en-Bresse had a disappointing result, losing at home to Massy (29-31). The Bressans are expected to come with a vengeful attitude on the Côte d’Azur this Sunday. “They’re a very good team,” recognizes fly-half Matthew James. “Two years ago, they were in Pro D2. They’re a complete team, and it’s going to be a big challenge for us. It’s the time to put in a big performance.”
A brilliant scorer, Matthew James had an off day at Bourgoin, missing three penalties well within his range. The New Zealand fly-half is also keen to make amends: “Collectively, we played well in the first half, except for me. If I had scored those points, the gap would have been bigger. I can’t make the same mistakes against Bourg-en-Bresse.” According to the Nice captain, the key to the game is clear: “In rugby, the forwards win the match, and the backs decide the margin. I hope our forwards put in the same performance as in Bourgoin.”
The first appearance in Nice for “Caminator”
The match at Bourgoin was marked by the return of Julien Caminati in the Nice jersey. Signed as a medical joker, the versatile back returns to the colors of his training club. The native of Nantua has a French Top 14 championship title to his credit, won with Castres in 2018. “I had the opportunity to come back to Nice,” explains the 35-year-old player. “It fills me with pride, and everything is set up for my reintegration to go very well. But my personal situation doesn’t matter. I’m just here to help the team.”
Accustomed to high-level matches, the person nicknamed “Caminator” chooses to brush off any pressure: “Winning or losing this weekend, nothing is decided until the championship is over. It’s an opportunity to take a step closer to qualification but nothing more.” For Julien Caminati, there are no plans to draw definitive conclusions after this match: “Rugby is a sport of humility, so you have to work and question yourself every weekend to move forward.”
The words of David Bolgashvili
David Bolgashvili, the forwards coach of Stade Niçois, does not hold back. Very close to his players, he delivers his instructions and doesn’t hesitate to raise his voice during training. The Georgian knows that the match against Bourg-en-Bresse will be highly competitive: “We want to win, but we know it will be tough. We are going against a vengeful team with a lot of ambitions. We want to stay group leaders, but what matters to me most is the performance because the championship is still long.”
Alongside Martin Jagr, the backs coach, David Bolgashvili will have to make some tough choices to field the best possible team. “We feel that everyone wants to play,” admits the forwards coach. “Some players are injured and won’t be able to play. Others will not be included in the squad. Everyone wants to take on Bourg-en-Bresse, and I hope we make the right choices.” For this game, the Georgian coach is suspended. He will therefore not be on the sidelines but in the stands at the Stade des Arboras.
Information on the squad and potential lineup
Regarding the team lineup, Alexandru Gordas is absent. The prop is selected with Romania for the Six Nations B Tournament. Also in the front row, Sunia Vola and Louis Martin suffered knocks during the win at Bourgoin, but both men should be able to hold their places. Prop Kakhaber Koberidze is training separately from the group. For the Niçois, a significant blow is the absence of Joketani Koroi. The strong number eight was slightly injured during the match against Bourgoin. He will be replaced by Martin Freytes in the starting fifteen.
In the center of the attack, Lionel Mapoe felt a sharp pain in his thigh last week. After a few days of rest, the South African has resumed training, but his participation in the match remains uncertain. For Matthieu Bonnet-Gonnet, the situation remains complicated. Injured in the wrist, the powerful winger may need surgery, which would end his season. His goal is to play in the playoffs, so he will likely wait until the end of the season for surgery. Despite everything, he remains limited and might give way to other players in great form right now, like Augustin Slowik.
Possible team lineup:
Defives; Reynaert, Mosses, Lea’ana, Slowik; (o) James (cap.), (m) Ormaechea; Tachat, Freytes, Mace; Tivoli, Lasis; Negrotto, Haupt, Vola. Substitutes: Martin, Pouyleau, Suaud, Fontaine, Cazanave, Ricquebourg, Caminati, Guniava.
