“Nice must achieve a feat, plain and simple. Aix-en-Provence, as expected, is the powerhouse of the group,” said RNCA General Manager Julien Schramm last Friday, highlighting the challenge facing the people of Nice against the group leader, Pays d’Aix. “If we play a full 80 minutes and the team performs at 100% of its potential, victory is possible,” he continued. The 22 players from Nice, dressed in pink for the occasion, gave their all to compete with the Provençals. In the absence of Jean-Pierre Rey, Christophe Moni chose to position Eric Delage at scrum-half and moved Rudi Dames back to fly-half. Thomas Mège returned to his position at center, and New Zealander Dean Moxham was back as flanker.
Rudi Dames, from the start of the match, launched high kicks. Following one of them, after a poor reception by Aix, the full-back held onto the ball on the ground. He was penalized. Thibaut Déjardin kicked the ball between the posts (3-0, 4th minute). PARC then became more enterprising. The Provençals maintained possession and controlled the field. Nice only countered them in touch. After a misunderstanding between Malavard and Déjardin, center Benstaali made a last-minute save. He prevented the release of the ball. A white card for the player from Nice and a penalty for Aix. Bruno Lancelle equalized (3-3, 17th minute). With 14 against 15, the players from the Alpes Maritimes suffered, but this numerical disadvantage stimulated them and raised the intensity level. Before halftime, Déjardin and Lancelle each missed a penalty. Both teams returned to the locker room with a tied score (3-3).
Nice’s fans were used to poor second halves. At halftime, one wondered how they would fare against the giants of the group. We recall the first leg where Pays d’Aix was down 11-10 thirty minutes before the final whistle before putting the Nice team through agony, ending 46-11. The Provençals had been stronger, tougher, and quicker. Would the rematch see the same scenario?
Christophe Moni decided to bring on Herrera, Caminati, and Traversa, anticipating a possible drop in energy—a very good tactical choice. The players from Nice were livelier, more powerful, and Caminati’s speed added a new dimension to the back lines. The scrum made progress. Herrera, playing at number eight, delivered powerful runs. With simple but effective rugby, RNCA dominated the second half. Déjardin capitalized on his forwards’ good work three times (50th, 57th, 74th minutes). The team from Nice, as per their usual (bad) habit, even allowed themselves the luxury of a forward pass in the in-goal area… The Aix team seemed surprised by Nice’s play. They made poor decisions and dropped balls. In stoppage time, Lancelle missed another penalty, and PARC left empty-handed from their short trip to the Alpes Maritimes.
The RNCA confirmed its resurgence, securing a second consecutive victory and accumulating points in view of the relegation playoff—or more, if there’s a connection… With this level of play, Christophe Moni’s men can hope for more. They will need to repeat this performance next week in Romans-sur-Isère and in fifteen days when they host Bédarrides.
