Philippe Saint-André’s players won (37-26) on Sunday.
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Have the English sinned by pride or been affected by the relaxation of the one who is already qualified? Or did Montpellier’s performance, much stronger than last weekend at Leinster, make the difference?
Difficult to decide. Still, Montpellier, by gleaning its second success in the competition against Exeter on Sunday January 23 (37-26), won an unexpected qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions Cup.
Boosted at the start of the game and carried by conquering forwards, the Montpellier team quickly responded to Sam Simmonds’ try (0-5, 4th). The French internationals first, the back Anthony Bouthier, the second-line Paul Willemse, then the three-quarter center Jan Serfontein planted three tries transformed in a quarter of an hour (24-5, 30th).
Missed tackles and an interception later, their efforts were all but wiped out. Two poisons, from the same siblings, particularly hurt the Héraultais. The Chiefs’ third line, Sam Simmonds, author of a hat-trick, and opening half Joe Simmonds, by his transformations, scored 21 of their team’s 26 points.
But united in defense, the Montpellier residents turned the tide one last time thanks to the entry of experienced executives. Those of former international hooker Guilhem Guirado or even South African scrum-half Jacobus Reinach (a try on interception) brought valuable control at the end of the game. The Héraultais took their revenge after the salty defeat conceded in the first leg (42-6) and ended this group stage in the best possible way.