The Hérault players opened the ball for French clubs on Sunday with a very heavy defeat (89-7) at Leinster.
Article written by
Posted
Update
Reading time : 1 min.
After the misstep of Toulouse in England and the victories of La Rochelle and Racing on Saturday, it is the turn of Montpellier, Union Bordeaux Bègles and Clermont, Sunday January 16, to scramble to preserve their chances qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions Cup. Back to the results of the games of the third and penultimate day of the group stages.
Historic defeat of Montpellier against Leinster
The defeat on green carpet conceded against Montpellier in the first leg by decision of the EPCR had stuck in their throats. The Leinster Irish were quick to put things in their place. The quadruple European champion, and contender for the final title, unsurprisingly crushed a deeply reworked Hérault team by winning (89-7, 13 tries to 1). Montpellier, winner of the Challenge Cup last season, conceded the heaviest defeat in its history in the European Cup.
Five weeks since Leinster, hard hit by the coronavirus, had not played, it is an understatement to say that the Irish had ants in their legs. Clean in conquest, dominating in impacts, the Rugby Championship dolphin stifled his opponent (77% occupancy, 60% possession and two tries in ten minutes). Thanks to a high-class passing game after contact, it took him less than half an hour to take on the offensive bonus and take cover for good (24th, 28-0).
If the Irish have taken a big step towards qualifying for the round of 16, Philippe Saint-André’s players are not mathematically eliminated. It will nevertheless be necessary to achieve a feat when receiving Exeter, who had spanked them in the first leg (42-6).