Grenoble – Montpellier – The notes: Louis Carbonel and Ben Lam did the job, Barnabé Massa has nothing to reproach himself for

This Sunday, Montpellier saved its head on the Grenoble lawn with a tough victory with a score of 20-18. In this meeting, Ben Lam and Louis Carbonel did the job to save the MHR. Opposite, Barnabé Massa produced an exceptional copy, in vain. Here are the notes from this meeting.

Detailed notes from Montpellier:

10. Louis Carbonel: 7/10

Like his team, the MHR flyhalf did not achieve everything on the pitch at the Stade des Alpes, far from it. However, in an access match, a 100% scorer is never a refusal. Certainly, the transformations and penalties he achieved were not the most difficult of his career, but his flawless performance is worth noting. Especially when opposite, his Grenoble counterpart missed eight points against the posts. Carbonel, for his part, did not tremble, especially when it was necessary to put Montpellier in front a few seconds before the final whistle. Carbonel will remain as one of the great men of this accession barrier.

In a match with so much at stake, we had the right to expect a lot from the double South African world champion. Shortly after the twentieth minute of play, he managed to break through the Isère defense without successfully finishing an action which ultimately resulted in nothing. Perhaps the most frustrating thing for a player of this talent is his lack of management. At the start of the second half, when his team were trailing by four points (18-14), he “wasted” some good Hérault ammunition by quickly playing a penalty. The ball was lost by his team a few seconds later… Reinach came out after this action, stunned.

Cobus Reinach did not weigh enough on the debates against Grenoble.
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If some Montpellier residents were clearly not at their level this Sunday afternoon, Ben Lam has little to reproach himself for. Replaced, somewhat to everyone’s surprise a few seconds after returning from the locker room, the former UBB player launched the MHR perfectly. Full of opportunism, it was he who scored the first try of the match after a great mix-up (6th). Seven minutes later, the New Zealander broke the defensive curtain of the locals before serving Gabriel Ngandebe on a plate.

Other notes from Montpellier:

15. Julien Tisseron: 4.5/10
13. Auguste Cadot:: 5.5/10
12. Jan Serfontein: 4/10
11. Gabriel Ngandebe: 6/10
7. Alexandre Bécognée: 5.5/10
8. Lenni Nouchi: 4.5/10
6. Nicolaas J. Van Rensburg: not rated
5. Bastien Chalureau: 5/10
4. Tyler Duguid: 6/10
3. Luka Japaridze: 5/10
2. Vano Karkadze: 4/10
1. Baptiste Erdocio: 6/10

Grenoble’s notes:

2. Barnabé Massa: 8/10

What a gigantic match from the young hooker from Grenoble! If we obviously remember his attempt at the back of the maul during the first act, we will have to remember his general score. Excellent in his throws and in his takeovers at the bottom of the keys, Massa often took his team in his wake. Like various actions during the hour mark where he repeatedly broke Montpellier tackles. Defensively, his safe tackle on Tolofua is ultra-valuable at the start of the second half. He showed all the character we know from him in a match of the utmost importance.

Leading the way time and time again throughout the season, he did it again when the time was right. In particular, he played a perfect foot game throughout the match. The variation of areas of the field, an ideal length and opportunistic rebounds, Davies magnificently kept his team breathing for a long time. The icing on the cake is that he gives Hepetema a candy just before the break. In the second period, his missed penalty cost. Also, and unfortunately, even if it was very unlikely that FCG would get the ball back, their overhand at the end of the match was due to them not having given themselves one last opportunity to dream.

Sam Davies performed well again, but his end to the match will remain frustrating.
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15. Julien Farnoux: 7/10

The Grenoble full-back was important in the FCG match. Important in the attacks, he actively participated in the rather interesting FCG game this Sunday afternoon. In the second period, his incredible 50-22 in the 55th minute is clearly worth highlighting. It was also he who countered Ngandebe’s foot play which proved dangerous. He participated a lot, although victory was not at the end.