We are reaching the third of the championship and we are in a tight championship, with no one setting the pace at the top of the Pro D2. Brive and Colomiers complete the top 6 but do not display the same dynamic. Be careful to finish this block well so as not to drop too many points already.
The 10th day ends with a shock at the top of the table. Not necessarily the poster we were thinking of to put in the “shock” box but with the same number of points in 5th place in the ranking, it should be worth watching this game.
Review of the season
Brive : 5th with 24 points (5 wins, 0 draws, 4 losses)
Colomiers : 6th with 24 points (5 wins, 1 draw, 3 losses)
The crisis has not yet started but a few black clouds are starting to appear above the Brive Stadium. The CAB is struggling to find its cruising speed and continues to display recurring weaknesses. Despite everything, the team is positioned at the top of the ranking, in the hunter's position. The Brivists know that to play for the title, you will have to show yourself master of your kingdom. For the moment, the cathedral is intact even if it shook a few times. Against Oyonnax, everything went well even if the mechanics were rusty on both sides. Against Aurillac, Brive had to do the job and did it gradually during the match, starting at the end of the first victory. It is important to take as many points as possible in this type of match and the CAB did it. Facing a leading Biarritz, CAB had to do without the ball and in their camp in the first period. But the Brivists were able to be realistic to achieve a new and improved success. Dax proposed the same challenge as Biarritz to the CAB. The difference is that the Dacquois scored and the Brive players had all the trouble in the world to get through it. It came very close to defeat with this penalty at the siren which passed by the Brive posts, depriving Dax of the victory which would not have been stolen. At home, it works but away from home, it doesn't. And yet, everything started well with a victory at Soyaux-Angoulême. But when the locals started to play their game, the defense suffered and the dam almost gave way on the last action, changing the result of the match. The match in Nevers was a long story of penalties on both sides. In this little game, it was Nevers who won. Mont de Marsan is missing its start to the season but did not miss its match against Brive. Brive played 15 minutes before disappearing. The people of Mons didn't ask for that much. This match in Provence will be remembered for a while. Brive had control of the match for 70 minutes despite three yellow cards and a double numerical inferiority. But a new card will change everything and Provence crucifies the CAB like last season. And like last season, Brive takes a beating at Valence-Romansexploding in the second half. For his 2nd season in Pro D2, we do not (yet) feel that Brive is master of his game and his destiny. We no longer see a Brive along the lines of last season. Faced with Colomiers, Brive must reassure itself and its public.
While some teams start their season well by already being in the qualifying places, others disappoint and are already falling behind (Oyonnax, Nevers). And then, there are teams like Colomiers who did not miss their start to the season. It must be said that from the first day, Colomiers hits hard by winning at Mont de Marsanby having a big second half, inflicting a 13-0 on the Landes. This victory was almost not confirmed at home. Aurillac does not give up and thinks of holding the draw a few moments before the siren but Joaquin De la Vega adjusts a last penalty to give victory to Colomiers. A week later, the coin falls on the other side for the Dove. In Dax, the match was close again and the locals took the lead ten minutes from time. Unfortunately, Colomiers will not be able to turn the tide and score even three points. Not the pass of 3 at the start of the season and after a first victorious Landes trip, we will have to settle for a defensive bonus for the second Landes trip. What's good about Colomiers is that you don't want to leave before the end! The matches are close and offer many twists and turns. Colomiers is eight points ahead with ten minutes to go but Valence-Romans comes back to two points with five minutes to go. A final try secures the victory of the Haut-Garonnais. Nice is a new trip and we have to wait until the second half to see Colomiers take the score and secure their victory at the end of the match. This is already the second away success after there was only one victory last season.. After this excellent start to the season, Colomiers is experiencing a downturn. In Oyonnax, it's once again a close match and the Columérins bring home a point from this trip, which is not a bad thing. Against Soyaux-Angoulême, it’s as if everyone feared the other. The match got off to a good start with a 13-13 score half an hour from the end and then… nothing more! The two teams part in a draw, Colomiers loses its first points at home. In Agen, discipline will play a big role. Colomiers pays dearly for being numerically inferior by conceding two tries. Agen made the hole and will win the match despite a burst of Columérin pride in the last minutes. First match of the season empty-handed for Colomiers. In a derby, the most important thing is to win. Colomiers and Montauban do not let go of each other. Montauban is doing well in his match but a double inferiority will hurt by allowing Colomiers to come back to the level. The locals continued and scored the winning try just before the siren. Montauban earns a bonus in stoppage time but the Columérins return to victory after 3 matches without. Colomiers still has two games to finish the block well and it starts at Brive who is looking for confidence. There may be something to do in Corrèze.
