IRISH SCRUM-HALF James Hart was once again the star of the show for Grenoble as they recorded an excellent 25-18 win over Toulouse on Saturday at the Stade des Alpes.
The Isère-basedside find themselves seventh in the Top 14 after their latest victory, and there is a growing consensus that Fabrice Landreau’s men are well equipped to make a strong push for a Heineken Cup spot [top six] at the end of the season. Grenoble’s mix of powerful scrummaging, intelligent control of tempo and improved individual performances has impressed many commentators in France.
The work of Bernard Jackman [defence and collisions] and Mike Prendergast [skills] has been an important part of the strong form. Grenoble’s coaches identified weak collision skills as the reason they were making very few line breaks in recent seasons, but Jackman has noticeably addressed that deficit and his players are now dominating in contact regularly.
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Grenoble’s defence has been excellent this season too; only big guns Toulouse, Toulon and Castres have conceded fewer tries. Similarly, Prendergast’s work has not gone unnoticed, with clear evidence of improved handling skills for Landreau’s men in recent weeks. Grenoble have been struggling to score tries [12 in 13 games so far] but they are on the right path to remedying that situation.
It is another Irishman who has been grabbing the headlines this season though.
22-year-old Hart shot into the French public’s consciousness with a 15-point haul as Grenoble beat Jonny Sexton’s Racing Métro in October. His latest high-class performance saw him orchestrate Saturday’s win against Toulouse, scoring 20 points and setting up a try for Julien Caminati.
The former Clontarf man’s exploits have seen him named in the teams of the week in both L’Équipe and Midi Olympique this morning. Beyond his superb left-footed place kicking, the manner in which Hart spotted a half-gap to burst into before offloading to the powerful Caminati for Grenoble’s try was hugely impressive.
Oddly, the Irishman was playing against his former club on Saturday – Hart spent eight months playing with Toulouse’s cadet side when he was 16. The Dublin native’s mother hails from the rugby-mad city in the south of France and some commentators are now referring to Hart as français-irlandais.
This 20-point performance means he has scored 72 points already this season, in just six starts and three substitute appearances. Hart recently signed his first senior professional contract with Grenoble – having originally joined on an academy deal – and it is understood that the club’s hierarchy have been encouraged by his phenomenal work ethic.
The latest plaudits are just reward for his hard work and it looks certain that Hart has an exciting future ahead of him.
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Sean O’Brien & Bernard Jackman, two outstanding sportsmen. Whatever is in the water down in Carlow, they should bottle it! On a side note, well done to Carlows Mount Leinster hurlers also, great achievement.
That’s what november should have been for! I think if he gets capped at A level for the Wolfhounds he is then counted as being an irish player and can’t play for france. I hope joe and the irfu are talking to him to make sure that the french don’t nab him!
Unfortunately we’re unlikely to see him play for Ireland while he’s an exile, pity for him and our other talented players outside of Ireland but maybe an important factor in preventing an exodus? Would love to see him get a chance though, he seems like the real deal and I don’t massively rate our alternatives to Conor Murray.
I don’t rate a scrum half, who with 3 minutes remaining kicks down the throat of the best running team ever.
If Hart has any sense he’ll stay as far away from the IR & FU as he can, he’s down well enough without them. Viva le France young Hart, at least you’ll have a chance of winning something.
Yeah, Tommy Bowe, Geordan Murphy and Jonny Sexton never got a look in for Ireland when they were playing abroad.
He’ll need to keep up this form for more than half a season to really register on the radar, but assuming he keeps producing, he has every chance of making an Irish squad. Particularly with Reddan on the wane.
Sexton and Bowe were both on IRFU contracts when they started on the national team. Hart still has to prove himself consistently but he could be a great option as well as marmion and Marshall, great to see competition coming up.
What is this perpetual criticism of Murray from the New Zealand match? Yes, he kicked the ball to the New Zealand backs … but we then got the ball back AFTER Murray’s kick but then conceded that questionable penalty at the breakdown – it’s as if the critics of Murray didn’t even bother watching the game?
Reckon Leinster could come in for the guy as the other three are pretty solid in the scrum half department. Time for joe to do a warren in the first instance though!!!!
This is where is rugby fans lose the run of themselves. Ye go on about the home based players as if they were the All Blacks. This hart guy has worked very hard at his game and should be capped. Sexton has missed a lot of crucial scores over the last few years. No harm to have another kicker on the field. Anyway the all blacks would not have won the world cup without their fourth choice kicker.
