Montpellier won (40-26) on Sunday at home in front of the English Harlequins, during the very spectacular match of the round of 16 first leg of the Champions Cup, but can harbor regrets. Philippe Saint-André’s team even had a foothold in the quarter-finals after 48 minutes of play and a serious advantage (34-0), before suffering the rebellion of the English and conceding four tries in the last half hour. .
Everything remains to be done on Saturday in the return match in London, the leader of the Top 14 will have to confirm this success on the lawn of the English champion in order to reach the quarter-finals for the second time in its history. Nine years after its failure in Clermont (34-16), Montpellier can dream of a formidable course in a relatively open table.
Two attempts in advance for the return
Less than three months after dominating Exeter, European champions in 2020, the Saint-André team pulled out all the stops to dominate the partners of new England opener Marcus Smith, who remained on a series of five consecutive victories. Montpellier even put on a show during a remarkable first half. For twenty minutes, the partners of captain Paul Willemse asphyxiated the English around an airtight defensive curtain, under the eye of the coach of the Blues Fabien Galthié.
Then, the Montpellier residents managed an offensive festival thanks to three counterattacks from winger Gabriel Ngandebe (21), South African scrum-half Cobus Reinach (34th), and finally English third line center Zach Mercer (34th), author also a double. In the meantime, the third center line had scored the second try following a penalty (31st).
After a fifth Hérault try, scored by the American pillar Titi Lamositele (41st), the English champion finally reacted under the impetus of his opener Marcus Smith. The Harlequins managed to limit the damage by chaining four tries by third row George Hammond (50th), South African center Andre Esterhuizen (61st), England international Joe Marchant (65th) and a final against from the back Louis Lynagh (78th). For Montpellier, everything remains to be done.