The stakes: first place… and the throne of leader at the truce
They have already been leaders, alone or with another company, but Grenoble (from the 10th to the 12th day) and Brive (2nd, 4th and 6th days) had never been together at the top of the ranking before December 6 and evening of the 13th day (42 points each). But these two ambitious people – who share the same ambition, to return to the Top 14, barely veiled – will not stay side by side for long. The winner of their duel, this Friday at the Stade des Alpes, will alone take the lead; and will undoubtedly keep it until 2025 because the last day of the first leg will offer them an affordable match (in Nice for the FCG and against Agen for the CAB). A status of “winter champion” which will remain anecdotal, as the road is long until the final stages. But which will have the merit of making an impression… especially those of the competitors.
>> The ranking and calendar of Pro D2
The opponent: Brive, too, has its problems
At the start of the season, Brive was placed among the favorites, in the lead with Oyonnax, and Brive has maintained its status until now (unlike the Aindinois). Already because the Corréziens are the best Pro D2 team at home (7 victories and 4 offensive bonuses); and also because they were able to bring back successes from Soyaux/Angoulême (28-25) and Nice (26-16). All this, thanks to the best defense and the 2nd best attack in the championship. Despite these good stats, the CAB is still looking far from Amédée-Domenech, as Erwan Dridi told us this week, where he sometimes gets pushed around.
This trip to Isère, to another undefeated Pro D2 at home, offers them the opportunity to assert their status as boss. But it will be without several major elements, injured (Olding, Moriarty, L. Carbonneau, Shvelidze, etc.) or spared (Van der Merwe, Lawes, Sadrugu, Ferté, etc.), while the South African joker Hendre Stassen is not not summoned. Nevertheless: Pierre-Henry Broncan and his troop do not come to Isère deprived: with a 6/2 bench and the reputation of having one of the best packs on carried balls, the Brivistes will not lack an argument.
The man to watch: Ryno Pieterse
He made his official debut with the FCG last Friday in Mont-de-Marsan (26-30) and he was on the verge of quickly becoming a Grenoble hero, with two opportunities to score the winning try at the end match. Ryno Pieterse will this time discover the Stade des Alpes, and not in his favorite position (2nd line) but in an unusual position of flanker, to compensate for the 3rd line problems of the Dauphinois squad. Nevertheless: the 1.96 m and 106 kg of the 26-year-old South African, and even more his ferocity, must help the Alpine pack to meet the physical challenge against the Corréziens.
10 000
For the first time in the 2024-2025 season, the Stade des Alpes will exceed a five-digit number in terms of attendance. Fans of the Rouge et Bleu will also have their role to play in this clash of leaders.
The declaration
“Of course, we try to look for them a little more and help them. Almost all of us have experienced a change of club and we know that it's hard to acclimatize when you're French. And foreigners, you have to be alert to support them as best as possible. When you want to convey a message, language is not very important. From the intonation, you know roughly what the person in front of you means. And then, the language of rugby is very simple, it’s universal. »
From Julien Farnoux, FC Grenoble fullback, about the integration of the South Africans Sirgel and Pieterse, as well as the Australian Cameron Holt (not qualified).
The Grenoble – Brive match will be broadcast live with commentary on www.ledauphine.com/sport
