La Vie en Rose
J7: Oyonnax @ Vannes
Pink pyrotechnics1 announced RC Vannes as they ran out to the familiar sound of bagpipes and drums.
Twenty four consecutive games have been sold out at Stade de La Rabine. And although the thin Autumn air and clear Brittany sky helped the sound travel, it’s a statistic backed up by the impressive sound of the crowd in the walk out.
Oyonnax seemed a bit more up for it than Vannes before the whistle The O’s from the ouest shouted and hyped each other up through the tunnel. Though, based on the performances so far this season, it might just be an attempt to shake the leash of their underdog status.
Regardless of their opposite stances, both teams were ready after their week of rest. One poised and the other pumped.
From the off Oyonnax wanted to play. They started with quick passes out of contact. But their eyes were more eager than their hands. An early drop saw reactive play from the most opportunistic man in Vannes, Enzo Benmegel. He hacked through three successive times, with a final through ball finished by Paul Surano for an early score.
Not long after a brilliant sequence secured the second try. Michael Ruru is the kind of scrum-half that can speed up the play all by himself. A strong clearance allowed him to pick and create an overlap, and after two neat passes the try was finished by Benmegel once again.
The last ten minutes of the first period saw some very ‘open’ play (read: turnovers and missed tackles) from both sides. Eventually Oyonnax won the battle of whistles and kicks, gaining a penalty in scoring range. Luka Matkava, the fantastic Georgian international who’s presence was felt in the middle of the pitch all day, hit it clean and hard, like he was teeing off a par five, to finally get the visitors on the scoreboard.
In response Vannes showed rare variety, gaining territory with clever offloads and designed plays. Lafage threw a long pass that skipped like a stone into the hands of Ben Stevenson, with the impressive finished sadly negated by an earlier penalty.
Not long after a deep kick gave Enzo Benmegel a rare run up, and he soon hit terminal velocity, slicing through a static Oyonnax and giving the final two-one-one for his second assist of the day to Surano.
A slow defensive-filled second half frustrated both sides. Vannes in particular bogged down most attacks from the Red & Black with boring efficiency. Inevitably, this slow game started to test temperaments, with some fights among the forwards at each messy breakdown. A slew of substitutes, none of whom carried the same resentments, soon simmered things down off the ball, whilst making an impact on it too.
Both number eights, whether Joe Edwards or his replacement Sione Kalamafoni, have had immense impacts this season. Particularly in the last half-hour of games, where their haymakers have helped to close out what often amount to heavyweight fights.
This depth in the pack was a big part of Vannes premature crowning in the preseason, and though Dave Cherry has been given a lot of the plaudits, the fan favourite and veteran Cyril Blanchard has been a real part of it too. Both Kalamafoni and Blanchard proved their worth with second hand tries, keeping Oyonnax swinging at air under the extended elbow of the Vannes’ forwards.
Oyonnax had the last word, though it was barely audible, with a late try and conversion. But by that time thirty Vannetais feet were not just off the pedals, but firmly on the dashboard. Final score: 36-17.
There’s a difference in the last few Vannes performances. Four consecutive wins has made the players confident. They’ve also shown doses of discipline, though Jean-Noël Spitzer was still stingy with his praise in the post-match interview.
The forwards have been pulling the cart, but the backs are hitting their stride now too. The counter attack, as Surano said, was particularly good: “Yes, especially in the first half. Honestly, we managed to exploit turnovers and counter-attacks really well. That was great, we enjoyed that a lot. Afterwards, in the second half, it was a bit more laborious.”
Laborious it might have been, but the late tries and lapses of concentration in the throes of a win isn’t the end of the world. That said, future games will need to be carried through until the 82nd minute. This team isn’t top of the league yet.
But they can be next week. If they win. J8 is the biggest test of the year so far. A game where they can’t switch off. Where every element seen from individuals will need to come together in the team.
It’s un contre deux. Colomiers vs Vannes. Winner takes the podium.
Vannes are sporting a pink third kit as part of a collaboration with La Vannetaise a local charity for the awareness of women’s cancers.