Rugby: Nice knew how to bring Romans up to speed

The Arboras stadium was packed despite the risk of storms when the 33 players took to a pitch that was certainly the most beautiful green but also insidiously slippery. It was time for Jean-François Tordo, former glory of Nice rugby and the French national team, to give the kick-off with a drop that was not his preferred weapon. The peak of this day of federal rugby could begin like the light drizzle that gave a Breton air to this coast that was so often azure.

A start to the match that quickly turned to the advantage of the Drôme players, who saw Arnaud Combet slip between the posts to give the first advantage on the scoreboard (0-7) then quickly 0-10 with a penalty from Bart. Two penalty attempts for the Nice fly-half with two penalties that would end up missing the target. Nice pushed but the leaders had seen worse. One solution: wrap up the match before halftime. Bingo, after two “penalty touches,” the Nice forward pack combined well and the try, though collective, was finally awarded to Khaled Khalouchi. Dames converts and Olivier Achaintre’s charges close to within three points of the damiers. But playing too much often goes wrong, and twice the Côte d’Azur players got “caught by the patrol” by attempting two winning penalty shots that gave, once again, a significant advantage to the Drôme players (7-16).

No time to go get a beer at the clubhouse before the debate resumes on the rectangle, leaving brown in place of green. You start to think that after the loss against Grasse, the syndrome of the big clubs will play another bad trick on the hosts.

So Nice decides to play and play again. Proof being this attack that starts from the 22-meter line with good pass sequences sometimes but ultimately a deadly interception by William Boudjenah, the Drôme winger, who carries “the ball” to the promised land (7-21). The stadium doesn’t let down its “little ones” and chants pour down from the stands in the style of a sky that still isn’t the most pleasant. The noise level increases like the play on the field. Some supporters from the partnership between OGC Nice and RNCAUR even sing chants you’re more used to hearing in the Ray stands. “Whoever doesn’t jump is not from Nice” is picked up by a crowd quickly contaminated by the message.

And this message seems to bear fruit on the pitch too, as the Nicoise players settled in the 22-meter zone of a Romans team that keeps on defending. One penalty, a second, and it’s a penalty try for anti-play that is whistled by the referee in favor of Nice. Successful conversion and the gap narrows again with only 7 small points separating the leader from its deputy. The fight becomes keener, the impacts cause more injuries, and the referee calls the two captains repeatedly. Rudi Dames showcases his talent by successfully kicking two more penalties and the Côte d’Azur players are within just two points of the upset.

Only a few seconds remain to play and Romans seems ready to consolidate its place as leader and prepares to leave with a fine performance in its pocket. Penalty whistled against Romans for offside, Rudi Dames doesn’t hesitate for a second and places the ball toward the opposing posts situated about forty meters further on. The stadium holds its breath as the most Nice of all South Africans begins his run-up but the roar rises immediately when the ball goes straight between the bars. Nice takes the lead on the scoreboard after nearly 80 minutes of play (23-21). The crowd exults, the bench goes crazy, the substitutes are off the bench and… crash!

The Nice forwards made a mistake at a breakdown and the penalty is clear: Penalty. 35 meters in front of the posts and one last action to play, Romans’ fly-half Jeremy Guilhot has the win at the end of his foot. New silence in the stands and a few whistles accompany the gesture of the Drôme kicker. Badly struck kick, the ball flies off to the right of the Nice posts and the referee blows the final whistle on this chase match. Smiles are on Nice faces and the grimace soup will be hard to swallow tonight in the capital of shoes, which should still be very proud to have such a high-caliber rugby team.

Nice won, Nice is first but above all rugby is the big winner in a region that truly deserves to rediscover the level of the Nice-Romans matches of yesteryear… But that is another story whose pages are written by the players and management of new Nice rugby.