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All eyes were set on the final in Toulouse! Grenoble go into the match having been the superpower in the division, Montauban finished 6. The Green Army were nearly relegated last term, and they have enjoyed a resurgence this season to sneak into the play offs. Grenoble have already started preparing for life in the Top 14 with the signings they have been making. Alot is riding on this game!
Sam Davies kicks deep into the Montauban 22 to start the match for Grenoble. A typical strong return run from Montauban is then kicked out to their 10-metre line. Grenoble secure the ball at the lineout and go through the hands across the park. Sam Davies looking to pull the strings ends up pulling his pass and it bobbles out on the far touchline. An early error in the first minute of the game.
Montauban restart the game with a lineout on the Grenoble 10. They go for the maul, but it’s held static. Hugo Zabalza sets about putting the ball into oncoming runners. First wave makes a couple of metres, but the second wave is bounced back with a huge hit. A few more phases see the Montauban attack pushed back into their own half by amazing line speed from Grenoble. The kick tennis begins with a long kick over by Jerome Bosviel, Sam Davies returns it from the Grenoble 22 to the Montauban 22. Reilhac has space to run it out and go for the up and under, he manages to chase it down, but Gerswin Mouton is up early to gather it. Reilhac stops him dead when he lands though.
A period of strong tackling from both side and Eric Escande opting for a couple of box kicks to test the Montauban hands. They stand strong and actually opt for a cross-field kick to stretch the play, but Thibaut Martel knocks on when trying to intercept. Advantage to Montauban to play on but they couldn’t take the advantage and knock on.
Nearly 5 minutes on the clock and we have our first scrum of the game, Montauban hold strong and set off in the wrap around attack. A strong tackle from Roman Trouilloud stops Zabalza coming through his channel, but at what cost as Davies is down holding his hand after being cleared out from the jackal. With Davies down, the officials let the play continue around him as Montauban try to progress up the field. Bosviel drops back and sets a rocket off into the Toulouse skyline. Landing near the 22, Wilfried Hulleu can’t gather it in the air and knocks on for a Montauban scrum. That spiral bomb had snow on it as it comes down, I think!
Sam Davies goes off grimacing and his arm in a sling, looks like his shoulder has taken a battering at the clear out. 6 minutes into the game and Grenoble have lost their talisman for the moment. Palmier comes on to replace Davies and try to control this game.
Grenoble manage to draw a penalty from Montauban at scrum time and a chance to exit from close to their 22. A solid clearance towards the Montauban 10 is gathered up. A single phase before a box kick return from Montauban. Grenoble opt to go for the attack but once again pass the ball into touch, this time on the near side touch line. Line out for Montauban between the Grenoble 10 & 22 metre lines. 8 minutes into the game, are Grenoble carrying a few nerves into this game?
After the lineout is won by Montauban, we enter a period of territory kick and chase inside the Grenoble half. Montauban are too keen at the breakdown on the far side and hand Grenoble a chance to exit. 10 minutes on the clock and Grenoble have a lineout on the Montauban 10 metre line to try and steady the ship.
It’s now time for Grenoble to put the Montauban defence to the test, they go coast to coast and manage to keep the ball alive. Until they get close to the Montauban 5 metre line on the far side, the ball pops out the side of the breakdown. Montauban get to clear towards their 10-metre line from a Zabalza box kick.
Grenoble secure the ball at the lineout and then we get to enjoy a sustained attacking display again by Grenoble, but once again it is matched by massive hits from the Montauban defence! They can’t stay legal for long though, penalty kick awarded on the 14th minute for sealing off at the ruck. Grenoble staff are charging the tee on to take the points if they can. Roman Trouilloud has the opportunity to get the first points on the board from the Montauban 10 metre line. Kicked with ease and we now have Grenoble 3 - 0 ahead.
Sam Davies has just re-entered the game too, with some heavy strapping to his shoulder, how long will he last?
Bosviel sets another rocket into the Grenoble 22 from the restart, this time Hulleu gets his timing right to gather in the air. However, as he lands, he has 2 Montauban players arriving to nail him into the deck. Ball is secured though, and they get the ball to Davies close to the try line to clear towards halfway.
Nearly 16 minutes on the clock and Montauban have a lineout to start their next wave of attack. They set about going coast to coast but not really making much ground. Its then ended with a knock on by Bosviel. Grenoble look to be turning the screw a bit now with them ahead.
Montauban won’t let Grenoble rest at the breakdown and win the ball back on the far side after Grenoble get the ball wide after the scrum. However, Montauban are being caught up with a few handling errors again when the ball is knocked on in the tackle with the ball returning to the near side. Grenoble have really turned up their line speed for this.
