The rugby of Drôme and Ardèche is celebrating this Sunday on the occasion of the derby of the National championship. Aubenas welcomes the VRDR to the Georges-Marquand stadium from 3 p.m., as part of the 19th day. In the standings, the Drômois are 3rd and the Ardéchois 10th. Nearly 3,000 spectators are expected in the stands.
The Drôme victory in the first leg, formidable Ardéchois on their lawn
This meeting between neighbors promises to be exciting and boiling in the Ardèche region. It must be said that the Albenassians still have the result of the first leg in their throats. On October 16 at the Georges-Pompidou stadium, the one-sided meeting saw the victory of the Damiers with the final score of 45 to 7, seven tries to one for the Drômois against the Ardéchois reduced to 14 after a red card. by RCAV scrum-half Nicolas Helmer.
“Aggressiveness, combat, that’s our business. We play the maintenance, so if you don’t have that, you’re dead!” – Ousmane Touré, RCAV manager
Since then, Aubenas has found its stride in this championship to such an extent that Ousmane Touré’s men are among the most formidable teams at home. The RCAV manager approaches this derby with a lot of confidence. “In the state of mind, derby or not, it’s still a rugby match. Aggressiveness, fighting, that’s our business. We play maintenance, so if you don’t have that, you You’re dead! We try to add rugby qualities to it with the ball and the players do it rather well. We are confident and we are calm.”
Same combativeness displayed for the former Albenassien, now third line of Valence-Romans, Axel Bruchet: “I’m a little excited about the coming of this game. We don’t expect to make big flights at all, to score 50 points, we are going to be expected in this return match.”
“The public will be behind, they will raise them (…), we must win at all costs” – Axel Bruchet, third line of Valence-Romans, former RCAV
With five consecutive victories on the clock since the beginning of January, the VRDR also presents itself with certainty for this derby, which will have a taste of the final phase for the Drôme manager, Johann Authier. “In terms of atmosphere, it will be closer to a final phase match. What will happen around will be different. For a player experience, more than a coach, living these moments is very rewarding.”
It is the sixth time in five years that the two clubs will meet on Sunday. The VRDR currently leads by four wins to one. The success of the Albenassiens dates back to April 8, 2018. That day the Ardéchois had largely imposed themselves on the score of 44 to 18.