Three weeks after their last National match, Stade Niçois, ranked 2nd, returns to the championship with an away game in Suresnes, ranked 12th. A match that ended with a wide victory for David Bolgashvili’s Niçois, 11-48, bringing them closer to their rival Bourg-en-Bresse, the current leader.
After conceding their second defeat of the season against Dax (24-22) and with the postponement of the match against Cognac due to Covid-19, Stade Niçois wanted to find their way back to victory in order to catch up with Bourg-en-Bresse, which temporarily holds the first place in the championship with 60 points. Mission accomplished for Matty James and his teammates who delivered a real performance against Suresnes.
40 minutes to get oriented
For this match, David Bolgashvili changed almost his entire lineup compared to the last game against Dax, except for Alexandru-Gabriel Gordas who remains in the starting position as right prop and Charles Reynaert who remains on the wing.
#RCSvsSN | The Niçois starting XV.#NissaRugby #IssaNissa pic.twitter.com/RJHOJhMSBc
— Stade Niçois Rugby (@stadenicois) April 18, 2021
Despite the players’ will and some fine moves, Stade Niçois did not find their rhythm in the first half. Yet, it was indeed the Niçois who dominated the early discussions. After two consecutive failed penalty kicks for Suresnes, the Azuréens opened the scoring through Sakiusa Bureitakiyaca. Following a pursuit kick, the Niçois Fijian outran the Suresnes defenders and managed to ground the ball in the in-goal area. James converted, making it 0-7 for Nice (11th minute).
The winger did it again in the 35th minute. After a penalty and an unconverted try for the locals, Suresnes came back to 8-10. Starting from a counterattack, Sakiusa accelerated, shook off several defenders perhaps a bit too passive on the spot, before scoring a brace. His first two tries as a Stade Niçois player. James missed the conversion, making it 8-15 in favor of Nice. Half-time was whistled at 11-15 after a last penalty for Suresnes in front of the posts.
40 minutes to convince
The second half started strong for the Niçois. After a quickly taken penalty by Ormeachea within the opposition’s 22m, Richard Fourcade broke through the Suresnes defense and scored the third try for his team. James converted (11-22, 44th). The Southerners displayed a subtle play, pushing the Suresnes players back into their field. On a long pass, Charles Reynaert crossed the line and grounded the ball. James missed the conversion this time, but Nice led 11-27 away.
The match was far from over, and Nice took the opportunity to put pressure on their opponent. Following a lineout five meters out, the Niçois sent Kurt Haupt over the try line after a solid and well-executed maul. A successful conversion from the corner by James, and it was 11-34 for Stade Niçois (53rd).
The Suresnes players were overwhelmed by the Azuréens’ play, who were also playing in numerical superiority after a yellow card was given to one of the white and green props (61st). After a scrum, the ball was sent wide, and Defives served Reynaert at the line for a brace. Successful conversion, 11-41 for Nice. The suspense was already over, and the Niçois finished in style with a penalty try awarded by the referee after a series of repeated fouls near the in-goal line (11-48, 77th).
A bonus victory for Stade Niçois, 11-48! With this success, Nice consolidates their 2nd place in the standings, two points behind the leader Bourg-en-Bresse but with two games in hand. A perfect evening for the red and blacks who gain full confidence before facing Narbonne at Arboras Stadium on April 25.