A scrum on halfway for Grenoble is secured after a reset for good measure, ball is pulled back to Sam Davies in his own half. He spots the space and volleys a kick for a 50 - 22, the bounce is perfect to take the ball away from Baptiste Mouchous as he tries to gather ball while his tip toes are in the field of play. Grenoble have the lineout inside the Montauban 22. The maul is butchered as they drop the ball and gift Montauban a scrum for the knock on. Grenoble go turbo on the scrum and manage to drive the Montauban scrum backwards, penalty awarded and a penalty kick for Sam Davies. He slips it inside the near post and takes Grenoble lead to 6 - 0 after 23 minutes.
Bosviel goes off with another aerial assault, Grenoble manage to gain metres with hard carrying again. Another moment of ill-discipline at the breakdown, allows Grenoble to clear the deck. Montauban don’t want to keep giving away penalties to a side like Grenoble. Julian Farnoux takes the kicking duties but can only get it close to the Montauban 10 from the tight angle. Grenoble don’t execute the clean lineout again but retain the ball. They retain the ball for a number of phases until they spill the ball over when Sam Davies tries to offload in contact. Montauban snatch the ball, and it finds its way back to Josh Vici for the first time in the game. He chips a kick over the defence on his 22, then catches the ball and sets off into space. Vici is finally tackled on the halfway line; Grenoble try to counter ruck but actually play the 9. Penalty awarded just inside the Grenoble half, we are in Bosviel range surely. The players begin the Argy bargy while the ref watches on with a close eye.
Gerswin Mouton is down on the halfway too, the Green crowd are crying for a card off that breakdown too. The ref lets it play and it’s just a warning for now. Mouton off for Palmier after taking a heavy knock in the tackle attempt on Vici. Bosviel sets up the tee, he absolutely nails it. 6 - 3 to Grenoble after 26 minutes.
Davies takes the restart, Montauban try to play away from their 22 but Bosviel goes for another spiral bomb. Hulleu is there again and does not judge this one correct, it bounces on halfway, but he knocks it on in the attempt. Scrum Montauban near the halfway line, they secure the ball and go coast to coast in attack to make it past the Grenoble 10. Zabalza manages to get a cheeky snipe away at the breakdown and gets to the 22 before being hauled down. Grenoble can’t keep the defence legal and gift a penalty to Montauban just inside the 22 and under the posts. 30 minutes on the clock and Bosviel calls for the tee. No time wasted he nudges it over with ease. We are all square 6 -6.
Montauban are up for this now, can Grenoble retake the lead and steady the game? They are putting the Montauban breakdown under pressure at the restart though. Bosviel opts for the spiral again, this time Hulleu manages to gather takes into contact. Vici has a dab at the ball but not quite there, the ball rolls out though, so Grenoble go again but Montauban are over the top. They don’t get the turnover, but the ball is knocked forward out of the breakdown and they are awarded a scrum to Grenoble frustration. Montauban are on their 10-metre line with a perfect opportunity for Bosviel to go to the air off the back.
The scrum collapses so they have to go through the hands, but it ends up being gifted back to Grenoble out wide. Grenoble go coast to coast but end up knocking on, on the far side but looks to have been hard done by as it looks to have come of his shin instead. Scrum to Grenoble though for the original knock on, just inside their half. They secure the ball, get it through the ball line when Palmier goes for the kick over the top, but it charged down by Simon Renda who manages to gather the charge down too. Pops the ball to Bosviel who charges towards the Grenoble 22, Bosviel goes for the chip over the top for the attackers to chase. Ball is regathered by Palmier inside the try area, he gathered by Yvan Reilhac. It looks like he is going to be held up, but he manages to fight himself back into play with the help of the cavalry. 36 minutes and Grenoble are a metre from their try line. Escande goes for the box kick, but he doesn’t find touch. Mouchous gathers the ball on the Grenoble 10 metre line to start the next wave of attack, he gives the ball to Vici. Vici goes off at pace at an angle towards the gap on the far side by the 22, as he is tackled where the gap was, he offloads perfectly to Renda. Renda gives the ball to Ringuet in the 5-metre channel, Grenoble defence have got across to cover. They come back across the pitch, a few sublime offloads finds Mouchous in the pocket behind Bosviel. With space and time, he draws the defender to pass to Sikumbuzo Notshe to canter over the line with a belly flop dive to finish. First try of the final in the 36th minute!
