Except for one action, the post-match statements and discussions about the match would have been very different. But there you have it, the scenario of the meeting was this and the result is confirmed. Brive continues its roller coaster at the start of the season.
This may be a poster child during the final phase but even if we are only on the seventh day, this Provence – Brive is tempting. The two teams do not arrive with the same dynamicbetween a strange draw at Soyaux-Angoulême for Provence and a clear and improved victory against Biarritz for Brive. From now on, full focus on this poster with staff saying what they would like to see in the game.
To add to the drama of the meeting, the rain and the wind are present. The CAB is comfortable in these conditions and will quickly score two tries to lead 17 to 3. Provence is struggling to put its game in place. But Brive completely forgets himself in the discipline and takes two yellow cards. What to restart the game?
Provence pushes but rushes too much to conclude. While Brive is back at 14, he says to himself that it was finally good to be at 13, taking a third yellow card in the process. The Brivists stand together and maintain their lead at the break. Doubt is present on the Provençal side while on the Brivist side, we regret this indiscipline.
After this long period of numerical inferiority, Brive came out without too much damage and even if its game is minimalist, based on forward play and occupation at the foot, it works and it totally disrupts Provence which does not know not on which foot to dance. The gap oscillates between 11 and 14 points difference. We enter the last quarter of an hour and it is hard to imagine seeing Brive lose at that moment.
And yet, that’s what’s going to happen. We enter the last ten minutes and Brive finds itself numerically inferior. Immediately behind, Provence scores and everything is restarted. On a contested decision on the Brive side, Provence obtains a penalty and a final penalty on the halfway line. Throw from the back, inside throw and Léo Drouet tears through the entire defense for the Aix victory try. Like last season, Provence wins at the siren against Brive. A Brive who leaves again with regrets from his trip to Aix-en-Provence.
Samuel Maximin regrets the indiscipline of his team. Without that, Brive was fine and ultimately shot itself in the foot. Something to work on to avoid going through this again.
Pierre-Henry Broncan is quite angry about the behavior of his players. This is reminiscent of the post-match at Mont de Marsan.
Courtney Lawes and Jules Plisson met again and the image of the former’s tackle on the latter emerged from the boxes. The beer was well drunk between the two. Waiting for the rematch in the return match.
Jonathan Wisniewski, who commentated on the match Thursday evening. also points out the problem of discipline of the Brivists. In the future, we will have to be better to validate our end-of-season objective.
Jérôme Thion describes the two faces of the CAB very well: a first attractive face and a second, more problematic face.
Provence savors this almost unexpected success. Ten minutes from the end, Provence was still quite far from victory. And yet, it is Provence which wins the 4 points. The people of Aix are lucid about the content of the meeting and the favorable outcome. We still note the collective strength and state of mind of an entire group.
The match was managed with control. There was a lead of more than 10 points and 10 minutes left to play. Logically, victory is in the hold of the Brivist bus. But now, Brive completely disconnects at the end of the match. Indiscipline is back with a fourth yellow card and Provence is back on track. On a last action, Provence reverses the match and wins at the siren. The Provençals are doing very well but have never given up. The Brive players fall back into their mistakes away from home and this match is reminiscent of the match in Nevers. Brive still does not seem to learn the lessons of the past.
Image : Canal+Sport
