It’s a big piece that awaits Montpellier rugby players from the outset, to attack the Top 14 season. The men of Philippe Saint-André go to the lawn of La Rochelle, European champions in title, this Saturday at 9:05 p.m. A perilous journey after a shorter preparation compared to usual, because of (or rather thanks to) the title of champion of France, won at the end of June against Castres.
“We are not going to be given gifts” – Geoffrey Doumayrou, MHR rugby player
The watchword is clear: don’t fall into euphoria and don’t believe that everything will be easy. “It will take a lot more effort to get the same result.“, recognizes Geoffrey Doumayrou, who is fully aware of the difficulty of putting on a good face after a title. He who narrowly avoided the descent with the Stade Français in 2015-2016, a season after winning the Brennus shield with the Parisian club. “We are not going to be given gifts, everyone is going to want to beat us.“
The MHR won in La Rochelle last season
Same vigilance for one of the coaches, Jean-Baptiste Élissalde, who awaits his players at the bend, despite this shortened preparation. “If we don’t put things in order, we’re going to have a bad start to the season. The players know it but it’s not enough, we have to show it now“. To assume against a very solid La Rochelle team at homeeven if the Montpellierans had achieved the feat of winning there last season (23-29).
Everything is flattened now, at the start of the season where the MHR will have a lot to do. Because after La Rochelle, the Héraultais will receive Bordeaux-Bègles next weekendanother candidate team for the title of champion.