the moment of truth for Oyonnax and Grenoble

Big favorites for the Pro D2 semi-finals on Saturday, Oyonnax and Grenoble are only two matches away from potential promotion to the Top 14. elite, and Mont-de-Marsan, who would like to return there.

Oyonnax, with twenty-three wins in thirty matches this season, finished first in the regular season. But there is no question for the Ain club of rolling mechanics: the Oyomen only dream of finding the Top 14, frequented between 2013 and 2016 then during the 2017-2018 season.

Except that one of their rare defeats was inflicted on them in March by … Vannes (17-7). This failure will inevitably be in their heads when they enter the lawn of the Charles-Mathon stadium.

Vannes has gone from the 6th level in France to the Pro D2 in twenty years

Especially since Vannes, which has gone from the sixth French level to the Pro D2 in twenty years, dreams of being the first Breton club to reach the elite, especially after its repeated failures at this level (2019, 2021).

The other semi-final, scheduled at the Stade des Alpes, pits ambitious Isérois, determined to regain the Top 14 after leaving it at the end of the 2018-2019 season, against revengeful Landais, defeated l last year by Perpignan (41-16) in the entry dam when they finished the regular season in first place.

“We have nothing to lose (…) We will go to Grenoble without pressure, trying to practice the best possible rugby. We give ourselves the right to dream“said Stade Mons manager Patrick Milhet. Before adding:it will be necessary to seek perhaps unexpected resources because, on paper, they are a hundred times better than us“.

The program for the semi-finals

SATURDAY:
(3:00 p.m.) Oyonnax – Vannes
(9:05 p.m.) Grenoble – Mont-de-Marsan

The final, the winner of which will advance to the Top 14, will take place on May 27 at the Ernest-Wallon stadium in Toulouse.

On June 3, the finalist will play an accession match with the penultimate of the Top 14, the winner of which will join the elite and the loser will go to Pro D2.

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