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With the drama building on the pitch, the pre match drama was building with the live feed not getting underway till a matter of moments before the game! But it was totally worth the wait, to have the opportunity to watch Pro D2 for free on Youtube with the team at FR-UK Rugby!
A sell out crowd we making an absolute racket when the teams entered the field with Jimmy Gopperth getting the game underway for Provence.
While the first 90 seconds had hard hits, kicking, fumbles, high balls and a scrap between 2 locks off the ball. No territory was really made by either side, After 2 and a half minutes the ball finally goes out of play and the props get a chance to breathe. Provence miscue the lineout and allows Grenoble to set off in attack. It ends with another kick going astray by Sam Davies going out on the full and bringing Provence back deep into the Grenoble half. The Provence lineout maul ends with a knock on and a Grenoble penalty.
Grenoble head off into the Provence half and set off a number of strong running attacks off their line out. There must have been easily 15 phases of attack from Grenoble but ends with a penalty kick under the posts after a turnover attempt was unsuccessful for Provence.
3 - 0 after 8 minutes with a Sam Davies penalty. José Madeira has to leave the field already due to injury for Grenoble, which could be him at risk if they proceed to the final. Provence now enjoy a phase of attacking play from their own half but can only make it as far as the Grenoble 10 metre line. Grenoble stay strong and win their a scrappy lineout, then manage a sublime 50 -22 but don’t chase it down allowing Provence to take a quick lineout and remove the territory victory.
14 minutes into the game and its a relentless territory battle and the players are finally given a chance to breathe with a lineout giving a break in play. Zafra gets pinged at the lineout side entry, allowing Sam Davies the chance to put Grenoble on the Provence 22. A great steal allows Provence a chance to exit but another sublime 50 -22 puts Grenoble down on the Provence 5m line. The lineout maul gets stopped but Provence infringe in the contest again, giving Sam Davies another chance to add to the score.
Which he obliges and puts Grenoble 6 - 0 ahead. Provence then kick out on the full from the restart, giving Grenoble a scrum on halfway after 19 minutes. After a few resets, the Provence pack managed to win the scrum penalty. Provence go for the up and under but Sam Davies gathers, calls the mark, then taps and go making metres. Provence then get pinged at the breakdown for being on the wrong side, Sam Davies kicks Grenoble to the Provence 22. Another torrent of attacking phases ends with another Provence penalty at the breakdown for not rolling away again. Sam Davies goes for the posts again.
Davies isn’t successful to put the Grenoble side further ahead after 25 minutes. Provence kick deep but Grenoble go wave after wave to run the length of the pitch for Gerswin Mouton to score in the corner. Sam Davies scores the conversion. Taking Grenoble to 13 - 0 at the 28 minute mark. The Provence defence were getting sucked in narrow consistently in that attack allowing Grenoble space to get it wide.
Provence nearly find an opening with their prop showing the dummy but as usual a pass to a back its knocked on. Arthur Coville gifts Grenoble a scrum in their own half. The crowd get involved and turn up the volume even more, this time Grenoble win the scrum penalty. A period of kick tennis begins with some top drawer kicking on show. Grenoble have a lineout on half way, which ends on the far side with a forward pass. Provence restart with a scrum, after 33 minutes.
Provence secure the pill and allow George North to run the ball hard. They are making metres into the Grenoble half. However, Harrison ends the play with a wayward forward pass into touch. Grenoble go for the quick lineout but kick the ball to stop in the Provence try area. Provence had to exit from the try line, it drops into Sam Davies hands, he opts for the drop goal from 40 metres out!!! Its unbelievable! 16 -0 ahead after 35 minutes.
Provence manage to win a penalty from the restart and Jimmy Gopperth gets to take a kick from 40m out, and he obliges straight down the middle. 16 - 3 after 37 minutes.
Grenoble put Provence under pressure at the restart and Arthur Coville makes another unforced error to kick out. Lineout goes to plan with a bounce pass off the deck, then gets out wide for Romain Fusier to run the last defence. Under the posts and Davies converts with ease. 23 - 3 at the 40 minute mark, Provence restart but it ends up into touch and the whistle goes for half time.
The live stream gremlins start again but we return in time to see Grenoble start the half with a stunning try where Sam Davies nudges into the corner with Gerswin Mouton gathering in full flight. Sam Davies doesn’t make the conversion but Grenoble stretch the lead to 28 -3 after 43 minutes. Provence empty the bench with an attempt to turn the tide of this game!
