PRO D2 2024/2025 – We take stock, after a little more than a third of the championship. With FC Grenoble taking the lead and a fight to maintain it which is likely to be fierce.
A top 6 which emerged, with Grenoble at the head
After narrowly missing the Top 14 last season, with a Homeric play-off match against Montpellier (18-20), Grenoble seems to have digested this frustrating encounter perfectly. Above all, the Grenoblois do not start with a handicap of eight points (then five), like last season. Even without this ball and chain, the 2023-2024 season was less good. With 28 points collected on the field (minus the eight penalties) in eleven matches. This season, they have already collected 36 points, for a total of eight victories and three defeats. Including a very big 4-1 over the last five matches. With prestigious successes in Oyonnax (23-38) and Béziers (22-25). Despite three trips, it was the Alpins who had the best series. And are now the best attack in Pro D2, with 300 points.
Or one point better than Montaubanalso one point behind the Grenoblois in the Pro D2 ranking. And we can no longer talk about the hit of the summer, for the Montalbanais. And to think that they escaped, at the end of a knife barrage against Narbonne (20-19). They have only taken 51 points in 30 matches. They have 36 in eleven games this season. We imagine that caution will be required in Sapiac. The start of last season was convincing. But not to that extent, far from it (25 points in 11 games). With some offensive weapons, like Simon Renda and its 14 offloads or Stéphane Ahmed and his 5 tries and 11 crossings. For now, USM Sapiac is armed to prolong the madness.
Brivewith 33 points, Biarritz with 32 points, Béziers of the extraordinary Gabin Lorrewith 31 points and Provence Rugbyalso 31 points, are in the Top 6, synonymous with the final phase. And with a little break. The Provençaux are five points ahead of the IN XV7th, with 26 points.
A fierce struggle to maintain
Six teams standing in three points, with Nice somewhat unhooked at the rear. We suspected that the bottom of the table would be just as exciting as the fight for the final phase. But what is more surprising is to find clubs like Agen (11e, 22 points), Mont-de-Marsan (12e, 21 points), Nevers (13th, 19 pts) and Oyonnax (14th, 19 pts) in this battle. For the Boyrelegated from the Top 14, the latter did not think they would have such a complicated start to the season. Three defeats in a row, including a very heavy one at home against Grenoble (23-38). And only four victories since the start of the season. The results are very complicated for the Aindinois, who must quickly pull themselves together. Under penalty of being drawn into a struggle to maintain their position, for which they are not prepared.
Valence-Romans also has 19 points and will fight, like last season, for its maintenance. During the previous exercise, they had two more points at the same stage. Despite a jump-off place, the passage times are not catastrophic. The people of Drôme can count on Lucas Meret top scorer in the championship, with 129 points, all on foot. Almost half of his team's total (273).
Promoted from National, Nice is having a somewhat paradoxical start to the season. Last, with 16 points, without being completely dropped. The Niçois shine away (10 points, a real performance for a promoted player). And came very close to a monumental feat in Montauban (34-30, beaten in added time). The Niçois are out of fuel at home, with six small points. Five points less than the SA XV, penultimate team at home. For a first season at this level, the Niçois are far from ridiculous. And prove that they have the level of Pro D2. All that's missing is a little bit of realism and solidity in certain key moments of a match.
