“We are our greatest weakness, our worst enemy”: RCM Palavas in search of consistency to finish the Fédérale 2 season strong

Da Silva, Capelli et les Palavasiens sont prêts. – RC MEDITERRANEE

Après des débuts mitigés, désormais 6e de sa poule de Fédérale 2, le RC Méditerranée veut prendre la bonne vague pour finir la saison en boulet de canon.

It's still in people's heads. Last spring, after a controlled exercise and an authoritative first place in the group, the Palavasiens fell in a two-legged match against ES Catalane. A premature end to the season for one of the division's ogres, who had to change things in the off-season. Exit Laurent Pous and Philippe Garriguenc, for the arrival of Stéphane Welch, in charge of the forwards, who joined Jean-Philippe Lacoste, himself a specialist behind.

“There was a big disappointment last season, we talked about it in the end-of-season interviews 'year, it came out a lot, points out the new coach of the “big guys”. We had to start this season with this trauma.”
Expected on all grounds, the Maritimes first assured in Millau (20-23) before breaking their teeth, in the same way , in Saint-Raphaël (25-23) and Aubagne (36-34), in the final moments. “We lose points stupidly away in matches where we dominated the debates in the first halves, regrets Léo Da Silva, one of the club's veterans, who is playing his sixth season at the Stade Louis-Baumes. We often start strong and then we have to know how to manage your weak times.”

200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000

The derby in Jacou, this Saturday at 3 p.m.

This Saturday at 3 p.m., the RCM will make the short trip to Jacou to play the Montpellier derby against the red lantern. “There is no easy match, we are going to Jacou, it is far from being won, it is a team that is playful and has nothing to lose”, warns Stéphane Welch. “Jacou, we know that it's a team that has heart, that is combative, that will not give up and that will sell its skin dearly”, announces Léo Da Silva, cautiously.

Last Sunday, hosting the Varois du Carf, the Palavasiens dominated the first half, glimpsing an offensive bonus (34-0 at half-time). Before fading completely and conceding four tries in the second half, making the final victory less flattering (34-22). “There was a bit of panic, maybe one or two people were missing to take the lead at that moment, says Stéphane Welch. Everyone wants to do their bit, but sometimes clumsily…”

A ranking that can quickly change

This victory, the third in a row in the championship, allows the protégés of president Hugues Galambrun to reintegrate the top 6 in a very tough group. “We realize that we win a match, we can be 4th or 5th, and if we lose one, we can quickly be 8th”, analyzes the technician, whose team trains three times a week.

A place in the middle of the table that is unfamiliar to the RCM players in recent seasons.“I've been here for six seasons, I've always had seasons where we were top of the group or in the top three, admits third row Da Silva. But this position doesn't bother me, as long as we remain confident in our strengths, we keep our confidence in ourselves and we continue to work.”

The Héraultais have nine matches left to try to stay in this top 6 and why not aim higher, with the receptions of Angles, Avignon and Pézenas in the return phase. “We have to hang on, maybe qualification will be decided in the last match at Servian-Boujan”, warns Welch. “We are our greatest weakness, our worst enemy”, confides Léo Da Silva, Aveyron flanker, who also believes that his club has, today, “a real soul, with a group of friends… we all see each other outside”.

“It would be pretentious to say that we are aiming for promotion, we must first ensure qualification”

“When I arrived, we were considered a club of mercenaries that had no soul”, he specifies. The club has progressed in recent seasons, particularly in terms of structures. “The heart of a club is training and we are happy to go and see the youngsters when they play in the area, notes Da Silva, fully focused but also lucid about the deadlines at the end of the season. The club has a goal of moving up to the division above, but at the moment, it would be pretentious to say that we are aiming for promotion, we must first ensure qualification.”

By playing three teams lower ranked than it, the RCM has everything it needs to start 2025 well and why not, ride the right wave in the spring.

I subscribe to read the rest