Biarritz climbs back to Top 14 after an unbearable Basque derby

Unbelievable.

Reaching the Top 14 was played out… on penalties!

An extremely rare event in rugby.

To add to the dramaturgy, this session was played between the two enemy brothers of the Basque Country, Biarritz and Bayonne, this Saturday at the Aguiléra stadium.

And it was Biarritz Olympique which won, at the end of the suspense, on a kick from its captain and third row Steffon Armitage.

“It's a whole people who go back to the Top 14, and we are happy for that.

They will have a good day next year ”, reacted Biarritz coach Nicolas Nadau, at the microphone of Canal +.

Before this exceptional outcome, there was a tight, tense match, without any great upsurges. We expected a big fight, we were not disappointed: it was huge. The explosive derby between Biarritz and Bayonne, with no more and no less than a place in the Top 14 for the winner and one in Pro D2 for the loser, has kept all its promises. In a white-heated Aguiléra stadium, where 5,000 spectators were able to congregate in the single stand, the two rivals of the Basque Country surrendered blow for blow.

Disintegrating tackles, fierce engagement in rucks, the slightest ball challenged in touch or in scrum: the match is harsh and ultra-intense.

In this little game, it is the Biarrots who impress the most.

With nothing to lose, the residents of ProD2 bravely play their luck on the smallest ball lying around, like their hooker Peyresblanques, revelation of the season and still in the oven and the mill.

A surplus of commitment rewarded by the first points, the only ones in the first period: a penalty from the opener Guillaume Bosch (32nd), who came into play in the 16th minute to replace injured Ilian Perraux.

The sores are also numerous in this boxing fight between the two Basque clubs.

Read alsoBiarritz-Bayonne, match for accession to the Top 14: "The Basque derby, it's irrational," says Thomas Lièvremont

Bayonnais side, who risk very big in case of descent, namely a local humiliation coupled with an economic crisis, the players especially held the shock in defense. Having the merit of not giving up in the face of the Biarritz fury, Yannick Bru's men resisted. But the expected physical domination of the Top 14 residents, who have played five games less this season than Biarritz, is long overdue. In the 53rd, Bayonne finally returns to height (3-3).

Twice, in the 66th and then at the last minute, we think Bayonne capable of finally making the break.

It was without counting on the defense of the BO who will face, especially during this last minute of unbreathable regulation time.

The Rowing pounded the line, but persisted in wanting to cross it instead of attempting a drop in front of the posts.

A Biarrot will end up scratching the ball to send the two teams into overtime.

After a penalty everywhere, it is finally against the posts that the place in Top 14. History is played out.

THE MATCH SHEET

Biarritz-Bayonne 6-5 at tab

(3-0, 3-3, 6-3, 6-6 after)

Referee: Alexandre Ruiz.

Biarritz:

2 penalties (Bosch 32nd, Hart 83rd).

Bayonne:

2 penalties (Lafage 52nd, Germain 94th).

Biarritz: Lonca (Barry 16th) - Stark, Vergnaud, Saili, Speight - (o) Perraux (Bosch 16th), (m) Couilloud (Hart 60th) - Jalagonia (Dyer 72nd), S. Armitage (cap.), O ' Callaghan - Dyer (Gimeno 57th, Aliouat 75th), Aliouat (Olmstead 57th) - Millar, Peyresblanques (Da Ros 48th), Watremez (Tcheishvili 44th).

Bayonne: Germain (Costossèque 41st) - Ravouvou, Muscarditz (cap.), Hingano, Luc - (o) Lafage, (m) Rouet (Zabalza 67th) - F. Taofifenua (Luamanu 13th - 21st), Amosa (Luamanu 47th), Monribot (Galarza 59th) - Mikautadze (Amosa 67th), Galarza (Ducat 47th) - Nixon (Mousset 56th), Ulugia (Delonca 37th), Boniface (Pelo 70th).