Grenoble went into the Access Match having lost to Montauban last week in the Pro D2 final. USA Perpignan are used to the Access Match and rather well, having won in 2022 at Mont-de-Marsan (16-41) and in 2023 at Grenoble winning 19-33. With opposite fortunes, Grenoble, who also failed last year against Montpellier (18-20), have not experienced the Top 14 since the 2018-19 season and USAP have not been in the Pro D2 since 2020-21.
Grenoble went into the Access Match having lost to Montauban last week in the Pro D2 final. USA Perpignan are used to the Access Match and rather well, having won in 2022 at Mont-de-Marsan (16-41) and in 2023 at Grenoble winning 19-33. With opposite fortunes, Grenoble, who also failed last year against Montpellier (18-20), have not experienced the Top 14 since the 2018-19 season and USAP have not been in the Pro D2 since 2020-21.
With the Grenoble having the rally cry out for their home fans to bring the noise to welcome their heroes this season and impose upon the opposition!
The game started with the trademark Sam Davies deep kick into the USAP 22. USAP managed to regain territory and had a lineout on the Grenoble 22, just after the 1st minute. Ball was plucked from the sky, and the maul was set underway. A bit scrappy as players fell away but USAP still made a few metres, while players were strewn on the ground. USAP went on attack to the far side but the Grenoble line speed held them back to only a few more metres gain. It was when they came back across the pitch, a big run by Tuilagi suckered in a few defenders. Quick ball off the base allowed the backs to let fly with the dummy lines and run into space. Tamite Veredamu used a bit of footwork and found the space open up for hime to run through and dot down nearer the posts. Tomasso Allan did the business with the conversion infront of the jubilant Yellow and Red fans. 3 minutes on the clock and USAP were 0 - 7 ahead.
In the 14th minute, Grenoble managed to win a scrum penalty just past the USAP 10 metre line. Pio Maurua went for the tap and go, managed to suck in 2 tackles to try and stop him, a offload in the tackle set up Matthis Sarragallet. He passed onto Romain Fusier, Fusier spun the ball wide to Wilfred Hulleu in space. The foot race began with Lucas Dubois coming across with the cover tackle, Hulleu went for the neat grubber kick along the line. Hulleu was then in a foot race with Veredamu, both dived for the ball to dot down over the line. The Grenoble players all jumped around like they had got the try to get them back in the game. However, the TMO had another view of proceedings, Veredamu had just got to the ball ahead of Hulleu and play restarted with a goal line drop out.
A few minutes later, Grenoble had an opportunity from a line out in the USAP 22. The ball was gathered and off the maul went, creeping forward, Barnabé Couilloud wasn’t going to wait though. The ball was out to Julien Heriteau, Fusier with the dummy line alongside him, allowed him to pull the ball to Sam Davies. Davies spun the ball along to Julien Farnoux, he just had to make the pass out to Hulleu alone on the wing! Hulleu gathered the ball and dived over the line in the corner. Sam Davies took the conversion but hit the upright. Grenoble were surely back to 5 - 7, however, here comes the TMO again. While under pressure in the final pass from Farnoux, he pushed it forward. No try and Grenoble have to go again.
It wasn’t long before Grenoble were back in the USAP 22, this time with a scrum on their 5 metre line after 23 minutes. Couilloud received the ball straight back out the scrum and set off around the openside, as the attack fanned out towards the far side. Farnoux hit a phenomenal line back inside the space looking at going straight under the sticks, however, he was intercepted by 2 USAP defenders. Grenoble manage to creep him forward still towards the line, a couple of metres out though he comes to ground. Couilloud pops it onto the next pod, stopped on the line. But Brandon Nansen capitalised on the slow defence from USAP to flop over the line. Sam Davies hit the upright once again and missed the conversion, 24 minutes on the clock. 5 - 7. Grenoble are trying to turn the screw now.
In the 36th minute, USAP gave away a stupid penalty on their 10 metre line. Giorgi Beria came out to charge down a Sam Davies kick that was on the halfway line, he has then continued through Sam with a forearm smash like out of the WWE. Throwing his hands up like when you get caught by your mum when fighting with your sibling. The ref obviously awarded the penalty, Davies slotted this one and took Grenoble to 8 - 7 ahead of Half Time.
5 minutes into the second half, just outside the Grenoble 22, Grenoble went on the offensive at scrum time. They tore USAP apart and drove them back but the Officials saw an infringement gifting USAP a penalty. Tomasso Allan pushed the penalty kick wide and the scores remained at 8 - 7 to the roars of the Grenoble crowd.
52 minutes gone, USAP had a lineout just inside their half. A huge throw over the back of the lineout, found Lucas Velarte ghosting round the back. He executes the show and go perfectly, he is then through the gap and only tackled close to the 22. However, in the tackle he cuts the ball back inside to Jeronimo De La Fuente, who has the rest of the 22 to cover. He steps the last defender and looks to be clean through under the sticks. Julien Heriteau manages to make a sublime last ditch tackle and as De La Fuente hits the ground, he knocks the ball on. What a try that would have been!
On the 65th minute, USAP are awarded a penalty near the Grenoble 10 metre line. Farnoux is pinged for now releasing at the breakdown, even though he was the third player there and not involved in the tackle. Tomasso Allan makes the kick look easy from that distance and angle. 8 - 10 to USAP now with 15 minutes to play.
In the 69th minute, Grenoble win a offside penalty between the USAP 10 & 22 metre lines. Sam Davies steps up to put Grenoble back infront. He slides the kick wide of the post, its more points left behind for the usually reliable boot of Davies.
74th minute, Grenoble tear another USAP scrum in half and win a scrum penalty from a similar position as above. Romain Trouilloud is given the tee to take with the right foot, this time he splits the posts perfectly and takes Grenoble ahead with 6 minutes to go. 11 - 10. Grenoble have to just hold on now to get into the Top 14.
2 minutes later though, Grenoble have a scrum near their 10 metre line. They have been on top most of the game at scrum time, but this ends badly. They are on roller skates going backwards with players popping up like whack a mole. The ref has no other option than to blow for a penalty. Tomasso Allan has a chance to take USAP back in front with 4 minutes left to play. Allan is ice cold with the kick, its straight down the middle. 11 - 13 to USAP.
USAP are able to play out the match with one last penalty. They win a penalty at a line out maul, Allan taps the ball and kicks out of play! USAP survive another Access Match and Grenoble have to prepare for another season in Pro D2.