Feria de Nîmes: 17th Porte des Consuls for Castella and a great faena from El Rafi

Sébastien Castella opened his 17th Porte des Consuls. Midi Libre – MIKAEL ANISSET

The sword deprived Roca Rey of a second ear. Midi Libre – MIKAEL ANISSET

El Rafi a certainement livré la meilleure faena de sa jeune carrière. Midi Libre – MIKAEL ANISSET

The Béziers bullfighter cut off three ears during the Garcigrande bullfight. El Rafi lost two trophies of the third toro after a magnificent faena and Roca Rey got an ear. The finale of this Garcigrande bullfight was very chaotic between the injuries of the cattle and a presidency in difficulty.

At the end of a bullfight where the amphitheater was filled to the last stone, feelings mix.

First of all, this arena is beautiful and unique and represents a theater that all of Spain envies, especially when it is full for this highly anticipated cartel. The 13,000 spectators also experienced superb moments, offered by the three bullfighters, and an entire city was delighted that El Rafi matched the two figures during his premiere faena.

New incident with the presidency

But Nîmes must also become aware of its prestige and its responsibilities. In terms of presentation of the livestock, which, once again, was not up to the standard of a first category arena, both in their trapio than their armor. And the poor credit of the presidencies of Nîmes in French aficion will not have improved after the incredible episode of the 4th Toro. At the end of an accomplished faena, Sébastien Castella failed twice with the sword and once with the descabello. An ear would already have been well paid for. The president drops two handkerchiefs and, under the bronca of the arenas, backtracks… According to the latter, interviewed after the race, the two handkerchiefs had gotten tangled.

Let…

If Nîmes is the French plaza of reference in the world, it must finally equip itself with livestock and serious referees, worthy of its prestige. And tercios of spades which are not just a regulatory imperative.

Let's return to this bullfight which offered beautiful moments during four bullfights.

The mastery of Castella and Roca Rey

The bullfight began with two bulls with identical behavior for Sébastien Castella and Andres Roca Rey. Two noble bulls, with a silky gallop and a permanent desire to commune with the bullfighter. But they lacked that hint of race and that chispa to convey to the public. With their mastery, the two stars made us forget their faults to extract all the salt from them. With two full faenas of temple and a precision worthy of a Swiss watchmaker. By constantly finding the right distances, the right rhythm and the appropriate muleta heights.

The faena of Castella culminated in series of natural in slow motion and Roca Rey shone more on the right horn of Garcigrande. The Biterrois was rewarded with two appendages while the Peruvian was content with just one after a pinchazo deep with the sword. Roca Rey then had bad luck with a 5th toro who broke his leg, a lame sobrero and a second replacement for Juan Pedro Domecq without option. After a low sword, he even listened to the whistles of the audience.

After his two ears from the opening toro, Sébastien Castella wanted to open a 17th Porte des Consuls on the eve of his 50th paseo in Nîmes. Faced with a 4th toro overflowing with nobility and desire to attack the muleta (with the same limits as the first two), the Biterrois decided to shorten the tercio of spades after a slow welcome with the cape.

After an explosive start to the faena with three cambiadas from the right hand and one from the left, Castella pigmented his introductory remarks with ’ a trincherazotasty. The rest of the faena was transformed into the recital of the bullfighter that he has become since his return to the ruedos in 2023. The artistic dimension, the cadence, the finesse and the temple were sweating from each pass. Only the finish was not there but the public and the presidency did not deprive him of a reward despite failures with the epee and the descabello.

The beautiful faena of El Rafi

As for El Rafi, he will leave, also with mixed feelings. Facing the 3rd toro of Garcigrande, the best of the race because he had more race and transmission, certainly delivered the best faena of his young career. In a calm, gentle and elegant toreo, the series on both banks of the Nîmes were deep and slow and he did not have to be ashamed of the comparison with his two illustrious elders. What regrets to have failed twice with the sword because two incontestable ears were already promised to him.

He then suffered the misfortune of a bullfight which disintegrated after the palco incident at the end of the 4th toro. Volunteer and asserting his intentions, he welcomed the last toro to the toril a porta gayola followed by three new ones largas on your knees. While communing with his audience at the banderillas, the toro broke a leg and he inherited the 3rd replacement toro marked with Fernay's iron. Always as voluntary and varied in his welcome to the cape and posing the banderillas with Thomas Ubeda. After a good start from Faena and two distinguished series, the Toro quickly lowered its flag. The Nîmes decided to shorten the debates and concluded with a fine sword. The palco was unaware – logically the public's ear petition and El Rafi could leave full of regrets.

He will keep a lot of promise and will have earned a lot of credit because few young bullfighters can reach the technical level of Castella and Roca Rey as against the 3rd and he showed the attitude and the determination required of an ambitious maestro facing the last.