Albi beat Rouen Normandie 45-31 in the National on Friday evening at the Stade de Rouen. The visitors extended their run of four straight victories, while the hosts saw their recent momentum stall after two wins and two losses in their last five outings.
And here's the thing about this result — it wasn't supposed to go this way. We had Rouen winning with 66 per cent confidence, but Albi's form simply refused to bend. Four consecutive victories before this match told you everything you needed to know about the visitors' confidence, and Rouen's inconsistency against Carcassonne and Surgnes should have warned us.
The scoreline itself tells a story about efficiency. Albi scored fourteen tries against Rouen's nine, and while the margin might look comfortable, the game had moments where Rouen could have pulled away. By then, the visitors had already established their superiority through better ball retention and cleaner execution in the channels.
Looking at the recent results, Albi's consistency is striking. They beat Bressane 26-13, Rennes 38-22, Vienne 29-13 and Mont-de-Marsan 21-17 in succession. Rouen's numbers were more erratic — a heavy win over Orléans at 59-29 followed by losses that exposed defensive vulnerabilities.
To be fair, Rouen showed character in the second half. They scored seventeen points after the break, but Albi matched them point for point. The visitors' ability to respond to pressure has been their hallmark this season, and Friday was no different.
The result keeps Albi's ambitions alive in the National. Rouen now face a difficult run if they want to climb the table, while the visitors have proven they can compete with anyone in this division when they find their rhythm.
