After years of struggles, the Stade Niçois is 80 minutes away from paradise: the red-and-blacks only have to cross the final hurdle by overcoming Narbonne this afternoon at Arboras.
As the top of their group, playing at home against the fourth in the standings, the outcome should normally be clear. However, the ball is oval…
And how can we forget that only a month ago, these same Narbonne players defeated the odds by handing Nice their only home defeat?
Moreover, it was the match during which James Lassis was severely injured. He won’t be on the field this Sunday; his match is elsewhere, at Pasteur Hospital, where he is trying to overcome a more than challenging situation. His teammates will also be playing for him.
While Nice is probably stronger than its opponent, they will also feel the pressure of being the favorite, while Narbonne will have the advantage of being the underdog and can approach the match with complete relaxation.
The public, having returned, with ticket demand far exceeding the allowed capacity due to health measures, will push the players to achieve the sacred goal, the Pro D2, which has been, for many years and through successive corporate restructurings, a dream, a dream that could become a reality and allow Nice rugby to regain its standing.
The Nice XV: 15 Delives, 14 Bonnet-Gonnet or Buretaiyaca, 12 Fritz, 12 Mapoa, 11 Goujeon, 10 James, 9 Ormchea, 7 Tachat, 8 Freytes, 6 Mace, 5 Koroi, 4 Tivoli, 3 Negrotto, 2 Haupt, 1 Vola
Replacements: 16 Martin, 17 Pouyleau, 18 Fourcade or Fontaine, 19 Suaud, 20 Cazenave, 21 Mosses, 22 Buretaiyaca or Bonnet-Gonnet, 23 Kuberidze or Gordas
