For the fourth day of the Pro D2, Stade Niçois suffered a heavy defeat (52-3) against Oyonnax, a Top 14 team last year.
The task was expected to be tough, and indeed, it was confirmed on the field. Against Oyonnax, a former Top 14 team, the Niçois simply could not compete.
From the start of the match, the Niçois conceded the first try, the first of a long series. Romain Riguet responded with a penalty and scored the only points of the game for the visitors. Stade Niçois conceded two more tries in this first half and were trailing 21 to 3. Nothing was working, their handling was not up to par, the ruck areas were messy, in short, nothing was going well. Against such an opponent, this is unforgiving.
A very long second half
Physically and mentally worn down by a solid Oyonnax team, the Niçois collapsed and conceded six tries in 40 minutes. An embarrassment and a 49-point difference, the trip proved costly. Alexandre Compan’s men will be eager to respond next week against Colomiers in front of their home crowd. Meanwhile, they are second-to-last in this Pro D2 championship.
