Three ears for the confirmation of the alternative of El Rafi who came out through the front door, after having faced two good toros from Victoriano del Rio in front of 4,500 spectators. Antonio Ferrera and Juan Ortega, unlucky at the sorto, had few opportunities to shine.
The beautiful story! A whole town was waiting for El Rafi to celebrate the confirmation of the alternative of a whole aficion’s new hope. For the first time, the Nîmois tasted the harshness of the bullfighting world after the controversies surrounding his alternative. A test that he overcame with honors for the one who aspires to succeed Nimeño II even if the pitfalls will still be numerous to climb to the top of the escalafon.
#Nimes Exit through the Grande Porte for the Nîmes El Rafi! For his first time as a matador in “his” arenas, he cuts off three ears. Great triumph! What if he was the bullfighter that a whole city has been waiting for for 20 years? #Bulls @RafiRaucoule pic.twitter.com/ZsZbNUfe3V
– Mathieu Lagouanère (@Mathieulag) June 12, 2021
Faced with a bullfight by Victoriano del Rio, well armed and equipped with a very good build which was generally disappointing with four toros deprived of charge and race, El Rafi (opinion and ear then two ears) inherited the two best toros, the latter perhaps deserving of a posthumous vuelta.
The Frenchman blamed the weight of his inexperience against the opening Victoriano where he drew a nice quite by chicuelinas after being locked in the boards at the start of the debates. We cannot blame a young bullfighter who only made his second paseo as a toro matador with a lot of pressure. During the faena, he took advantage of the qualities of the brave by drawing several right-handed series of a beautiful aesthetic on the right side even if he made a more uneven partition on the other side. After an off-center sword, the 4,500 spectators unanimously asked for a trophy awarded by the palco.
El Rafi shines! pic.twitter.com/vDR769BMTS
– Midi Libre Nîmes (@MidiLibreNimes) June 12, 2021
After the bullfight had sunk into boredom for four toros for lack of raw material, El Rafi touched the great toro of the corrida by setting fire to the cape after a flowery passage. After a nice tercio of pikes, especially during the first meeting with the equestrian block, and a quite spectacular by zapopine, the young bullfighter immediately found the right sitio, leaving the appropriate distance to the bullfighter. The Nîmois found the communion he dreamed of with his audience during an excellent level faena where he built four excellent right-handed series in front of a brave man who combined qualities of bravery, class and rhythm. After the series of manoletinas Final adjusted in front of conquered tendidos, El Rafi, angry, made a perfect sword to collect two deserved ears in front of the Spanish cameras and to open his first door of the Consuls.
On the other hand, his fellow cartels did not have the opportunity to display their directory on the sand. Antonio Ferrera (ear and silence), using his experience and his technique to invent some meritorious arabesques on the left bank facing the second Victoriano del Rio. After a more spectacular sword (achieved at 25 meters) than well positioned, he obtained a trophy.
Unfortunately, Juan Ortega (whistles and silence) delivered only a few details of his artistic toreo which make him one of the most popular toreros of the escalafon. Without adversity and never in confidence, the Nîmes public hoped much more from a maestro who won the famous “golden ear” in 2020.
El Rafi: “I couldn’t have asked for better”
“I was already happy with my first ear even if my first toro did not let me develop everything I wanted but I managed with the desire to link several series, do good muletazos and a good stroke. It is heartwarming to feel the support of this public which is very pleasant with me. Then, I gave everything in front of my second and I could not ask for better than opening the door of the Consuls in my city after my alternative in Arles where I expected much more than an ear. “
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