The match started in the best possible way, with a breakthrough from Drôme and a try in the first minute of play. But the VRDR demons quickly resurfaced, and the mistakes piled up. One of them offered a Nice touch to the Niçois, who were able to score in the action that followed. Halfway through the first half, the Drôme suffered two hard blows: the exit on concussion protocol for their No. 10, Lucas Méret. He will not return to the pitch. And then in the process, a yellow card for his replacement, Mattéo Rodor, who paid for the accumulation of mistakes by his team. The Aiglons did not really know how to take the advantage during their numerical superiority, and made a series of mistakes, allowing Fabien Fortassin’s players to lead by three points at the break.
Upon returning from the locker room, boredom invaded the pitch for more than 20 minutes: numerous hand faults on both sides, neither team managing to hold the ball and build offensive actions, the backs exchanging shots. feet from the back of the field… Until the 64th minute and the 2nd try of the Valence-Romans players, following a dazzling performance from the back lines concluded by the forwards. The Drômois will then hold the match until the end, despite some great scares and suspense which lasted until stoppage time.
Highlights of the meeting
Summary Nice – VRDR 10/25/2024
Comments: Valéry Lombardo and Alexandre Wibart.
Final score Stade Niçois 19 – VRDR 24
80′ The VRDR players try to ensure possession until the end of the match but make a mistake… The Niçois find a touch in the 22m from Drôme. The local forwards pound the Drôme defense but commit a final mistake, which gives victory to the Valence-Romans players.
77′ The Niçois are cornered in their camp and collect mistakes. This time, the penalty is well placed, 25m to the right of the posts. But it is a failure for Joris Moura.
76′ Fabien Fortassin’s players are in their match, and obtain a new penalty, but still lose one player to injury, it is the 3/4 center Anatole Pauvert.
73′ Otar Giorgadze, the Georgian 3rd line of the VRDR, remains on the ground while his teammates advance into the Nice camp. He gets up but leaves the pitch. Corner penalty for Joris Moura but the ball goes wide of the posts.
70′ The Checkers make a mistake in the scrum, in their camp facing the posts. Easy penalty for Romain RIguet. Stade Niçois 19 – VRDR 24
67′ Penalty for Valence-Romans players, 40m slightly to the right of the posts. And that goes for Joris Moura! Stade Niçois 16 – VRDR 24
64′ Great offensive action from the Checkers, following a breakthrough from Joris Moura, the forwards take over and Sven Girlando goes for the try. The transformation does not happen. Stade Niçois 16 – VRDR 21
62′ Joris Moura attempts a 51m penalty, slightly to the left of the posts. It’s a bit short. The score does not change.
58′ The Damiers recover the ball in the Nice 22m, following the return kick. Mattéo Rodor hits a little low kick on the ground. Video refereeing is requested to know which player flattened in the goal. The try is not awarded, it is Corentin Penc’hoat, the Aiglons winger who seems to have arrived first on the ball.
56′ 12th penalty whistled against VRDR players, for a tackle without a ball. Romain Riguet has the opportunity to tie the two teams, and it passes. These are the first points of the second half. Stade Niçois 16 – VRDR 16
48′ A messy start to the second half on both sides, with hand faults, and Rugby ping-pong, exchanges of kicks between the rears of VRDR and Stade Niçois. The first changes are being prepared.
42′ Lucas Méret’s replacement, Mattéo Rodor, hits a kick to follow over the first defensive curtain of the Nice stadium. Great offensive action from the Damiers which ends with a forward strike. The locals were penalized in the scrum, but in the moments that followed, another Drôme forward…
20h30. Romain RIguet kicks off. The VRDR flyhalf, Lucas Méret will not return to the pitch, the concussion protocol he followed is positive.
Halftime Stade Niçois 13 – VRDR 16
37′ This is a recurring problem for VRDR players: they easily take points just after scoring. New illustration, with a mistake just after the dismissal. The penalty is well placed, Romain Riguet does not tremble. Stade Niçois 13 – VRDR 16
35′ Referee Adrien Marbot calls an offside against a Nice player, new penalty. Joris Moura is in good shape, and gives his team a 6-point lead. Stade Niçois 10 – VRDR 16
34′ Penalty for the Aiglons, 30m to the right of the posts, but it does not pass.
31′ Joris Moura, replaced at the opening, attempts and succeeds in a penalty. Stade Niçois 10 – VRDR 13
28′ The Aiglons winger, Christiaan Erasmus, must go out to follow a concussion protocol following a head impact.
25′ The ball is slippery, both teams commit numerous hand mistakes. The Drôme are penalized several times in their camp. The Niçois continue the scrums. Hard blow for VRDR, Lucas Méret, who had a good start to the match, left the pitch to follow a concussion protocol. Mattéo Rodor, who had just come into play, received a yellow card which sanctions repeated mistakes by VRDR players. New penalty, the local scorer tries his luck, but the ball goes wide. The referee whistles, the penalty must be replayed: the Drômois left their goal before the kick. This time, Romain Riguet passes the ball between the posts. Stade Niçois 10 – VRDR 10
17′ Penalty for VRDR. From 25m to the left of the posts, Lucas Méret adjusts the sights. Stade Niçois 7 – VRDR 10
13′ The third penalty is better placed this time and offers a nice touch in the visitors’ camp. The Aiglons do not manage to make it happen but benefit from an advantage and take the penalty again. In the action that followed, Nice pillar Luvuyo Pupma scored a strong try. Romain Riguet transforms the try. Stade Niçois 7 – VRDR 7
10′ Second penalty against the VRDR players, but like the first, it was whistled in the Stade Niçois camp.
1′ First try for the Checkers after only 1 minute and 30 seconds of play! Following the kick-off, the Aiglons Niçois commit a forward attack. The melee is for the Drôme, and on the launch, a breakthrough brings Louis Marrou into the end of the premises, near the posts. The transformation is carried out by Lucas Méret. Stade Niçois 0 – VRDR 7
19h31. Kick-off of the match between Stade Niçois and Valence Romans Drôme Rugby given by Lucas Méret, Drôme fly half. The match will be played in Nice, at the Marcel Volot stadium. It is refereed by Adrien Marbot. The weather is threatening, the Alpes-Maritimes have been placed on orange alert for rain and flooding by MétéoFrance. Heavy showers are expected for mid-evening, with tonight’s match expected to pass through the rain.
The 8th day of Pro D2
ARC
The ranking before the 8th day of Pro D2
ARC
