Montpellier continues its recovery brilliantly: the Hérault club dampened the enthusiasm of some 10,000 English supporters, who chanted “Tigers, Tigers”, the nickname of the Leicester team, by winning the smallest gap (18-17) at the end of the suspense, Friday, May 21, at Twickenham during the final of the European Challenge.
Imagining Montpellier winning a second European Challenge, after that of 2016, seemed unexpected a few months ago. At the beginning of February, the club chaired by Mohed Altrad, big money maker of rugby, was still penultimate of the Top 14. But the sporting director, Philippe Saint-André (“PSA”), straightened the Languedoc ship. The former coach of the XV of France (2011-2015), returned to coach at the beginning of January after the dismissal of Xavier Garbajosa, even transformed a dying team into a conquering squad.
It was not all easy and “PSA” first had to concede five losses in five games after putting on the coach’s tracksuit. But since the beginning of February, the Montpellier machine has started up again. It has thus conceded only two defeats in twelve games, in all competitions. Friday, in the temple of the XV of the Rose, the Languedocians were however almost weighed down by their indiscipline.
Indiscipline, bad luck and courage
“We win this match which was tough, tough, Leicester is good in front. But hey, what abnegation, what courage! “, greeted Saint-André at the microphone of France 3.
The nine penalties conceded in forty-five minutes created a mess. It was above all the two yellow cards, inflicted on Alexandre Bécognée at the end of the first period, then on the captain and hooker, Guilhem Guirado, at the start of the second, which offered ammunition to their opponents.
The Tigers took the opportunity to pick up the score (10-10) thanks to a test in strength from Harry Wells and then to widen the gap with the South African Jasper Wiese in bulldozer mode. Each time, on balloons carried that the Montpellier residents had all the trouble in the world to control.
Philippe Saint-André’s team was not spoiled by fate either, with the exits, for concussion, of flanker Fulgence Ouedraogo and center Arthur Vincent. Despite this, the Montpellier hung on and the South African center Johan Goosen – designated man of the match – gave back control to his team (18-17) of a solo try, after a smart inside pass from the back Anthony Bouthier, approaching the last twenty minutes.
Low hand of French clubs on the European Cups
The people of Montpellier suffered. But they held up well in defense before the onslaught of the club to the ten crowns of champion of England which also sought to give relief to a disappointing season. Out of the race for the title in “Premiership”, the “Tigers” ambitioned to reconnect the thread of their glorious European past, they who had achieved a double in the “Champions Cup” in 2001-2002. In vain.
“It’s quite exceptional and extraordinary, rejoiced Guilhem Guirado, hooker and captain of Montpellier. In January we were in danger and at worst. We had the right to come back to this competition and we took it as a breath of fresh air to play rugby better. Everyone responded to get this trophy which will allow us to save our season and also give us this breath of fresh air to allow us, I hope, to keep us going. “
Montpellier will have to put on the heating blue to ensure this maintenance, from Tuesday. He will travel to Bordeaux-Bègles for a late match, which promises to be difficult. But with a lighter heart and a qualification for the 2021-2022 Champions Cup in my pocket.
With this success of the MHR, the two European trophies will therefore go to France, since Toulouse and La Rochelle face each other on Saturday in the final. We have to go back nearly twenty-five years to see the French clubs take control of the two European competitions. It had only happened once, in 1997, thanks to the victories of Brive and Bourgoin-Jallieu.
A sixth Franco-French duel
The match, Saturday 22 May between Stade Rochelais and Stade Toulouse in Twickenham is the 6e Franco-French duel in the final of the European Rugby Cup. A specialty even for the players of the Pink City, who won 3 of their four titles against clubs from France: against Perpignan in 2003, the Stade Français in 2005 and the Olympic Biarritz in 2010.
RC Toulon is the other French executioner of the fratricidal finals. During his three-year reign on European rugby (from 2013 to 2015), Mourad Boudjellal’s men have twice beaten (2013 and 2015) the Jaunards of Clermont Auvergne, eternal Poulidor – like Racing 92 – of European rugby : three finals, all lost.
On the list of the European Rugby Cup, the French clubs will therefore have nine victories in 26 editions.
