Separated by two small points in the standings at the end of the regular season, Grenoble (4th) and Dax (5th) were separated by a world on Thursday evening in a first one-sided Pro D2 play-off. Buoyed by the euphoria of an end to the season where it won eight of its last nine matches, the FCG crushed the Landais on Thursday evening at the Stade des Alpes (58-10). A demonstration in eight tries which allows him to qualify for the semi-finals, where he will travel next Thursday to Aix-en-Provence, leader at the end of the regular season.
Launched by a try from its emblematic captain Steeve Blanc-Mappaz (10-0, 11th), Grenoble played its rugby around an imperial Sam Davies at the opening. The activities around the Welsh ten took their toll, between a low kick for Hugo Trouilloud (17-3, 22nd), inside throws for Nathan Farissier (24-3, 25th) and Romain Fusier (44-10, 62nd ) or even a chistera for Geoffrey Cros (32-10, 36th).
Coming off the bench, Mathis Sarragallet (37-10, 57th), Barnabé Couilloud (51-10, 67th) and Max Clément (58-10, 72nd) participated in the festival that the men of Nicolas Nadau and Patrick Pézery were able to enjoy so much their season was chaotic, punctuated twice by six penalty points in the standings for financial irregularities (the club had recovered four points on appeal in February).
“Offensively, we had a great time and we now know what awaits us in Aix-en-Provence”
“We lost twice against Dax in the regular season and we had to make up for it,” Grenoble center Romain Trouilloud also underlined on Canal+ Sport. Offensively, we enjoyed ourselves and we now know what awaits us in Aix-en-Provence”, where Grenoble will try to reach a second consecutive final.
Dacquoise’s disappointment should quickly be attenuated by the exceptional season of the promoted team, who failed to push the feat further than the Stade des Alpes. The second jump-off will pit Béziers and Brive against each other on Friday (9 p.m.), followed by a semi-final in Vannes.
