Rouen, not the head but the legs
Impossible for the RNR to “as if”, we are far from child’s play, but both feet in the sad reality. So yes Rouen has decided to play this match and receive Carcassonne, so there are 80 minutes to play, and with a simple objective, to win.
It is therefore on the physical aspect that it will be necessary to answer above all, because the head will inevitably be elsewhere. Rouen set up a psychological cell (yesterday) so that the players can discharge themselves in order to lead the fight, but also say if they are ready to play, after the disappearance of Jordan Michallet. The week was necessarily truncated, no video session Tuesday afternoon, no training Wednesday, a set up took place yesterday. “We work and we adapt hour by hour, this situation is unprecedented. We are all concerned and concerned, as best as we can, from the head of the club to the volunteers. best possible, but it is difficult to demand a result”, confides Greg Bouly, the forwards coach.
On a cross record, Rouen has always struggled against Carcassonne, only one victory (30-27) in the first leg of the 2019-2020 season, the rest are defeats, including the last (30-14) in the opening of the 2021-2022 season. The final composition of Rouen has not been established at the time of writing, but we already know that the players lined up will be keen to make the best match possible. Because Rouen no longer has the time, only two teams behind in the standings, one of which is coming back quickly, but four teams that can be caught up in front in the event of a victory. It is therefore high time to start moving forward.
Don’t sink
Not easy either for Carcassonne to prepare for this match, which is one of its longest trips. And given the situation to know how to comment on this day. We know the solidarity of these players, some have already heard from their friends from Rouen, but on the pitch the visitors have a top 6 to look for and will go all out. Rouen will therefore have to do its best to put aside the space of a match, its mourning and its sadness, in particular to respond to the physical challenge that the players of Christian Labit will impose on them, before it will hit hard, it will be necessary to feed of that to raise your head.
For Rouen, it is complicated for the staff to demand a result from the players, but you have to count on the group to show their teeth, and not to sink into the abyss which could lead them far too low.