AS Béziers Hérault 34 – SU Agen 24
Lieu Béziers (Raoul-Barrière stadium). Spectators 6 722. Arbitrator Flavien Hourquet (Occitanie). Half time 15-17.
AS BEZIERS HERAULT 5 tries from Lorre (17th), Gontineac (38th), Eru (54th), Abescat-Leroy (57th), Courtaud (68th); 3 transformations of Lorre (38th, 54th, 68th); 1 penalty from Lorre (6th).
The team: Lorre – Courtaud, Recor (Gontineac, 72nd), Gontineac (Votu, 52nd), Plazy (Dreuille, 67th) – (o) Malié (cap.), (m) Anon (Marques, 44th) – Benoy, Abescat Leroy, Van Bost (Koen, 45th) – Gayraud (Doumenc, 52nd), Eru (Gayraud, 65th) – Judge (Arroyo, 52nd), Arnoldi (Boulassel, 55th), El Maslouhi (Trauth, 52nd).
Yellow card: Plazy (30th, repeated fouls).
YOUR AGEN 2 tries from Lombard-Buret (40th + 3), Martins (71st); 1 transformation from Pourteau (71st); 4 penalties from Pourteau (2nd, 20th, 25th, 29th).
The team: Pourteau – Martins, Muscarditz (Randle, 61st), Garrigues, Etcheverry (Mazzoleni, 65th) – (o) Searle, (m) Bellot (Maunder, 61st) – Fineanganofo (Bonnet, 52nd), Gayraud, Lebian (cap.) ( Fineanganofo, 72nd) – Eissmann (Olmstead, 65th), Olmstead (Farré, 52nd) – Burin (Farrance, 55th), Socino (El Bibougi, 55th), Lombard-Buret (Mstoiani, 65th).
CThis time, they didn't spoil the party. Twenty years after their last success in Hérault (6-16), the Agenais failed to repeat the feat this Friday evening in a Raoul-Barrière stadium which celebrated the 40th anniversary of the 1984 title, the last of eleven Brennus of the ASBH. Forty years later, there was no need for extra time or penalties to decide between these two “historic” players in French Rugby. Beaten (34-24), Sébastien Calvet's men created an illusion for a half (15-17). And then the Béziers bulldozer set off and rolled unceremoniously on the Agenais to sign an improved victory. A fourth success in a row for Hérault residents, well established in the top 6 (4e), which are the hit of this end of year 2024.
With this fourth consecutive defeat, SU Agen, on the other hand, continues to plummet after a promising start to the season. Now 12e and orphans of their captain Arnaud Duputs, they see the red zone approaching dangerously. The objective is now clear. “We’re playing to maintain,” summarizes defense coach Adel Fellah. You have to quickly take points to get out of this zone. It's a pressure situation, but we're going to tighten up and not look at the rankings. » Before the back-to-back receptions of Oyonnax (next Friday at 7:30 p.m.) and Aurillac (Friday December 13 at 7:30 p.m.), the SUA is up against the wall, its room for maneuver is increasingly reduced. If no one wants to talk about a crisis yet, the next two deadlines will inevitably be decisive.
Pragmatic Agenais
Authors of a rather solid first period on their bases (conquest and defense), the Agenais had nevertheless taken the lead at the break (15-17). Julien Lebian's partners were able to force their destiny by opting for a penalty enhanced by the Lombard-Buret pillar three minutes after the siren. A great proof of character which rewarded their return to a game perhaps less flamboyant, but certainly more effective. After having paid to learn in the derby in Armandie before the break with the murderous counterattacks of Montauban (18-25), the game plan of Sébastien Calvet's protégés was clear: expose themselves as little as possible, play as much as possible in the camp Béziers and feed on opposing faults. Simple, basic.
“We showed good things for 50 minutes, we will have to use it for the next two home matches”
The SUA nevertheless conceded two tries during this first period. The first on a first-hand attack following a scrum and a school overrun by the future Lyon full-back, Gabin Lorre, who mystified his counterpart Pourteau to sign his 8e test in six days (8-3, 17e). The second on a kick behind the Malié defense with a rebound which benefited the former Rouen center Taylor Gontineac – a time on the shelves of the SUA – who scored his first try in the Hérault jersey (15-12, 38e), while his team was outnumbered. But Pourteau's 4/4 to punish the indiscipline of Béziers (8 fouls in 29 minutes) had allowed the Agenais to be more than equal until then (8-12).
Another air hole
Faced with a team which had just passed almost 100 points in two matches against Dax (50-17) and Colomiers (40-44), the SUA then thought it had found the recipe for success. He fell from very high again in the second half. With an XXL bench and in particular the entry into the fray of Samuel Marques, voted best player in Pro D2 last season, the Héraultais would make the difference in less than a quarter of an hour. Overwhelmed by the power, speed and post-contact passes of the Biterrois, the Agenais conceded three tries in quick succession (54e57e68e). Another breath of fresh air that they paid a high price for, while the ASBH had already sealed a new improved victory to the delight of its supporters, finally freed (34-17, 68e).
Martins' interception on the halfway line gave the SUA hope of saving a defensive bonus point (34-24, 71e). The Agenais were never able to get it in the last minutes. “But we haven’t completely collapsed,” remembers Adel Fellah. We showed good things for 50 minutes, we will have to use it for the next two home matches. » A return to a game of dispossession, a lot of pressure in defense and a state of mind for all tests, Julien Lebian's partners were able to verify this Friday in the first period that they are certainly better than their ranking. Is this enough to turn things around? With four receptions over the next five days, the Agenais will quickly be settled.
