After this long break, the Pro D2 is back. We left it in 2024 and we find it again in 2025. And to conclude this 16th day, a top-of-the-table shock to follow with Dax hosting Brive. Both teams were in the play-offs last season and would like to return there this year. For this, response in a few months.
During this season, Brive changed gear while Dax continued to play spoilsport. Last season, the Brive players learned a lesson. The Dacquois dream of the same scenario but above all want to launch their return phase well.
Review of the season
Dax : 6th with 39 points (9 wins, 0 draws, 6 losses)
Brive : 2nd with 46 points (10 wins, 0 draws, 5 losses)
Last season, Dax returned to the professional world and Pro D2. The main objective was maintenance. For that, the main objective was perfectly validated but the season went well beyond the wildest expectations. Dax delighted with his journey, his freshness and his desire to have fun. Race results: a 5th place and qualification for the final phase. If the season ends on the Grenoble field, the main thing was elsewhere. After this completely successful season, we must return to battle but this time, the element of surprise no longer exists. The surprise is no longer there but the confidence has not gone on vacation. The season starts very strong with three successes in a row against Montauban, Valence-Romans and Colomiers. After 3 days, Dax is leader of Pro D2! The backlash then arrives. Once again, Grenoble is the executioner of the dacquoi at the Stade des Alpes. If the defeat is nothing to worry about, there on the other hand, there is going to be quite a setback. Soyaux-Angoulême stifles Dax at Maurice Boyau and establishes itself as the team not to host at the start of the season. The bad series continues with a defeat in Agen. In 3 days, Dax went from 1st to 12th place. The victory against Oyonnax feels good and the USD is very close to a huge achievement with this penalty of winning which misses in Brive. Victory is difficult to obtain against the promoted Nice before a big slap in Béziers. A third of the way through the championship, Dax is 11th. It’s time to start a series and what better than to do it in the derby relocated to Bayonne. Dax flies over the match and wins largely and with the offensive bonus. The Dacquois continue by winning in Nevers, a team in very bad shape this season. For its last two receptions of 2024, heavy stuff is on the agenda with the arrivals of Biarritz and Provence. Each time, you have to have a strong heart and stay in your place until the end. Everything is decided in stoppage time with a victorious try and a transformation which removes the defensive bonus from Biarrots then a victorious penalty to win against Provence. For the last match in 2024, we have to go to Aurillac. Dax is well in his match, leading at the 50′ mark. But after the hour mark, it turned to the advantage of the locals. Dax nevertheless brings back a point from his trip to Cantal. Mid-season, Dax is 6th and will get involved in the fight again this season. It now remains to be seen whether there will be the same outcome as last season.
With its descent to Pro D2 last season, Brive was immediately placed in the group of contenders for promotion to the Top 14. But the season was far from being a long, quiet river with ups and downs at all times. levels. The CAB snatches the last ticket for the final phase on the last day with a season that ends in Béziers. For his second season in the anteroom of the Top 14, this time, we expect much more from Brive, both in the results and in the game. The start of the first leg is chaotic for the CAB. Certainly, it starts very well with a victory against Oyonnax and a victory at Soyaux-Angoulême. But behind, this will lead to an away defeat and a home victory. Brive lost to Nevers before winning with the offensive bonus against Aurillac. The Brivists took a slap at Mont de Marsan to finish the first block but started the second very well with an improved success against Biarritz. Brive let victory slip away in Provence before coming very close to defeat against Dax. At Valence-Romans, the CAB created an illusion in the first half before exploding in full flight in the second half. Two-part match against Colomiers. The first period is indigestible and Brive can be happy to be only 9 points behind. After the break, Brive launched the machine and won Colomiers with the offensive bonus. To start the season, you need a new away victory and it comes for Nice. To start the 3rd block, Brive receives twice and in different styles, Brive wins against Montauban then against Béziers. For this 14th day, we couldn’t dream of a more beautiful poster: Grenoble welcomes Brive or when two contenders, the two leaders of Pro D2 face each other. The CAB starts well but will experience a huge gap after a quarter of an hour of play. A 34-0 which propels the FCG to victory. A victory without bonus because the CAB reacted after the hour mark to save the furniture. Agen, arriving at the Stadium, did not let go until the last quarter of an hour. Brive does not manage to break away until that moment. Brive must be content with a simple victory, without any offensive bonus. Despite everything, at the accounting level, the first leg is successful with a 2nd place on the clock. We must not relax during the return phase, from the first match and the trip to Dax.
