The pool 2 in which RNCA is included must be confirmed by the FFR, but it is already known that it will be composed as follows: Chalon-sur-Saône, Nice, Castanet, and Cahors. To qualify, Nice will have to finish among the top two places after six matches.
If Manu Boutet and Will Johnson’s men start these playoffs with a victory away, they would ideally launch this second phase. What we saw against Saint-Etienne, in any case, suggests very good things to come. Despite the lack of competition after more than a month without a match, the Nice team showed a lot of desire and cohesion with a dominant scrum and three tries.
MATCH DETAILS
Nice b. Saint-Etienne: 30-16 (13-13)
For Nice: 3 tries, Mezencev (21st); penalty try (46th), Boukanoucha (56th); 3 conversions and 2 penalty goals (12th, 33rd) MacHugh; 1 penalty goal (69th) Caminati.
Yellow card – For Nice: Caminati (18th).
White card – For Nice: Derrstroff (47th).
The Nice team: Caminati – Fa’atau, Benstaali, Mège (Kacharava, 52nd), Lapierre (Dramé, 58th) – (o) MacHugh (Lapierre, 58th), (m) Chambon (Delmonte, 58th) – Moxham, Sainte-Croix (captain), Mezencev (J.Malavard, 68th) – Boukanoucha, Leduc (Derrstroff, 40th) – G.Hill (Langlade, 52nd), MacKie (Feldis, 52nd), Guarese (Canizares, 50th). Coaches: M. Boutet, W. Johnson, and N. Szezur.
Jean-Prat Trophy Schedule
February 28: Castanet – Nice
March 7: Cahors – Nice
March 28: Nice – Chalon
April 11: Nice – Castanet
April 18: Nice – Cahors
May 2: Chalon – Nice