Hérault rugby players won in Perpignan (13-3), this Saturday evening, on the occasion of the 22nd day of Top 14. In what some consider a derby, Montpellier suffered and has long been dominated by the Catalans, but the Héraultais drew their victory in the last five minutesby registering 10 dots : a try against and a penalty.
This match, against the thirteenth of the championship, also marked the return of Guilhem Guirado and Enzo Forletta on their former lawns at Aimé Giral, and on the land where they were born and where they were trained.
The MHR will now prepare for a double confrontation in the European Cup against Harlequins, before receiving Bordeaux, his runner-up on which he has a five-point lead, in three weeks, in the league, on the occasion of the 23rd day. There remains only four games left, before the play-offs.
Reactions (at the microphone of Cyrille Manière)
Philippe Saint André apologized to Guilhem Guirado which he released at halftime, along with his entire front line. A strategic choice, but the Montpellier manager made his mea culpa. He regrets not having thought, at the time, that the Catalan could have benefited from a standing ovation, if he had left during the match.
Philippe Saint André, the Hérault man, was obviously very, very happy with the outcome, the state of mind of his group that played 13 against 15 after two yellow cards, and who was able to resist and then win.
A lot of emotion at Guilhem Guirado, who played more than 200 pro matches under the colors of Perpignan between 2006 and 2014, with his training club. And who walked this lawn for the last time, since he will end his career at the end of the season.