Strong men
Louis Barrère gains playing time season after season and this season, the hooker is performing well. As in the first leg, it is a big test that he faces against the Brive team. To meet the challenge, he will be able to rely on Jean-Baptiste Singer. The experienced 2nd line is not only effective in combat and conquest but he can also be very effective with the ball in hand. Captain Jean-Baptiste Barrère has continued to bring his experience since last season. He is the guide of this group and when he is doing well, the team is doing well. He wasn’t there for the first leg but Romuald Séguy will be there for the return match. He knows how to organize the game well and knows how to pass the kicks which are worth gold like the penalty in the victory against Provence. He did well to opt for the loan in Pro D2. Noah Néné is having fun this season in Dax and the young center is showing off his qualities of speed and powerlike his try against Mont de Marsan.
He arrived last month but will make his debut today in Dax. Hendre Stassen has no time to waste with his medical joker contract and will have to perform well. He loves combat and conquest and will have to contribute in these sectors. We hadn’t seen him since the 3rd day and the trip to Nevers. Wounded in the pectoral, Sasha Gué once again sets foot on a Pro D2 field and replaces Courtney Lawes at short notice. The 3rd row is immediately in the deep end. Even faster than Stassen, Matias Moroni arrived less than a week ago and is already playing his first match with CAB. His international experience will be a plus for the whole team. It’s up to him to show what he can do. Injured for a large part of the first leg, Paul Pimienta continues his 3rd match in a row. In a sector where the staff is looking for the right formula, the former columérin has his card to play.
Results and confrontations
Dax (at home) : VVDVVVVV
Montauban (24-12), Colomiers (25-24), Soyaux-Angoulême (8-16), Oyonnax (28-15), Nice (22-19), Mont de Marsan (40-11), Biarritz (26- 20), Provence (23-22)
Brive (away) : VDDDDVD
Soyaux-Angoulême (25-28), Nevers (27-26), Mont de Marsan (33-11), Provence (23-20), Valence-Romans (42-19), Nice (16-26), Grenoble ( 34-22)
In a tight championship, it is important not to lose points unnecessarily. You have to be solid at home while knowing how to seize the opportunity when it presents itself away. Being able to take points everywhere is essential.
A year ago, Dax was solid at home for a promoted team. This is still the case this season with only one defeat on the clock.. Of course, the victories are not always big (except in the derby) but the victory is there and that is what counts. Brive would like to say the same but for the moment, it’s difficult away with two victories despite everything. But several defeats are suspicious and maintain doubts about this team being exported.
After many seasons of absence, the duel between Dax and Brive returned to the calendar. The overall balance turns to the advantage of the CAB but which has not imposed itself in the Landes since March 2009 (victory 17-15). Since then, the last two matches played at Maurice Boyau have been won by Dax including that of last season with a score of 27 to 10. Victory with offensive bonus for the promoted player who had struck a major blow during the end of the season.
Here is the composition of the two teams for the Dax – Brive match (kick-off at 9 p.m., referee: Mr Benjamin Hernandez)
For Dax : 1 Lolohea – 2 L.Barrere – 3 Hasse Ferreira – 4 Loiret – 5 Singer – 6 JB.Barrere (Cap) – 7 Ausset – 8 Lemalu – 9 Reteau – 10 Seguy – 11 Tutuvili – 12 Néné – 13 Daguerre – 14 Gatelier – 15 Duprat
Substitutes : 16 Hiriart-Urruty – 17 Dréan – 18 Manukula – 19 Aletti – 20 Ravier – 21 Puntous – 22 Oltmann – 23 Leatigaga
Absent : Cerisier (calf), Bidau (shoulder), Guillaume (knee), Garroutegt (knee), Naceara (knee), Pilati (adductors)
For Brive : 1 Chauvac – 2 Da Silva – 3 Van der Merwe – 4 Usarraga – 5 Stassen – 6 Marais – 7 Gué – 8 Warren-Vosayaco – 9 Carbonneau (Cap) – 10 Bosch – 11 Dridi – 12 Moroni – 13 Pimienta – 14 Zenon – 15 Ferté
Substitutes : 16 Boudou – 17 Fraissenon – 18 Mikautadze – 19 Sadrugu – 20 Voisin – 21 Raffy – 22 Rokoduru – 23 Coria Marchetti
Absent : To consult the status of the CA Brive infirmary, do not hesitate to go to the infirmary tab
Image : USD
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