Saturday January 22, at the start of the evening (6:30 p.m.) the public will be able to attend a particularly awaited confrontation between La Rochelle (1st, 38 points) and Caen-Rouen (2nd, 33, one game less). The two formations must determine a hierarchy on the occasion of this last confrontation of the first leg (at least as far as …

Saturday January 22, at the start of the evening (6:30 p.m.) the public will be able to attend a particularly awaited confrontation between La Rochelle (1st, 38 points) and Caen-Rouen (2nd, 33, one game less). The two formations must determine a hierarchy on the occasion of this last confrontation of the first leg (at least as far as the Stadistes are concerned, since the visitors could not challenge Valletta the previous weekend). The two teams are undefeated and, barring a mishap, they should fight for the title at the end of the season before trying to climb the final rung to reach the elite.

The Norman clubs of Caen and Rouen were able to measure the gap which separates the two divisions. By merging this season and giving birth to the Valkyries, they quickly gave depth to this project without cutting corners. The trauma of the descent is very real, according to the former coach of Caen Jean-François Mouton: “For lack of being well armed, this passage in the elite has left its mark, I do not want to relive that. We agree, we didn’t target the mounted car, we don’t want to do the yo-yo. We have to build things well beyond pleasing our sponsors. »

“It’s a great challenge, a preparation match for the final stages in content, on how to manage the pressure”

“Here, we are fighting for first place, the idea is to finish in the top four. If we win, it will be even better. The girls can’t wait, are delighted to play Deflandre, it’s a great highlight of women’s rugby, continues the technician. Matches like that, against a direct competitor for the title, allow us to gauge ourselves against the top of the table, to measure what our second half of the season will be like. We know we are going to be expected, we are preparing for that. We are complete. »

The collective will be the key

This return to competition is likely to put a strain on the organizations. “It’s a big start to the year, the benchmark match to get back into the second phase. The girls had a program, since then, on a set of intensity in the races, the tackles to find match conditions, but we are far from the sequences of tasks, declares Alexandre Barès, the coach from La Rochelle. Opposite, in front it is dense, very solid. They have extra kilos, girls who have known the elite. They have a very good n° 8, a good “heel” as well as a “10-12”, which is all the assets to be contenders. »

“It’s a really good challenge, a preparation match for the final stages in content, on how to manage the pressure. The strategy will be on another level. We will have to deviate the game, be vigilant in defense, strong on the two-man tackle, put them under pressure, our exits from the camp… Our individual capacities will not be enough, it is collectively that we will get there. January is never good for the return to competition, the players are very involved this week, it remains to make the transfer mentally. At the effective level, we have a choice, ”finishes the yellow and black technician.