Marc-André Domergue, the general manager, explains: “The defeat is heavy. In view of the game, the difference between the two teams is not that big. Unfortunately, we finished with fourteen players (due to Hill’s injury), then with thirteen. Which is severe. But we must acknowledge Biterroise’s dominance in realism. We saw the difference between a confident team and one that lacks it. However, I prefer this defeat to the one recorded last week at home against La Seyne. In terms of game volume and intentions, it was much better than last week. A team, a group has found itself. But it’s not enough. We must now regain scoring efficiency. Therefore, it is imperative to defeat Romans on Sunday at Arboras.”
It was the revenge match for the locals (beaten in extremis in the first leg thanks to two penalty kicks by Malavard when they already thought they had secured victory) and a redemption match for the people of Nice after two defeats (including the one at home against La Seyne) that had weighed down their ranking, starting to make the people of Nice doubt their chances of qualifying for the final phase.
Alas, the exploit did not happen, and the doubt about the match outcome lasted only 20 small minutes, the time for Biterrois to score the first of the 5 tries of a solitary cavalcade and a bonus-point victory.
Never in the match, the purple-and-blacks were merely extras in a game where the differences in values and above all efficiency were obvious.
This result and its repercussions on the standings require an imperative questioning by the Nice staff to understand the causes of a drop in performance that could derail their team’s path in the second phase of the season with a challenge to the club’s main objective: qualification.
An initial response must be found and given next Sunday at Arboras during the reception of Romans.
Beziers- RNCA: 39-6 (15-3)
