Suresnes vs Rouen Normandie

Bajart had pinpointed set-piece supremacy as the non-negotiable for his side. "Avant toute chose, nous voulons retrouver notre conquête dominante," he told Rugbyrama. Suresnes' scrum and lineout — ranked in the top six in those departments last season — laid the platform. Once Suresnes established forward dominance in the second half, Rouen had no response.

The home side's defence, entrusted to new coach Nicolas Morazin (recruited from Rouen's reserve setup), held firm when it mattered. That defensive solidity was the tactical cornerstone: Bajart had rebuilt around experienced Franciliens specifically for close games like this.

With no individual stats available, the collective was the story. Suresnes' overhauled squad — featuring Romain Sola (arrived from Rouen) as backs coach and Morazin on defence — functioned as a unit far more cohesive than its short preparation period suggested. The experienced recruits Bajart prioritised for "gros caractères" (strong characters) provided the composure that had been missing in last season's 10th-place finish.

For Rouen, the platform to build on is clear: they competed in phases but lacked the final pass and finishing quality to convert pressure into points.

Suresnes' 23-13 win sits in the middle tier of Round 1 results. Mont-de-Marsan crushed promoted Vienne 47-0 in the day's most emphatic statement. Carcassonne beat Albi 32-14 in a top-table clash, while Orléans dispatched Bourg-en-Bresse 27-6. The spread of scores — from 47-0 to 23-13 — suggests a league still finding its rhythm, but Suresnes' margin is respectable against a Rouen side with Nationale experience.

Suresnes finished 10th last season with the 12th-ranked attack. A 23-point haul against a mid-table opponent represents a credible step forward, particularly given that Bajart has slashed professional contracts from 34 to 31 to fund an extra full-time coach and better support staff.

Suresnes take four points into Round 2, sitting mid-table on points differential. The Top 6 target set by president Laurent Piepszownik ("Le top 6, c'est le minimum") looks achievable on this evidence, though Mont-de-Marsan and Carcassonne set a high early bar.

Rouen face a quick turnaround: they host Orléans on 28 August at Stade Robert Diochon. Suresnes travel to Olympique Marcquois on the same date. With no relegation this season, the pressure is off survival but the race for the top-six play-off places is intense from week one.

A solid, professional opening from a Suresnes side that has changed everything and still won. The Bajart project is only weeks old, and this was a home fixture against a beatable opponent — but the execution was there. Rouen will take lessons into next week, but need more incision in attack to climb the table.

Sources: Rugbyrama.fr / Midi Olympique (Guillaume Cyprien); All Rugby; Flashscore.fr; provider payload (API-Sports fixture 54536)