Bok prop stars in Pau win
TOP 14 WRAP: Resurgent Pau registered an impressive away win with a hard-fought 24-21 victory over Grenoble at a sunny Stade des Alpes in the Top 14 on Sunday.
First-half tries at full flight from Jesse Mogg and Julien Blanc paved the way for Pau, before Grenoble showed tremendous fighting spirit to slug their way back into the game and earn a defensive point.
“That’s a third straight defeat but again we were really close,” said Grenoble backs coach Stephane Glasse.
“I’m sure better times are coming.”
Pau lost at Bordeaux in the opening Top 14 game but then ripped Toulon apart last week and they continued that good work by exploiting a chink in Grenoble’s defence.
“An away win is always a good sign but this one shows just how good this team is,” said Pau’s New Zealand coach Simon Mannix, who brought the team into the top flight four seasons ago.
Mogg, also of Australia and a former Montpellier fullback, ran down the left flank to touch down on 14 minutes and in a similar situation on 35 minutes Blanc reacted fastest to a snap pass from Charly Malie to burst past the last defender and race for the line to make it 6-12.
But Grenoble threw everything at Pau in a prolonged second-half assault which eventually wore down and broke Pau’s last line when Pablo Uberti flung himself down in the far corner to level the scores.
South African prop Lourens Adriaanse, however, forced his own way over the line between the posts to make sure the visitors went home with four points that lifted them to sixth in the Top 14 after three games.
* Later Sunday reigning champions Castres host Toulon, who like Grenoble are still looking for a first win of the season.
Clermont continued their ominous start to the season by crushing Stade Francais, who started the day in second place, 42-13, on Saturday.
Elsewhere, Racing 92, thrashed at home by Clermont last week, rebounded with seven first-half tries against Agen on the way to a 59-7 victory.
Agence France-Presse
