The Niort RC players finished the year 2024 badly. On their last two outings, in Saint-Jean-de-Luz (15-16) and Graulhet (13-16), they lost by nothing, bringing back still the point of the defensive bonus. If the scenarios are opposite in these two matches, with a missed start on one side, a missed second half for the other, the observation is always the same. “We are still on AC, the first half is good, but not the second. It's a big disappointment, because the desire disappears. The substitutes contributed nothing. We don't deserve to win.”summed up Johann Authier, the Niort manager, after Graulhet.
A feeling repeated over and over for several weeks. Even the victory, at Espinassou, against Fleurance (40-31), had left a bitter feeling in the words of the demanding technician, after a second act with absent subscribers. “Frankly, I don't care about our good start to the match. What interests me is that we are catastrophic at the moment. We take 31 points at home, and we are still happy. That doesn’t suit me, it’s unacceptable…”such was the analysis of the moment.
Over the last five days, two victories and three defeats, Niort RC only ranks sixth in its group (11 points), far behind the sustained pace of Salles (19 points).
Better attack, better defense
And yet as we close out the year 2024, the people of Niort have done the job. They are first in the group, ahead of Auch who have a game in hand, but above all have dominated all sectors of play.
Thanks to an almost perfect start to the season (seven victories in eight matches, and four offensive bonuses), marked by the tragedy which affected the club, with the death in a car accident of its defender, Quentin Gobet, the Niortais displayed the best attack (334 points), ahead of Auch (327 points) and best defense (216 points) ahead of Mauléon (225 points).
Another statistic which shows the reality of Niort RC's performances, César Baudin's partners are the best at home (27 points like Arcachon) and away (17 points).
Niort RC is at the top of group 2.
© (Infographic NR)
So after a mixed start to the season, some will say, Niort RC is more than ever in control of its destiny to secure direct qualification for the final phases. However, we will have to rediscover the recipe from the first days to set in motion a better dynamic.
