Rugby: It's the big day for Millau which is playing its way up to Fédérale 1 in Sarlat!

Millau joue sa montée en Fédérale 1 à Sarlat. Centre Presse – Aurélie Fontana

After its victory in the first leg (28-25) against Sarlat, Millau plays its promotion to Fédérale 1 this Sunday (3:30 p.m.). Since Rodez in 2019, Aveyron has not had a club at this level.

The Som is 80 minutes from happiness. And for good reason, he is preparing to play a crucial and decisive meeting with, at the end of the effort, a climb to Federal 1 to be won. The Millavois have a small mattress of three units (28-25) after the outward journey which they will therefore have to defend tooth and nail in order to obtain the precious sesame. True to form, Somist coach Baptiste Majorel wants to make the trip to win: "We are not going to be in the management of this short lead and we are moving here to get a result , like in all the matches we have had this season. We really want to get the best possible result on the Sarlat field." Thanks to a remarkable state of mind, the group of the city of the glove has been particularly interesting away from home this season, not giving up a single match and even reversing situations that seemed very compromised. "The state of mind of my group, and I include all the players who participated and joined the project, has not changed. We always have our objective in sight, the matches follow one after the other and to continue the adventure as late as possible, we put things in place."

The fight was very tough last Sunday and left visible marks on some players. But there were no injuries to report and it is therefore with the same team composition that Som will start the match, and the same for the bench. So try, and this is extremely rare, for the same 22 players as last Sunday to defend this small lead and try to win the Grail. Millau, but also Aveyron rugby, have been waiting for this for several years already. 2019 and the administrative demotion of Rodez, precisely.

A high-quality opponent

But the game will not be easy, because the opponent is of quality. Sarlat wants to return to the highest federal level and is prepared for it. The blues and blacks kept some senior players from a former ambitious project and restructured themselves. Last Sunday at the sports park, we saw that the Périgourdins had not finished first in the group for nothing. Still for the Millavois coach: "The opponent is consistent with what we thought before the match. They have a good squad with strong individuals but in any case, in the round of 16, all the teams are of quality."
As D-Day approaches, the Somist strategist worked calmly this week and without any particular pressure: "As with all matches, we took the time to analyze what worked well and what didn't work well for us. We think we have the keys to the match. We worked for it in any case, but we also put ourselves in the place of our adversaries to see and consider what they could offer us."

A great day atmosphere

As in the first leg, the big day crowd is expected at the Christian-Goumondie stadium in Sarlat. The Dordognot club is a real rugby stronghold with, every Sunday, a large crowd in its den. But Millau will not be left out. Following the results of the season, the fervor has gone up a notch and many Aveyron supporters are coming this Sunday to support their players. There is therefore a risk of a warm atmosphere in the stands, the context and the stakes of the match deserve it in any case. “A lot of people will make the trip to come and support us, cheer us on. We are very proud of that. No pressure to have however, we had our dose last Sunday given the context of the match and the last appearances of some players in front of their fans, where there was a lot of emotion and affect, recalls Baptiste Majorel, echoing here the future departures of the emblematic Gauthier Escalaïs, Ewen Perraux, the captain, and Nicolas Hérail. This episode is over, we travel without pressure. And to see that we are supported like this, it warms the heart and gives a lot of energy."

The pressure ? « It is perhaps more important on the shoulders of Sarlat »

Regarding the outcome of the match, and given the forces involved, it is difficult to identify a favorite. What is certain is that Som will have to put in a great performance and succeed in putting their movement game in place, while being pragmatic, realistic and disciplined if they want to celebrate great happiness this evening. The access to the upper floor that a whole city is waiting for is at this price.

The Starting XV

Perraux (cap.) – Delouis, Austruy, Fekitoa, Wadelle – Escalais (o), Rorato (m) – Métral, Coste, Fournier – Naudan, A. Bourrel – Hérail, Petit, Pupier.
Substitutes: De March, Roques, Mezair, G. Bourrel, Hinderschiett, Vergne, Calvi.

The last word goes to the Millavois coach, always very humble and positive: "Sarlat plays the return match at home with three points behind and the pressure will perhaps be greater on his shoulders. They (the locals, Editor's note) cannot afford to miss out at home on a climbing match. Now, given the performances of everyone, I think that in this match, there is not particularly a favorite between two great teams. »

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