The Toulouse who took time to get into their game were beaten by Nîmes last night in Gard.
Sometimes it’s not the Fenix that rises from the ashes. He is his opponent. Usam Nîmes, a surprise relegation after the third part of the competition, woke up only one success in five performances in his infernal Parnasse, yesterday to win this Occitanie derby by a large margin. Four days after his victory in Iceland, in Hafnarfjordur (29-25), Fenix scored only 5 goals in the first 22 minutes! The first two penalties, which Ilic then Feuchtmann missed, meant nothing.
One by one, the inhabitants of Toulouse were caught by the defense of Nîmes, which hit everything that moved. Like Gibelin, definitively ruled out in the 3rd minute for an (unintended) elbow on Nyembo. And that made it 8-3 for Nîmes after a quarter of an hour, and the first period for Daniel Andjelkovic. Then the coach of Haut-Garonnais changed the goalkeepers (entrance to the Tunisian Belkaied), launched the experienced Mindegia to get his hands on the ball and moved on to the game at 7. Good idea : the counter went from 4-11 (20th) to 12-15 at half-time.
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The Fenix, still undeveloped, in boss mode
Toulouse had made up half of its deficit. And even the whole thing in less than three minutes after he came back from the locker room. Martins Vieira equalized (15-15, 33e) and we thought the hardest part was done. However, the Fenix never managed to advance, offset by technical errors (9 in the second half hour). 7-a-side game, defense in 1-5 or 2-4, goalkeeper changing, Andelkovic tried everything but nothing worked: the Gardois flew again (27- 22, 46th), at the same time as the missed penalties (4 in total).
“The night was very complicated,” summed up the Toulouse coach. We didn’t play our best game, even though we knew what was waiting for us even though Nîmes were at a low level. We got ourselves into trouble from the start, we got closer then, and we fell back into a bad spiral. We made too many mistakes to be able to come back. I told the players it was an accident it was. We need the to turn a page and improve, because big games await us.
2024-11-30 22:04:00
#Fenix #Toulouse #defeated #victims #Nîmes #awakening
## Nîmes shakes off the ashes, downs a sluggish Toulouse in Occitanie Derby
**World Today News Exclusive Interview with Rugby Analyst Jean-Pierre Dubois**
**World Today News:** Jean-Pierre, last night saw Nîmes deliver a stunning upset against a seemingly complacent Toulouse side. What were your key takeaways from the match?
**Jean-Pierre Dubois:** It was a game of two halves, really. Toulouse seemed lethargic, lacking the urgency and precision that have defined their recent performances. Nîmes, conversely, displayed a hunger and intensity rarely seen from them this season. They were aggressive at the breakdown, disciplined in defense, and clinical in attack.
**World Today News:** Nîmes has struggled this season. Were there any specific tactical adjustments from them that lead to this victory?
**Jean-Pierre Dubois:** Nîmes certainly seemed to target Toulouse’s weaknesses.They exploited the slow start of the visitors by kicking smartly and putting pressure on their back three. This disrupted Toulouse’s rhythm and forced them into making mistakes. Additionally, Nîmes’ forwards played with a ferocious intensity, disrupting Toulouse’s set pieces and gaining a crucial advantage in the battle for territory.
**World Today News:** How significant is this win for Nîmes, considering their difficult season thus far?
**Jean-Pierre Dubois:** This win could be a major turning point for Nîmes. It’s a crucial confidence boost for a team that has been lacking belief. It also sends a message to their rivals that they are not ready to be written off just yet.
**World Today News:** What about Toulouse? how concerning is this performance for them?
**Jean-Pierre Dubois:** While one loss shouldn’t cause alarm bells to ring, this performance does raise concerns. The lack of intensity and focus is worrying, especially with the playoffs approaching. Toulouse needs to rediscover its ruthlessness and rediscover its winning mentality quickly if they want to maintain their place at the top of the table.
**World Today News:** Looking ahead, what do you see for both teams in the coming weeks?
**Jean-Pierre Dubois:** Nîmes will look to build on this momentum and climb further away from the relegation zone. They have a tough schedule ahead, but last night’s win proves they are capable of upsetting the odds.For Toulouse, this is a wake-up call. They need to analyze this performance, address the issues, and quickly regain their dominant form.
**World Today News:** Thank you for your insightful analysis, Jean-Pierre.
