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Reputations will be on the line at Stade des Alps with both teams looking to put an unwanted run of form to an end. - 04/12/2014 12:11
Reputations will be on the line at Stade des Alps with both teams looking to put an unwanted run of form to an end.
Neither side has yet to register a point in Pool 1 of this season’s European Challenge Cup having both lost to Cardiff Blues and London Irish.
Grenoble, despite their flourishing domestic form, have won just one of their last six European ties while Rovigo are desperate to end a 30-game losing streak that stretches back six years.
They face another tough task in the French Alps against a Grenoble team that has never lost to Italian opposition.
Bernard Jackman’s side moved up to fifth in the Top 14 with an impressive 25-22 win at Toulouse last week and the head coach is likely to rotate his squad once again for Europe.
Fly-half James Hart has been their most potent weapon having scored 24 of his team’s 29 points so far in the Challenge Cup and will again play a pivotal role of Grenoble are to get the win that will keep them in the competition.
However they will be aware of the strengths of Rovigo, second in the Italian champions and likely to be close to full strength for such a plum tie.
Rovigo’s forwards have impressed in Europe so far. Their lineout is the most efficient in the Challenge Cup while the pack have scored three of their four in the competition.
Another defeat will spell a European exit for the loser while victory will keep alive the winner’s hopes of catching the top teams in the pool.
Match Facts
- Grenoble have won just one of their last six in the competition (L4, D1), however Rovigo have lost their last 30 in the competition.
- Grenoble have never lost to Italian opposition in the Challenge Cup (W5, D1).
- Femi-CZ Rugby Rovigo have scored all of their four tries in this season’s Challenge Cup off first phase ball.
- Femi-CZ Rugby Rovigo have thrown 31 successful lineouts in the Challenge Cup this season; no club has won more lineouts in the opening two rounds of fixtures.
Lourdement défait à l'aller
Grenoble tore up the club’s history books with this record win. Their emphatic 68-10 victory against Rugby Rovigo was Grenoble’s highest score and biggest winning margin in European competition.
And Xavier Mignot’s try seven minutes from time also saw them hit ten tries for the first time while scrum-half James Hart kicked a club best seven conversions.
Grenoble knew they had to win and take maximum points if they had any chance of staying in contention to qualify from Pool 1 and they wrapped up the bonus point at Stade Lesdiguieres after little more than half an hour.
Hooker Laurent Bouchet set on their way inside four minutes before the power of the Blue and Yellow pack was simply too much for the Italian visitors who conceded a penalty try.
No8 Florian Fauvre then crossed before captain Benjamin Thiery crossed for the all-important fourth try with Rovigo flanker Edoardo Lubian in the bin. After that, it was simply a matter of how many points Grenoble would rack up.
Ratu Alipate Ratini chased Fauvre’s kick for a fifth before Thiery grabbed his second before half-time to lead 42-3 at the break. Robinson Caire and Thibaud Rey followed within four minutes of the second half.
But lock Rey was yellow carded for a dangerous tackle just seven minutes later and that enabled Andrea De Marchi to grab his second try of the campaign.
Having scored 54 points in 44 minutes, Grenoble look to have stalled amid the replacements and changes before two late scores clinched the records.
Loick Jammes crossed as did Mignot – both converted by Jordan Michalet – to round-off a resounding win for Bernard Jackman’s side.
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