In Rumilly, “we’re going there to win!”

Le capitaine du RCN Benjamin Barnerias affiche ses ambitions. Même en déplacement. PHOTO MATHILDE ARNOUX

Nationale 2/17e journée. Les Nîmois, en difficulté à l’extérieur, ne veulent plus faire de voyage à vide.

Doctor Jekyll or Mister Hyde ? Since the start of the season, RC Nîmes has had two faces. At Kaufmann, it’s often champagne rugby. Like last weekend, and this first try from Junior Ngandu, served by a masterful foot pass from fly-half Nathan Sabbia. Champagne like this last try, in stoppage time, from winger Saimone Qeleca, synonymous with an offensive bonus against Auch (28-9).

Conquerors in attack, solid in defense, Guillaume Aguilar's men have surely produced their best copy of the season. A full match despite, once again, a certain indiscipline (2 yellow cards), which allows captain Benjamin Barnerias's gang to hope for a good end to the season.

The Nîmes will achieve this all the better if they finally manage to produce such beautiful copies outside. "We can't go from five points at home to zero away", pointed out, from the final whistle, on Sunday last, the Gard manager.

The RCN 1st at home, 6th away

Outside it is, it is true, rather bleak plain. Two victories against low-level teams (Bédarrides and La Seyne), two small defensive bonuses in Mâcon and Dijon: Nîmes only has the sixth record on the road, while it is leader at home (8 matches, 8 victories ). "These results do not live up to our ambitions", recognizes Barnerias.

"Faced with teams with restrictive play, , analyzes the third line, we sometimes wanted to play too much. It's up to us to sort our balls better, to better alternate our play, like what we produced against Auch. We have the capacity to do it outside our bases"

In Rumilly ? Not easy: the Haut-Savoyards n have only fallen once on their lawn at Grangettes, against Dijon, and that dates back to October 7. Better, Rumilly has three offensive bonuses at home, like the RCN.

"With Rumilly, there are a lot of similarities . Like us, they rely on a big pack to play. It's rugby! And then, over the seasons, it has become a real classic of our championship with its little quarrels, rcalls the captain of the RCN. That adds spice. But one thing is certain, we are going there to win!"

Nîmes (3rd, 49 pts) plays at Rumilly ( 4th, 46 pts) this Sunday at 3:15 p.m.