The challenges: not to miss the first match of the year
After two weeks of vacation and a week of training, there is always a little apprehension to know what state of form the players are in. For this first match of the return phase, the Grenoble group was able to count on the return of several players, absent for several weeks due to injuries. Thibaut Martel and Gerswin Mouton return to the group, as does Ryno Pieterse, who suffered a concussion in his first match with FCG against Colomiers. For this first of the calendar year, Nicolas Nadau and Patrick Pezery had more latitude to compose their starting XV.
>> Find the calendar, ranking and results of the Pro D2
The opponent: Montauban had beaten FCG in the first leg, but…
Seventh after the fifteen matches of the first phase, US Montauban started its season very well before having a (big) slump. The players of Sébastien Tillous-Borde, the manager of the Vert et Noir, suffered four defeats in a row in Brive (37-22), against Soyaux-Angoulême (20-27), in Béziers (34-20) and against Oyonnax (30-33) during the last match of 2024. This trip to Isère against the championship leader looks like purgatory for the Tarn-et-Garonnais. Montauban beat Grenoble in the first leg (30-25). FCG won a bonus point at the very end of the match. “We had to be precise and that day, we were. We had perhaps our best match, with that of Oyo. So, we managed to be good that day. Now, Grenoble, they have continued to evolve. They are on a very good dynamic. They have great players, a big audience… It will put us in the thick of things,” says the Montauban manager. Grenoble, undefeated in Pro D2 in 2024, wants to continue the same dynamic.
The man to watch: Sam Davies, the titular maestro
He has been back for several weeks and his rise continues. Since his shoulder injury, Welshman Sam Davies, who extended three years with the FCG until 2028, has returned to the field. Absent in Nice for personal reasons, the opener, associated with Barnabé Couilloud at the hinge for Montauban, will be one of the men to watch. Able to alternate and put pressure on his opponents at the right time, Sam Davies will probably be one of the men to watch in this meeting. Especially since the conditions don’t look good in Grenoble, with probably rain. His kicking game will be all the more useful…
This content is blocked because you have not accepted cookies and other trackers.
By clicking on “I accept”cookies and other trackers will be placed and you will be able to view the contents (more information).
By clicking on “I accept all cookies”you authorize the storage of cookies and other trackers for the storage of your data on our sites and applications for personalization and advertising targeting purposes.
You can withdraw your consent at any time by consulting our data protection policy.
Manage my choices
I accept
I accept all cookies
The declaration
“I am very happy to extend here. It was obvious for me to stay in Grenoble. I’m very happy and I can’t wait for the second part of the season to start to find out how far we’re going to go. Being contacted by other clubs (Toulon in particular, Editor’s note), it sure makes you think, the choice was hard but my first option was to stay. As someone from the region, I have all my family not very far from here, it was obvious. There were calls from the Top 14 but there was nothing concrete. I’m very good at FCG and it’s up to us to do everything we can to get to the Top 14 next season. » Romain Fusier, three-quarter center of the FCG who extended until 2027.
Direct confrontations: Grenoble advantage
At the Stade des Alpes, the FCG is rather comfortable against Montauban. The Grenoblois won last season (37-16). In 2023, Grenoble won 48-17 when the Montalbanais were close to relegation. To avoid finding a victory for Grenoble, we have to go back to September 2020. Grenoblois and Montalbanais separated with a draw (28-28).
Related News :