Bosviel takes the full minute but grazes the outside of the far post. We have a game on now, 5 - 11 to Montauban just before half time. A bit of kick tennis after the restart saw a wave of Grenoble attack into the Montauban half, this was wasted again but a poor pass going astray and intercepted by Montauban. They carry hard to the halfway line and Grenoble are on the back foot again, Montauban win the penalty at the breakdown, and they kick down to the 22 from their own half. As the buzzer goes for half time, Montauban go for the hooker throw on the deck. A couple of phases later, Bosviel is in the pocket. Another drop goal but from the between the 10 and 22 this time. 6 -14 to Montauban as the teams go in for half time!
A huge second half ahead is started by a cannon from Bosviel, deep into the 22, where Palmier gathers and returns a monster kick into the Montauban half. We settle into a kicking battle, where Sam Davies managed to keep a couple alive with sublime handling skill. The phases settle down and Grenoble gather a box kick. Looking for the long pass out wide to find Hulleu in space. That space is soon closed down by Vici who rag dolls Hulleu towards touch. Hulleu manages to get the ball out of his hands before going into touch, Vici picks up the loose ball but has his big toe in touch. Grenoble get the lineout in Montauban territory, they go for the maul which is brought down. So, the Grenoble attack go through the pick and go phases to get to the 22, Montauban stand strong and manage to steal the ball on their 22. Off they go once again, Zabalza gives the show and go, slips a tackle and accelerates to the halfway line. Josh Vici is motoring alongside him, so Zabalza goes for the chip and chase. The race is on, Vici gets the ball, but under pressure manages to offload the ball backwards to the supporting Montauban players. Mouchous gathers and looks to go himself, but the covering defenders are blocking him. He passes onto Zalbaza who drifts towards the posts bringing the defender with him. Just as Fred Quercy arrives, with metres to go, he gets the ball from Zalbaza. He is only a couple of metres out, the covering defender makes the chop tackle, but Quercy stretches out his arm to score the try amongst the chaos!
Bosviel slots the conversion and Montauban extend the lead to 6 - 21. What a team try from the Green Army. Have they set too much of a target for Grenoble with 35 minutes remaining?
Both teams begin to empty the benches to freshen up the game ahead. Grenoble start to get some pressure on Montauban, having stolen a defensive line out, Grenoble are in the Montauban 22 now. They sucker enough Montauban defenders across, allowing Sam Davies to get the ball to Palmier who then chucks out wide to Hulleu tight on the touchline. Looks like he just has to run it over, but Josh Vici chomps up the space. Hulleu steps inside to avoid the Vici tackle, Mouchous tries to tackle but is bounced off. JT Jackson looks to have held up Hulleu on the line, but 2 Grenoble players pile in to drive him over the line. Whistle blown, its Grenoble back in the game. Davies slips the conversion inside the far post to take the score to 13 - 21 after 48 minutes.
Bosviel sends another bomb at the restart into the 22, but he over kicks this one straight into touch. Back to halfway we go for a scrum, the Grenoble crowd are ramping up the noise again. Grenoble win the scrum, then off into attack down the nearside. They opt for the grubber kick behind which manages to bobble out but had Montauban under pressure again. Vakhtang Jintcharadze has another shocker for his second lineout since coming on, the first was overthrown gifting ball back just before the first try. Now, he can’t get past the first man, Grenoble win the ball in the Montauban 22. They attack the Montauban 5 metre line now, ball worked across to the far side. As they look to put the last pass into the 5-metre channel on the far side, Grenoble manage to pass the ball into Mouchous hand when he was looking away from the pass. Accidental knock on and a 5-metre scrum for Grenoble.
Montauban manage to win the scrum penalty and get to clear the decks, 53 minutes on the clock. They can’t keep giving away territory from poor lineouts, they need to fix that quickly. Ball is cleared to the Grenoble 10, Sam Davies goes for the up and under to the Montauban 10. He covers the ground and manages to stand under it and wait for it to drop, in their haste to regain the ball, 2 Montauban players get in each other’s way and get pinged for obstruction. They are just inside the Montauban half, Palmier is taking the penalty kick. He pushed it wide; it had the legs but not inside the posts. 54 minutes and the scores remain the same. Montauban have the 22 drop out, Bosviel goes for the quick tap, but the ref brings him back to go again. On the second go, Bosviel hoofs it to the Grenoble 22. A period of kick and chase then begins.
Grenoble get the ball and opt to attack while under a knock-on advantage. They hit wave after wave till they are camped on the Montauban 2 metre line, hard carries are flying in but being met with hard defensive hits too. Grenoble thought they had scored the try but it was held up. Grenoble were under penalty advantage and opt to take the points from close quarters. Bosviel was under that ball on the try line, he is everywhere in this game. Davies makes the kick easily and takes the score to 16 - 21 after 58 minutes.
