The Stade Niçois could not withstand Brive, third in the standings. They were defeated (16-26) on their home turf. This defeat does not help Nice in the standings.
The Maralpins knew this match was going to be tough, but the Nice coach was confident and believed they could hold their own. And that’s what his team did for the first 40 minutes. The first half was tight and it was the kickers who responded to each other with penalties. The match was lively, and both teams played actively, yet neither could make a significant difference. It took until the 28th minute to see the first try of the game. Unfortunately for Nice, it was scored by the French under-20 world champion Mathis Ferté. The young fullback had scored two tries in his last match. The halftime score was close, with Brive leading by just two points (9-11).
More tries in the second half
Right after returning from the locker room, Nice conceded the second try to Brive and found themselves trailing by nine points just one minute into the second half. But the Nice team showed determination and didn’t give up as they attempted to close the gap. Brive’s defense held strong, resisting the hosts, who were spurred on by their home fans. Their efforts finally paid off when Berrenguel crossed the line in the 65th minute. Auradou converted the try, bringing Nice within 5 points of their opponents with 10 minutes of play remaining. Unfortunately, the miracle was not meant to be, as Leo Carbonneau scored the last try of the match, sealing Nice’s fate. They suffered a fourth consecutive defeat and are now at the bottom of the standings. The next match is on November 29 against their neighbor Aix.
