Pro D2: Nissa Rugby clinches its first away victory against Narbonne

The Nice players have broken the curse. Nissa Rugby snatches its first away victory of the season on the promoted Narbonne’s home turf. In a match with plenty of physical combat and resilience from both sides, the Nice players are doing double duty tonight. Gareth Baber’s men take their revenge against an opponent who had already deprived them of the National title last year.

This bottom-of-the-table fixture weighed heavily in the race for survival. Before the start of this 10th day of Pro D2, Nissa Rugby (13th, 16 points) only led its host Narbonne (14th, 14 points) by two small points. The stakes went beyond the points tally for the Maralpin team, however. It was about erasing the heartbreak of the National final suffered on May 16, where the Narbonne players snatched the shield on the line (23-20). To knock down their bête noire on the pitch at Parc des Sports et de l’Amitié, the Nice players were counting on the return to form displayed in their convincing victory against Aurillac (29-20), which came to stop the bad run conceded against Agen (28-24) and Provence Rugby (24-34) a few weeks earlier. But to pull off their revenge against Audois also under pressure, the Azureens had to absolutely break their curse away from home and go after a very first away win this season.

Mission accomplished. Yet it was the visitors who drew first with a penalty from Nice scrum-half Théo Idjellidaine in the 3rd minute (0-3). Stung to the quick, the Narbonne players immediately reacted with a superb 20-meter ball carry finished by hooker Daniel Jooste, converted by Hugo Goyenech (7-3). Masters of the field in the first quarter hour, the Audois extended their lead with a penalty (10-3). Accurate, Théo Idjellidaine allowed his side to draw level by converting two new attempts out of three, the third brushing the posts, although the Nice players lacked efficiency in the scoring zones, as with a fine opportunity wasted at the half-hour mark in the five-meter area. It was ultimately Narbonne who led at halftime. Two minutes from the whistle, another penalty increased the toll, forcing the Azureens to return to the dressing room seven points down (13-6), despite a final counter from the Nice scrum-half that did not pay off.

A game of cat and mouse

The second half had started badly for the visitors, caught off guard in the 45th minute by a try from Caleb Timu converted, widening the gap for Narbonne (20-6). But at the hour mark, Gareth Baber’s effective coaching and the input of four substitutions completely revived the Nice side. Driven by fresh blood, the Azureens reacted on a well-executed lineout to score their first try of the match. This was followed by an intense back-and-forth between kickers, between the adjusted penalties to draw within four points (20-16, then 23-19) and the Audois responses at goal, Nissa Rugby never let up. In the 73rd minute, taking advantage of a Narbonne mix-up in their last five meters, Jules Gimbert snatched the equalizing try (26-26). And the miracle happened 50 seconds from the end, on a final penalty hard-fought to the whistle. Jules Gimbert did not hesitate to give victory to an entire club on Narbonne’s pitch (26-29), signing a foundational away win.

After this match that was rough both physically and mentally, Gareth Baber’s men will have to keep their mindset and rely on their encouraging sequences to continue their streak. However, the Pro D2 championship offers a welcome break. Thanks to a two-week break with no matches, Nissa Rugby will be able to rest and prepare for their home return. The Azureens must now ride their good momentum in front of their home crowd to maintain their forward march, on the occasion of the next home match against Valence scheduled for November 20 at Marcel Volot stadium.