PRO D2 – Nevers surprises Brive at the siren, undefeated at home for almost a year

The year 2025 is perhaps that of Nevers. After an authoritarian success against Mont de Marsan (34-0), the Nivernais won on the Brive field, during the 17th day of Pro D2 (23-22). The Brivists had been undefeated in their stadium since February 9, 2024 and had already suffered a defeat against their evening opponents.

Sluggish Brivists facing solid Nivernais

Better classified and logically favorites, the Brivistes took time to enter their match against Nevers. Opposite, Xavier Péméja's men directly brought the necessary intensity into their duels. This allowed them to lead 10-0 after a little over a quarter of an hour of play. Johan Wasserman offered the Corrèze public a superb personal action. Glued to the touchline, the USON winger broke through the opposing defensive line by recovering his own kick thanks to a favorable rebound. He then perfectly resisted the Brivist return to flatten under the poles (17'). Unfortunately, too many hand faults prevented them from increasing their lead.

Trailing by the score, the locals then dominated the debates, while remaining quite sluggish. On a touchline, Rahboni Warren-Vosayaco slipped through the Nivernaise defense and made a perfect chistera to offer Matias Moroni's first try in the CA Brive jersey (22'). The winger even scored twice a few minutes later, concluding a long sequence of domination for his team (33'). The first act was also marked by the exit on a stretcher of Rati Zazadze, who was then seen on the bench.

Heroic Nevers

After returning from the locker room, Brive quickly took the lead. Put under pressure, the Nivernais found themselves cornered in their camp without any solution. From yet another penalty, Marcel Van Der Merwe came out like lightning from the penetrating Briviste group to flatten into a corner (49'). In front of the scoreboard, Pierre-Henry Broncan's men gradually came out of their match, committing numerous indisciplines and leaving space for their opponents.

Pillar Farai Mudariki took advantage of the holes left by the Brivist defense to rush towards the goal before shifting White, who resisted the Brivist return to score a try synonymous with hope for his team (58'). The Nivernais continued their domination to take the advantage at the foot (20-19 in the 62'). The Brivistes then thought of offering themselves a narrow success when Bosch succeeded in his attempt at the foot (22-20 in the 77'). But that was without taking into account the heroic efforts of the Nivernais. Xavier Péméja's men went for a final penalty after the siren, this time synonymous with victory.

Thanks to this surprise away success at the Championship runner-up, Nevers moves further away from the red zone. Brive, for its part, lets Béziers, victorious this Friday at Soyaux-Angoulême, escape to second place. Next week, the Brivists will travel to the Oyonnax field. Nevers will play a decisive match for maintenance, at home against Agen.