Now, four days after the end of the regular phase, aesthetics are probably secondary. In the absence of immense certainties, Bayonne (86 points) regains second place in the ranking. The crossover with Oyonnax (84 pts) continues. However, it will take another level of performance, next Thursday in Montauban, to keep the Basques in this standings.
Now, four days after the end of the regular phase, aesthetics are probably secondary. In the absence of immense certainties, Bayonne (86 points) regains second place in the ranking. The crossover with Oyonnax (84 pts) continues. However, it will take another level of performance, next Thursday in Montauban, to keep the Basques in this standings.
To say it was a tough game is an understatement. Biarritz players Steffon Armitage, Henry Speight and Josh Tyrell, sitting in the stands next to their friend Afa Amosa and unselected Bayonne players (Cassiem, Van Jaarsveld, Ravouvou, Talakai, Venter, Ruru, Dolhagaray, Muscarditz, Costossèque, etc. ) will probably confirm the feeling.
Former of the house, the Pau second-line Guillaume Ducat also yawned. The 10,529 Bayonne spectators woke him up at halftime with their boos to escort the players back to the locker room. How can you blame them? Forward, rowdy scrum, failed camp exit, ill-adjusted throw-in… Maxime Delonca and his teammates had just put in a bad first period.
What nonsense
They nevertheless led with a short header (10-9), thanks to a coherent start to the game, interrupted by three points from Gaëtan Germain (9th) and attackers who won everything on high ball, forcing the Bressans to start the foul and François Bouzac awards a penalty try (10-0, 15th).
The Basques did not step on the accelerator. They didn’t even take advantage of their numerical superiority over the temporary ban of ex-Biarrot Joshué Furno. On the contrary, they have been completely foiled. The opening half Mathis Viard took the opportunity to bring his people closer to the foot (18th, 29th, 35th), despite a failure from afar (23rd).
Cormenier was one of the few Bayonnais to retain his rank this Friday night.
Bertrand Lapegue
The nonsense continued into the second half. On both sides. De Bayonnais passed a penalty (43rd)… and then very close to the axe, on a tap saved in his goal area by Rémy Baget. Maxime Lafage was countered. On the penalty that followed in their favor, the Burgiens kept the tone of the game. Their opener missed the inevitable, almost facing the posts (52nd). A turning point? A little.
The tribute to “Fede”
In the middle of nowhere, scrum half Guillaume Rouet stood out. He electrified the meeting. Arthur Duhau misplaced the ball. The greats drank the next one until John Ulugia collapsed in the in-goal (20-9, 57th). Or how you can end up with a test of the offensive bonus that offered nothing or next to nothing. Everyone’s wishes had a lot to do with it.
The visitors took the points as quickly as possible, with the aim of scratching one or more at the end. Precious in the race to keep. All good for the Basques, who strayed no more from their opponent than from the attacking bonus. She also fell in the pass (64th). Rémy Baget, top scorer (12) in the division, consolidated his standing at the end of the line (25-9).
The Bayonnais struggled like a bleeding Taofifenua to get rid of an infectious Bourg-en-Bresse squad.
Bertrand Lapegue
Nothing was spared for the blue and white supporters. Not only did the Violets take the bonus ten minutes before the end (25-14), but the try was also the work of hooker Sione Anga’aelangi, a former Biarritz. Fortunately, the Bayonne attackers’ bravery will eventually pay off, with John Ulugia’s double (80th + 3).
The best action of the evening? No. The tribute to Federico Martin Aramburu, at the start of the match, remains a notch higher. The Argentine from the BO, murdered in Paris in mid-March, has never played Rowing. Except the space of an evening, with this gigantic sweater set up in the stands of Jean-Dauger.
Data sheet
Bayonne 32
Bourg-en-Bresse 14
Place Bayonne (Jean-Dauger Stadium) Spectators 10.953 Arbitrator Mr Bouzac peace 10-9
BAYONNE 4 penalty attempts (15th), Ulugia (57th, 80th), Baget (64th); 2 conversions from Germain (57th), Lafage (80th); 2 penalties from Germain (9th, 43rd).
The team Germain (Ordas 68th) – Baget, Maqala, Tuava (Lestrade 64th), Duhau – (o) Lafage, (m) Rouet (Zabalza 68th) – Heguy, Taofifenua (Luamanu 3rd then Taofifenua 12th), Usarraga (Hourcade 64th) – Mikautadze (Luamanu 52nd), Marchois – Tchelidze (Mousset 52nd), © Delonca (Ulugia 40th), Perchaud (Cormenier 35th then Perchaud 72nd)
BOURG-EN-BRESSE 3 penalties by Viard (18th, 29th, 35th), 1 attempt by Angaaelangi (70th).
Yellow card Furno (15th).
The team. Meliande – De Fleurian, Badet, Hingano (Doy 63rd), Dupont – (o) Viard, (m) Faure (Graulle 44th) – Furno, © Baradel (Benoit 63rd), Darlet – Bloemen (Seuvou 65th), Veyret (Antonescu 63 ) – De Clercq (Harmse 49th), Julien (Angaaelangi 56th), Kapanadze (Martin 63rd then Kapanadze 76th)
