Pro D2: In inferior numbers, Nissa Rugby leaves Brive with regrets

Nissa Rugby was away on the pitch of CA Brive for the 3rd round of Pro D2. A match where Nice paid dearly for its rare indiscipline (38-17).

Nissa Rugby wanted to confirm its fine performance from the previous week. At home against Béziers, the Nice team had shown great intentions just one week after their failed season opener against Biarritz. It remained to prove that this team could deliver a great performance away from home.    

Against Brive, unbeaten at the start of the season and designated candidate for promotion, the test looked tough. CAB came in with conviction in attack (60 points scored in two matches) but also in defense (35 points conceded) and home invincibility that had lasted since October 23, 2025.

Nice had nothing to fear before the match and arrived in Corrèze with a reshaped squad and a strong will to perform well. Seven players celebrated their first start of the season. This was the case for hooker Clément Martinez and his first-line partner Jules Martinez, fly-half Flavio Asquini and fullback Boris Goutard.

Nissa Rugby showed determination right from the start of the match. Théo Idjellidaine distributed the game well to his forwards. After a five-minute sequence two meters from the line during which the Brive players faulted several times, it was ultimately center Baptiste Lafond who took advantage of his teammates’ hard work to breach through and score under the posts.

An advantage quickly wiped out following a defensive fault by the Maralpin players two minutes later. John Cooney, the local fly-half, launched a movement with the support of his wingers Lewis Noon and Geoffrey Cros. The latter came to finish an action of more than 50 meters to bring the two teams level after the Irish fly-half’s conversion.

Nissa Rugby wanted to set the pace, unimpressed by their evening opponent despite being used to Top 14 competitions. And it paid off as the Azuréens earned a nice penalty converted by Flavio Asquini in front of the posts after a daring backline restart attempt by Brive: 7-10.

A red card that turned the match

Very undisciplined, CAB was under pressure from the Nice players who were unable to capitalize due to too many handling errors. As the minutes went by, the locals became more incisive in attack. After a ball carry led by Maxime Sidobre, the scrum-half broke along the line before being tackled by Pablo Patilla. The referee let play continue allowing left prop Vakh Abdaladze to regain the advantage by scoring on the line against struggling Nice defense. Except that after video review, it was a double blow since the Maralpin fullback, who was at fault on the action, was sanctioned with a red card for foul play, leaving his teammates with 14 men for nearly an hour. 

A double blow, not to say a triple blow for the Maralpins. Only six minutes later, Corrèze center Gatien Massé came down the left side of the depleted Nice defense to score CAB’s third try. Brive, who had been struggling early on, logically led 19-10 at halftime. 

After the restart, Brive wanted to leave no hope for the Nice players. On the first black and white offensive, Alexandre Ricard added to the score in the corner with a fine team movement to pull away. Especially since on the play, Inoke Nalaga, guilty of a slap, left his teammates with 13 men for ten minutes. 

With a 16-point gap and a secure bonus point, Brive was having fun in the back of a desperately struggling Nice defense. Nevertheless, we will remember the good management of numerical disadvantages by Gareth Barber’s players. Aggressive on the man, Inoke Nalaga, who had just returned to the field, forced his opposite number to drop the ball just as he was about to score another try. Buoyed by the freshness of his replacements, Nissa Rugby did more than hold its own without being able to hope to get back into the match. 

Nevertheless, the work of the Brive backlines hurt late in the match. Aymeric Luc and then Maxime Sidobre added to the score in turn to secure their invincibility. Boris Goutard’s final try after a period of offensive dominance changed nothing. Nissa Rugby returns empty-handed from Corrèze (38-17) and must draw conclusions from this defensive indiscipline before welcoming Grenoble to Marcel Volot next Friday at 7 p.m. Another heavyweight of the championship that will need to be successfully managed to prevent doubt from creeping into the minds of Nice supporters.