What to remember from the improved victory of the Isérois against the Tarn-et-Garonnais, Thursday evening at the Stade des Alpes (37-16) during the 8th day of Pro D2.
By Florent Cotté – Oct 20, 2023 at 06:05 | updated at 3:44 p.m.
THE TOPS
Wilfried Hulleu : his coaches preferred to keep him in Isère, rather than making him available to the BaaBaas Sevens for the Supersevens final (Sunday in Paris). Good idea ! The young Haut-Savoyard winger, very motivated for his first start, bit into his match, with two beautiful dives into the Montalbanian in-goal (27th and 40th+1) and a 60-meter rush (32nd), which launched the FCG towards its decisive ten minutes at the end of the 1st period.
Bautista Ezcurra : once again starting the position of first center, the Argentinian gave the full measure of his talent, with well-felt ball-in-hand initiatives and decisive passes, on the tests of Hulleu (27th) and Farnoux (35th). His inspirations and his grin in the center of the field, even in disorder at times, do his team good.
Eric Escande : well placed, in the wake of a dominating pack, the Grenoble scrum half had a lot of balls to negotiate and often made the right choices, near the goal line, to then make his teammates score. When he left the field (52nd), he received applause from the public at the Stade des Alpes… which has not happened to him so often in four seasons at FCG.
FCG internationals : José Madeira was eager to play again with his club… but probably not after six minutes. The injury to Thomas Lainault (shoulder) precipitated the return of the Portuguese and the 2nd line spared no effort: on the touchline, in the tackles and also by his availability around the rucks.
Irakli Aptsiauri waited until the 48th minute to play again with FCG. The Georgian pillar pushed hard in the scrum and even scored a try, in force, after a pick and go. An impactful return.
The Grenoble defense : by conceding 16 points, the FCG had its most airtight match in eight days. Above all, he only let Montauban visit his goal once, and again on a cap try (54th): a candle poorly received by Farnoux and an approximate withdrawal from Qadiri. For the rest, it was a “closed doors” evening!
BETWEEN TOPS AND FLOPS
Pio Muarua : the Fijian No. 8 undoubtedly had his best match of the season, with bloody charges with the ball under his arm and a powerful try, which ideally launched his team (4th). But his game suffers too much from slag: like this penalty offered to Montauban on a poorly controlled counter-ruck (15th) or this pass thrown to… no one, which offers a testing opportunity to the visitors (22nd). He would benefit from finding a little more rigor.
LES FLOPS
The too many forwards : we ended up no longer counting them, there were so many of them. But the Grenoblois dropped around twenty balls in this match. By haste, to speed up the game in offensive phases, or by approximations under the candles (Farnoux, hampered by the wind), the FCG made life complicated and often prevented itself from giving continuity to its game.
Sam Davies : the Welsh fly-half delivered two assists in FCG’s five tries. But, aside from that, he missed a few too many things against Montauban. We will easily forgive him for his two failed transformations (corner); a little less his two missed tackles on Goggin, who offers two testing opportunities to USM. And once again, he was a little too greedy in looking for a 50/22 (30th). This is the other side of the coin of his talent.
The incomprehensible arbitration : perhaps it’s the period that requires that… we are a little less tolerant with the referees. Thursday evening, Mr. Carrillo whistled a penalty against Montauban, while the Grenoble pack was heading towards the test (66th). He also penalized in scrum the teams which took the upper hand in pushing (the FCG three times, the USM once). His arbitration has not always been understood; but at least his decisions did not distort the final result. And that’s the main thing!
>> Pro D2 results, rankings and schedule
The FCG stars of the match
HULLEU ***
B. EZCURRA ***
ESCAND **
APPROVED **
PREVIOUS *
MARTEL *
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