A period with reset scrums ends with Grenoble winning the ball, a few phases of attack nearly ends with a break through but a knock on at the wrong time ends the spell. Provence restart with a scrum in a similar position. Scrum penalty awarded to Provence, giving them to chance to kick past halfway and start a platform with a clever lineout. Some expansive play is stopped by quick line speed from Grenoble. However, the ball is handed back to Grenoble in the form of another penalty. Sam Davies sets them off down the pitch again.
Grenoble retain the pill at the lineout, and set off across the pitch in attack. But end up being driven into touch on the near side. Provence get the lineout, and make further changes again. The lineout is not straight and Grenoble get the advantage back close to the Provence 22. Grenoble get their lineout wrong and end up with Provence getting it out wide but ends up with a knock on. In the tackle, Lapegue leaves the field of play in pain and the top try scorer hasn’t had a great night.
Grenoble gift a scrum penalty to Provence, and they have to go for the tap and go. The attack is lead by Harrison with his head down, Provence manage to make metres after multiple phases. While under penalty advantage, Jimmy Gopperth gets dumped on his head off the ball, after he was trying to stop Richard Hardwick getting back in the line. A straight red for Richard Hardwick could undo all of the Grenoble dominance? 54 minutes on the clock, and Provence have a scrum in the Grenoble 22. Provence manage to find space off the base of the scrum and Yannick Youyoutte dominates over the line under the posts. Gopperth converts and its now 28 -10 after 56 minutes.
Barnabé Couilloud managed to make light work when Provence switch off at the breakdown, a sneak round the blind allowing Romain Trouilloud score a try while forcing himself over the line. Sam Davies converts to make it 35 -10 after 58 minutes. Surely any comeback is over now?
Grenoble keep the relentless attack going again from the restart, Davies gives Fuslier the pass to nudge over the top which is nearly chased down by Mouton but is cleared into touch on the Grenoble 5m. Grenoble go for the lineout maul but its collapsed quickly, they go for the pick and go, until they opt for the backs move. Under a penalty advantage, they try the cross field kick which doesn’t end up. They go for the 3 points infront of the posts while boos ring out around the ground. Unsure if its the fans wanting more tries! Davies uses the full minute to take the kick. Its slotted and now Grenoble are 38 -10 ahead after 64 minutes.
16 minutes left to go but Grenoble are still laying in the big hits to tell Provence they aren’t coming through. Thomas Salles is carried out into touch near the halfway line. Grenoble secure the lineout but the ball is gifted back in the contact though. Provence manage to get into the Grenoble half but the big defensive line put in the big hits on the Grenoble 22. Looks like the boos were for Nadir Bouhedjeur while he is making friends with the home fans. Provence restart the game with a scrum around the Grenoble 22 but Grenoble win the scrum penalty this time. Sam Davies kicks the ball out on the full, so Provence march the Grenoble team back to the 22. Another scrappy lineout on the 22, ends up with the Provence try scorer into space. Ball makes it out wide and Provence get another try. Allowing Nadir Bouhedjeur the chance to celebrate Charly Gambinis try with the home fans, Gopperth makes the conversion to take the game to 38 -17 on 70th minute.
From the restart, Provence manage to get it through the hands and over halfway. But as they try to go back the other way, another error ends up with a Grenoble scrum. Sam Davies leaves the pitch to a standing ovation for his display tonight. Scrum is won by Grenoble, its followed up with a forward pass, so we go back for another scrum but for Provence this time. Provence secure the pill after another restarted scrum. But the attack comes to nothing and ball goes into touch.
Grenoble have a lineout which is stolen but straight into touch. The Grenoble fans are going to have a party tonight, the volume is being cranked up again.
Nadir Bouhedjeur is making more friends again, but gets flattened after the tap and go. Further scraps kick off, off the ball Nadir Bouhedjeur is at the heart of the afters. The fans are loving him getting flattened and in the middle of some kerfuffles. It ends with 2 yellows though with Barnabé Couilloud and Joris Cazenave both sent from the pitch for the last 3 minutes.
Grenoble atmosphere ramps up again! Nadir Bouhedjeur is off the pitch and the fans are giving him their sympathy, the game continues with a Grenoble lineoiut on the halfway. They have 2 minutes to retain the ball and secure the final place. Grenoble have another injured player strolling towards the bench, Grenoble 16 is off. Asnother scrap in the and around the breakdown is stopped by the physio, Grenoble are awarded a penalty on the 80th minute. They duly oblige to kick it out and end the game.
What a game, it was spicy as we hoped but Grenoble managed to show the levels that they have risen to this season.
Amazing atmosphere and great to listen to FR-UK with Tim Cocker and Joe Worsley give us the chance to watch Pro D2!