SUCH bullshit ! Quite hilarious reading this typical punters view ! Name better scrum halves !? Proven and tested quality player ! Watch all his games then get back with a reply ! ” Connacht didn’t want him ” that’s the best one I’ve heard
Hes average slipped throught cause there was better players in other provinces at his position hes playing pro rugby cause he worked hard to make it not international standard sure connaught didnt even want him and the academys have better S/H now let France cap him cause they wont
No I couldn’t name him 6 months ago but I can name him from 4 years ago , James was a clear example of favouritism and politics within Leinster rugby and the irfu ! He never got the chance at home so how can you PRESUME he wasnt any good ? Man of the match in 2 games ( against racing and Toulouse ) speaks for itself really
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We may cap this lad before France do.
Probably won’t get capped , because munster and Leinster lad’s are much more important.
One swallow doesn’t make it summer.
He’s been doing this all season.
Often made a night though!
Never a truer word…..
Great to see jacko, harty n prendy in such form, may it long continue .
“Jacko, Harty and prendo” loike
Sean O’Brien & Bernard Jackman, two outstanding sportsmen. Whatever is in the water down in Carlow, they should bottle it! On a side note, well done to Carlows Mount Leinster hurlers also, great achievement.
Amazing that he slipped through the net. Just goes to show that young players shouldn’t give up just cos theyre deemed not good enough at one point.
Joe needs to call him up for the Irish six nations squad asap!
That’s what november should have been for! I think if he gets capped at A level for the Wolfhounds he is then counted as being an irish player and can’t play for france. I hope joe and the irfu are talking to him to make sure that the french don’t nab him!
Unfortunately we’re unlikely to see him play for Ireland while he’s an exile, pity for him and our other talented players outside of Ireland but maybe an important factor in preventing an exodus? Would love to see him get a chance though, he seems like the real deal and I don’t massively rate our alternatives to Conor Murray.
I don’t rate a scrum half, who with 3 minutes remaining kicks down the throat of the best running team ever.
If Hart has any sense he’ll stay as far away from the IR & FU as he can, he’s down well enough without them. Viva le France young Hart, at least you’ll have a chance of winning something.
Yeah, Tommy Bowe, Geordan Murphy and Jonny Sexton never got a look in for Ireland when they were playing abroad.
He’ll need to keep up this form for more than half a season to really register on the radar, but assuming he keeps producing, he has every chance of making an Irish squad. Particularly with Reddan on the wane.
Sexton and Bowe were both on IRFU contracts when they started on the national team. Hart still has to prove himself consistently but he could be a great option as well as marmion and Marshall, great to see competition coming up.
More like 90 seconds ! God love him he panicked ! We are only human
What is this perpetual criticism of Murray from the New Zealand match? Yes, he kicked the ball to the New Zealand backs … but we then got the ball back AFTER Murray’s kick but then conceded that questionable penalty at the breakdown – it’s as if the critics of Murray didn’t even bother watching the game?
Reckon Leinster could come in for the guy as the other three are pretty solid in the scrum half department. Time for joe to do a warren in the first instance though!!!!
Munster are definitely not strong in scrum half’s if only we had kept stringer
With pairings of Sexton, Murray and then Madigan, Hart. We would have a great variety of play styles to choose from.
A handy type of player
This is where is rugby fans lose the run of themselves. Ye go on about the home based players as if they were the All Blacks. This hart guy has worked very hard at his game and should be capped. Sexton has missed a lot of crucial scores over the last few years. No harm to have another kicker on the field. Anyway the all blacks would not have won the world cup without their fourth choice kicker.
SUCH bullshit ! Quite hilarious reading this typical punters view ! Name better scrum halves !? Proven and tested quality player ! Watch all his games then get back with a reply ! ” Connacht didn’t want him ” that’s the best one I’ve heard
Oh james you only starting to watch french rugby could you even name james Hart 6months nor capped at school international level U19s 20s
ya Ride
Hes average slipped throught cause there was better players in other provinces at his position hes playing pro rugby cause he worked hard to make it not international standard sure connaught didnt even want him and the academys have better S/H now let France cap him cause they wont
The fact that he’s an assured place kicker can only help. An injured sexton and we’re screwed as it is
No I couldn’t name him 6 months ago but I can name him from 4 years ago , James was a clear example of favouritism and politics within Leinster rugby and the irfu ! He never got the chance at home so how can you PRESUME he wasnt any good ? Man of the match in 2 games ( against racing and Toulouse ) speaks for itself really