Strong men
Absent from the last meetings, Asier Usarraga is going to be important in the fight and the ground gamein areas where Brive has suffered in recent weeks. Another small effort for Retief Marais who seems not to be 100% or at least tired but the South African is not the type to give up and will still give everything on the pitch. With the absence of the usual hinge, Hugo Verdu and Tom Raffy have a shot to play. They must take their chance. If we are more used to seeing him on the wing, Benjamin Lefranc will play in the center. Let's see what that gives. He's not the most academic player on Earth but in his own style, Asaeli Tuivuaka can pose a lot of problems. Back to the back, Mathis Ferté must find the flame and finish again that he had last season by scoring many tries.
Pablo Dimcheff is used as a luxury joker but knows how to be decisive as he did in Agen and especially against Montauban with a double and notably the winning try. Jean Thomas has known everything with Colomiers and the 2nd line is an irremovable part of the columérin pack. South African colossus Janse Roux suffered an injury a few weeks ago but his return against Montauban was good. And he will also have to do well against Brive. Anthony Coletta is from the breed of troublesome. He is a 3rd line who has the ball but who likes fighting and playing on the ground. Arrived from the Pampas XV, Joaquin De la Vega quickly found his feet in France and is already one of the best scorers in the championship. Having just received a contract extension, Ray Nu'u has taken his place in the Columérine attack and is one to watch with ball in hand. There is damage behind and Colomiers reacts quickly with the signings of Pablo Patilla and Martin Alonso Munoz. Barely arrived in Colomiers when the two players spent their baptism of fire in Brive. They're going to want to show up and do things right.
Results and confrontations
Brive (at home) : VVVV
Oyonnax (18-9), Aurillac (48-17), Biarritz (31-13), Dax (15-13)
Colomiers (outside) : VDVDD
Mont de Marsan (16-18), Dax (25-24), Nice (19-28), Oyonnax (21-17), Agen (27-18)
To have a great season, you need to tick two boxes: solid at home and efficient away. For the moment, Brive and Colomiers tick at least one of these boxes.
Even if not all matches are mastered from start to finish, Brive does the job at home with a 4 in a row. The 4th success was also the most complicated to obtain because it almost was a defeat. Colomiers only made one empty trip, the last to Agen. Because until then, there were always points with two victories (Mont de Marsan, Nice) and two defensive bonuses (Dax and Oyonnax).
In recent seasons, we have started to rewatch the matches between Brive and Colomiers. If in the Toulouse suburbs, Colomiers keeps control, at the Stadium, it's another story. The last three matches ended with three Brive victories in matches with quite a few points scored.. The last Columérine victory dates back to November 30, 1997 and a 35 to 30 victory, almost 27 years ago.
Here is the composition of the two teams for the Brive – Colomiers match (kick-off at 9 p.m., referee: Mr Thomas Charabas)
For Brive : 1 Chauvac – 2 Da Silva – 3 Van der Merwe – 4 Usarraga – 5 Timani – 6 Marais – 7 Lawes (Cap) – 8 Sadrugu – 9 Verdu – 10 Raffy – 11 Dridi – 12 Johnson – 13 Lefranc – 14 Tuivuaka – 15 Ferté
Substitutes : 16 Hamel – 17 Fraissenon – 18 Mikautadze – 19 Malaterre – 20 Warren-Vosayaco – 21 Sidobre – 22 Olding – 23 Coria Marchetti
Absent : To consult the status of the CA Brive infirmary, do not hesitate to go to the infirmary tab
For Dax : 1 El Ansari – 2 Dimcheff – 3 Fepulea'i – 4 Thomas – 5 Roux – 6 Coletta (Cap) – 7 Parpagiola – 8 Béchu – 9 Galthié – 10 De la Vega – 11 Tuitavu – 12 Nu'u – 13 Dulon – 14 Patilla – 15 Alonso Munoz
Substitutes : 16 Larrieu – 17 Tartas – 18 Descoux – 19 Baseisei – 20 Bazin – 21 Séguéla – 22 Serrano – 23 Bellemand
Absent : Marta (foot), Saurs (knee), Deloumel (knee), Maurel, Kolokilagi (thigh), Pacheco (cervicals), Pinto, Auriac and Saurs
Image: CA Brive
