This Sunday, Stade Niçois hosted RC Narbonne at the Arboras Stadium. A top 5 duel that ended with a defeat for the Niçois, 19-24. Nice’s first home loss, who also lost one of their locks, James Lasis, who was stretchered off.
Defeat can be bitter. But this one is even more so, not only because it’s the first one at Arboras Stadium for Nice, but especially when an injured player is forced to leave the field, and on a stretcher no less. This was the case with James Lasis, a Niçois lock, who, after a head collision, left in a rather critical condition. Here’s the summary of a ruined match.
A duel to watch
The Stade Niçois players confronted a very solid Narbonne team that held their ground during the first ten minutes. Until the first penalty was scored by Matty James (3-0; 13th minute). Subsequently, the Niçois made a few small mistakes in their own half. Fortunately for them, the Narbonne number ten missed an attempt from the opposite angle, keeping the score at 3-0 in favor of the hosts.
Nice even struck a major blow. After a run down the right side by Sakiusa Bureitakiyaca, captain Ormeachea ideally set up Ben Mosses. The center accelerated and scored the first try of the game between the posts. 10-0 after Matty James’ unmissable conversion (27th minute).
In this challenging context for the Narbonne team to respond, they managed to do so with a penalty, this time successful with the aid of the crossbar (10-3; 27th minute). But this was only the beginning, as the Narbonne team were reduced to 14 after a yellow card was shown to one of their centers. The half-time score was 10-6 after a final penalty converted by Narbonne.
A second half in favor of the Narbonne team
While the first half went the way of the Niçois, the second one leaned more towards the Narbonne team. After an exchange of penalties from both sides, the score was 13-9. A tight score, which was expected in this titanic duel.
After this, it was Narbonne who stepped on the gas. After a quick-played penalty, the ball was spread to the left wing. The Narbonne center concluded a superb collective move, putting Narbonne ahead on the scoreboard for the first time in the game. Try not converted, 13-14.
The visitors increased their lead in the 61st minute with a new try, this time by the flanker, who, after a series of attacks and pressure on the Niçois, managed to ground the second Narbonne try on the right wing. Try converted, making it 13-21 for Narbonne.
James Lasis, the unfortunate one
James Lasis (Stade Niçois) lying on the ground after a head collision
One of the key moments of the match was undoubtedly the collision suffered by James Lasis who, after a scrum, collapsed on the ground. Motionless, the medical staff rushed to the field to tend to the Niçois lock. During five long minutes of interruption, all eyes were on Lasis and his condition. After consultation, it was necessary to replace him and take him off on a stretcher (see photo below). The game then resumed.
The rest of the match did not bring many opportunities. After two new penalties, the score was 16-24 (75th minute) for Narbonne. With more than eight points to catch up, the defeat was almost inevitable for the Niçois, who went for the defensive bonus point at the end of the game. This is what they managed to achieve with one last penalty by Matty James, 19-24 for Narbonne, who finally won this close match.
Despite this victory for Narbonne, there was almost no celebration. The players remained on the field for long minutes and waited for news of their injured teammate Lasis. The coach and the team refrained from making any comments. Clearly, the match was already forgotten; no one was thinking about the defeat, as the Azuréens from Stade Niçois had lost not only the match but a key player.
