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Encouraging first, despite defeat

  • Lolagi Visinia
  • Leva Fifita

The "Rouge & Bleu" lost in La Rochelle (28-21), letting the defensive bonus slip at the end of the game.

The Grenoble team will have 13 big trips this season in the Top 14. The first was on the other side of France, in La Rochelle, where the "Jaune & Noir" are looking to buy back after a missed 2017-2018 season.

The Grenoblois were picked cold as La Rochelle scored a penalty and a try in less than 10 minutes (8-0, 6'). After 15 minutes of play, the "Rouge & Bleu" finally managed to get their hands on the ball and come back to the score, thanks to a try from Lolagi Visinia, who came after a superb action from the New Zealand full back (8-5, 18').

La Rochelle then widened the gap (15-5, 22'), before the scorers of both teams each added a penalty before the break (18-8, 38').

Franck Pourteau, on two penalties, brought the FCG back into the defensive bonus (18-14, 50'). But the Stade Rochelais then took advantage of Grenoble's lack of discipline to widen the gap again (23-14, 58')

The Grenoble forwards will then take advantage of a scrum to snatch a penalty. Following this one, the game returns in the 22 opponents. Alaska Taufa thinks he is flattening, but it is finally to Leva Fifita that the referee grants the try after watching the video (23-21, 65')

Back to two points, the Grenoblois will then undergo the rock attacks on mauls. The last of them goes beyond the try line (28-21, 75'). The FCG then has a last chance to score, to equalize or, at worst, take a defensive bonus. However, Steven Setephano was guilty of a foul on the opponent's line, which will undoubtedly remain the black spot of the match as he got a red card on this action.

Always behind on the scoreboard, the "Rouge & Bleu" fought throughout the match to stay in contact with the Rochelais. But, no doubt that lack of experience at this level to prevent the Grenoblois to return with one or more points.

Next game for the FCG: Saturday 1st September at the Stade des Alpes, for the Toulouse reception!

Photo: Laurent Lardière