This is truly a sixteenth-final match being played between Nice and Castanet, a decisive match in which Manu Boutet and Will Johnson’s men must confirm their victory at the first leg against the Toulouse suburb team (26-27). For this match, Nice will not have all its assets due to the injuries of Ross Beattie, Florian Traversa, or Julien Roman, uncertainties surrounding Josselin Lapierre and Lomé Fa’atau, not to mention the premature departure this week of center Rudi Keil for professional reasons.
“We must impose our game,” says Manu Boutet. “Castanet is a formidable and well-structured team. It has managed to win at La Seyne this season, and it was only narrowly defeated 12-6 at Chalon. It’s a very effective team in the breakdown, well-organized in rolling mauls, and solid in the scrum. Therefore, we know where we need to be efficient, primarily by ensuring the fundamentals. It’s only by respecting these basics, especially in the scrum, that we can then add speed to our game.” However, note the return of the dynamic Billy Ngawini in the Nice attack.
This is a match not to be missed, with a very interesting curtain-raiser game at 5 PM between the Crabos juniors of RNCA and those of FC Grenoble.
The Nice Group
Forwards: Canizares, Guarese, G.Hill, Langlade, MacKie, Feldis, Boukanoucha, Derrstroff, Leduc, Ducourtieux, Herrera, Mezencev, Sainte-Croix
Backs: Delmonte, Chambon, MacHugh, Benstaali, Kacharava, A.Malavard, Ngawini, Caminati, Dramé, Lapierre or Fa’atau.