Grenoble have the wind in their sails as they force the turnover after the restart return. The blue wave goes forward again, Montauban are sucked into a mistake at the breakdown and gift an easy penalty again for Sam Davies to nudge over. 19 - 21 as the clock turns 61 minutes. 19 minutes left and we have a proper game on our hands. Bosviel is being replaced by Thomas Fortunel now, how much is that going to affect Montauban with the time remaining?
Both sides opt for the territory kicking game with the game going back and forth for a couple of minutes. Until Palmier thinks it’s time to kick it the beans, receiving the ball pretty much on his try line, he puts the ball just short of the Montauban 22 into touch. What a Kick!!
Another dodgy lineout from the replacement hooker for Montauban, allows Grenoble the chance to get onto the attack around the Montauban 22. Davies drops into the pocket to go for a drop goal; however, this attempt is probably best not spoken about. Going horribly wide is that an opportunity to take the full control of this game missed?
Montauban look completely out of whack now, they misplace the pass as they try to exit from their own 22. The ball bobbles around but they manage to just about regather it. They get to clear the decks, but they can’t keep giving Grenoble these opportunities. Grenoble take the lineout on the Montauban 22, opt for the maul, it stopped once but Grenoble wheel it away and then eats up the metres. Montauban swim round the side in attempt to steal the ball but get pinged by the ref. Penalty advantage to Grenoble near the 22, they go for the kick over the top but not successful. Sam Davies has a tough kick on the far side to bring Grenoble ahead; he pulls the kick wide of the near post. Montauban survive another scare.
Just over 12 minutes remain, the aerial battle begins again to get territory. Mouchous settles for the lineout on the Montauban 10 metre line, rather than the quick ball to keep it alive. Montauban secure this lineout, but the maul is stuck static. The aerial battle starts again, the kick tennis went on for over 4 minutes, Grenoble had a couple of players on the deck from chasing. Fortunel opts to stop the game with the kick into touch around the halfway line. The crowd turn up the volume once again while the players are being patched up.
Grenoble now make the error at the line out, Montauban have a knock-on advantage. They get the ball out a phase and win another penalty at the breakdown between the halfway line and the Grenoble 10 metre line. The try to play out but their free play comes to nothing. Surely, they have to go for posts and stretch the lead, even from there?
Fortunel opts for the sticks, what a kick again in the Pro D2. It’s straight down the middle, and score moves to 19 - 24 with 6 minutes remaining. Are we going to see the green army of Montauban in the Top 14?
Montauban just have to control their exit from the restart, it doesn’t go to plan though. Grenoble have the speed in attack to cause chaos again. Romain Trouilloud hits the perfect line back on the inside of the ruck. Montauban had switched off and left a huge gap for him to coast through. Reaching the 22, Trouilloud is about to be clattered by 4 defenders. He goes for the nudge over the top for Victor Guillaumond to chase down but the bounce takes the ball away from him and over the dead ball line.
5 minutes left, Fortunel clears towards the Grenoble 22. Davies returns the ball into the sky, chasing it down but the ball is spilt loose in contact. Grenoble win the penalty after Montauban seal off at the subsequent ruck. Is this the chance that Grenoble need to steal the victory from the jaws of defeat? Davies goes for the corner now to try to go for maximum points. Not quite the Montauban 5 metre line, but a great platform.
Grenoble secure the ball at the lineout, then set off with the rolling maul. Montauban get pinged in the maul on their 5-metre line, Grenoble opt for the tap and go. 3 minutes on the clock, Cody Thomas steps up. He doesn’t make contact with the ball before picking it up. Whistle blows, it’s a Montauban scrum! Has the season all fell apart on the distance of a fag paper?
The scrum is reset twice for collapsing, Montauban will be happy with the clock ticking down. A minute left, Bosviel is back on and clears the ball towards halfway and into touch. Grenoble get the ball at the lineout and go for the maul. It looks like a Montauban player has snuck through to get over the ball, the maul starts to trundle away. The ball carrier tries to peel away but has a Montauban player attached, they go to ground, and the ref blows the whistle. Turnover to Montauban, with 7 seconds left. That is surely the end for Grenoble and the fairy tale comes true for Montauban. The hooter goes as the scrum is being set, Montauban just need the ball out of play to complete the impossible. The ball is in, then out the back by Joe Powell with the deep pass to Bosviel. Bosviel smashes the ball over the stand into the Toulouse car park! The Green Army are in the Top 14! Grenoble have to go again on Saturday against Perpignan.