Pro D2· Season 2026
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
Nevers struck first. Montauban prop Christopher Vaotoa was sent to the sin bin in the 9th minute, and wing Johan Wasserman crossed in the corner almost immediately. Shaun Reynolds converted from wide for a 7-0 lead (10').
Montauban hit back through loosehead Daniel Brennan, who powered over from close range in the 16th minute. Enzo Hervé's conversion levelled the scores at 7-7.
Nevers regained the advantage through lock Arno Botha's try on 19 minutes. Reynolds converted for a 14-7 lead, then added a penalty just before the half-hour mark to stretch the advantage further.
Montauban fly-half Hervé replied with a penalty to trim the gap, and his second three-pointer on 38 minutes — after Nevers wing Perry Mayo's yellow card — made it a one-score game. Trailing by a narrow margin, Montauban struck the decisive blow in first-half stoppage time: number eight Vaiolini Ekuasi scored a try, converted by Hervé, and the teams turned at 15-15.
Montauban seized control early in the second half. Replacement Lucas Dessaigne crossed in the 45th minute, Hervé converting for a 22-15 lead. Hervé added a drop goal on 53 minutes to make it 25-15.
Nevers refused to fold. Reynolds kicked a penalty on 50 minutes and substitute Anselme Cellier added another on 60 minutes to close the gap to 25-21. But Montauban's defence held through a tense final quarter, even after wing Stéphane Ahmed was yellow-carded in the 78th minute.
The Turning Point
The period straddling half-time decided the match. Nevers held a commanding position with 14 men against Montauban's 15 after Mayo's yellow card — and then flanker Rati Zazadze was also sin-binned (40'+3), leaving the hosts with 13 men. Montauban scored two tries in seven minutes of game time (Ekuasi 40'+5, Dessaigne 45'), turning a deficit into a 22-15 lead they never relinquished.
Key Performers
Vaiolini Ekuasi (Montauban): The Tongan number eight scored a crucial try just before half-time that swung momentum decisively. He was himself yellow-carded early in the second half (46') but his first-half impact had already changed the match.
Enzo Hervé (Montauban): The fly-half kicked two conversions, two penalties and a drop goal, a 13-point personal contribution that kept the scoreboard ticking.
Shaun Reynolds (Nevers): The Nevers playmaker contributed a try assist, a conversion and penalties, keeping the hosts within striking distance throughout.
Daniel Brennan (Montauban): The Irish loosehead scored Montauban's opening try, setting the platform for the fightback.
By The Numbers
The 15-15 half-time scoreline masked a game that swung heavily on discipline. Nevers conceded two yellow cards inside the final three minutes of the first half and paid for it with 10 unanswered points. Both sides scored three tries each; Hervé's drop goal was the margin of victory. Montauban's three tries earned them a bonus point on the road.
What It Means
Montauban begin the season with four points from a bonus-point win away from home, placing them in the early top six. Nevers take a losing bonus point from a match they led 14-7 against a direct rival.
Both sides return to action next week for round two. Nevers travel to face Soyaux-Angoulême on Thursday 3 September, while Montauban host Biarritz at Stade Sapiac on the same weekend.
Verdict
A classic Pro D2 opener defined by a 10-minute window of ill-discipline. Nevers had the beating of Montauban with 15 against 14 but could not manage the game when reduced to 13. Montauban's composure during that period earned them the spoils and a bonus point that could prove significant come season's end.
Nevers and Montauban have met 14 times — Nevers won 5, Montauban won 9, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2017. Montauban leads the head-to-head with 9 victories from 14 meetings. A combined 603 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 43.07 per match (298 for the home side, 305 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 14 matches (100%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 14 games (100%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. Montauban are currently unbeaten in the last 3 meetings. The highest-scoring encounter finished 60–23 in 2025.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 29 Aug 2026