Pro D2: Nissa Rugby launches its season by crushing Béziers

After the heavy defeat conceded in Biarritz last week, Nissa Rugby reacted perfectly at home. Driven by their imperial forwards, the Maralpins inflicted a thrashing on AS Béziers (43-6) by scoring six tries, thus pocketing a convincing bonus victory.

After a disappointing start in the Basque Country, the Nice players returned to their Marcel-Volot stadium this Friday, September 4 for the second round of Pro D2. For their reunion with their public, the Maralpins pulled out all the stops. Much better in terms of content, the Nice players showed no mercy to the Béziers side.

However, the start of the match was marked by some nervousness. Between approximations and handling errors, including three Nice knock-ons in less than ten minutes, the game struggled to develop. The visitors took advantage to open the scoring thanks to Victor Dreuille’s accurate kicking (0-3, 6th minute, then 0-6, 19th minute).

But the power of the red and black pack quickly rebalanced the game. In the 13th minute, after a strong forward advance five meters from the line, Tyler Morgan converted the first Nice incursion. Hugo Sarrasin doubled the lead ten minutes later by arriving strongly near the line (14-6). Two tries converted by Jean Pascal Barraque. Just before halftime, as Béziers received a yellow card (Taofifenua, 38th minute), the Nice pack drove home their advantage. Adrien Motoc came to ground the ball at the end of a strong period of play, allowing his team to approach halftime with a comfortable lead 21-6.

A one-sided second half

After the interval, despite a try disallowed for Tyler Morgan in the 50th minute after VAR review, Nissa Rugby maintained absolute control of the match. Brought on to replace Guillaume Rouet, who was returning to the field, Flavio Asquini first kicked a penalty that brought the score to 24-6, just before the hour mark. Before the Nice machine really got going.

Julien Farnoux scored the fourth try for the Eagles in the 64th minute (31-6). Completely overwhelmed in their half and reduced to 14 players late in the match, the visitors suffered repeated assaults from the home side. Clément Martinez scored twice in quick succession on two perfectly executed carries in the 69th minute and two minutes before the final whistle. With this XXL victory, (43-6), Nissa Rugby have boosted their confidence with the attacking bonus to boot. A victory and precious points that have brought Gareth Baber’s men up to ninth place with five points. Next appointment next week away against Brive.

“We produced the rugby we wanted”, the restrained satisfaction of the Nice players

The Nice players’ faces showed as much relief as pragmatism at the end of the match. Aware of the room for improvement after the first round in Biarritz, the Maralpins were determined to put things right. “ In Biarritz, we offered nothing, we suffered, acknowledged hooker Étienne Falgoux. We had our ears pulled after Biarritz, added Arthur Vignolles. We wanted to reassure ourselves, to make up for it at home and to prove that we could produce the rugby we wanted. “

While the proud reaction was striking on the field, the tone remains measured. Driven by a renewed set piece and discipline that had been reworked during the week, the Nice players know that the road is still long. “ We must keep our feet on the ground, we haven’t accomplished anything yet “, tempered Étienne Falgoux, noting that there is still “ collective adjustments” to refine between the newcomers and the established players. The same assessment from the flanker, who points out the mistakes still present while already projecting the group towards what’s ahead. “ It’s good for morale to keep working. A tough away trip awaits us (at Brive, Editor’s note), we’ll need to fight hard to bring back as many points as possible. “