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Montpellier wing Marvin O'Connor has called on the French side to show a clinical edge when they travel to face Calvisano in European Rugby Challenge Cup Pool 3. - 13/01/2016 18:11
Montpellier wing Marvin O’Connor has called on the French side to show a clinical edge when they travel to face Calvisano in European Rugby Challenge Cup Pool 3.
Jake White’s men currently sit third in the pool with two wins from four games, but know back-to-back wins in their final fixtures could yet to enough to get them through to the quarter-finals.
A five-point haul against their Italian opponents will complete the first part of the equation ahead of the final pool fixture against leaders Harlequins on home turf next weekend.
But, if Montpellier are to achieve that goal, O’Connor knows they will need to be accurate when it comes to taking their try scoring opportunities.
“The victory against Cardiff before Christmas means we still have a chance if we can do a good, professional job in Calvisano,” he said. “I suppose it is out of our hands but if we can get two wins then who knows there that may leave us in terms of a best runner-up spot.
“It was a bit of a disjointed first half of the season between players on World Cup duty and incorporating them back into the squad. I think the big thing for us is to be clinical. In the games against Cardiff we wasted six or seven clear chances and it is something that has hindered us. We have working on it and it is hoped that it is a part of the game that will get even better.”
Match Facts
- Rugby Calvisano have won three and drawn one match in their 28-game Challenge Cup career, and all of those positive results came on home soil.
- Montpellier have won six of their seven matches against Italian opposition in the Challenge Cup and have won their last two by a cumulative margin of 95-3.
- Wian Liebenberg has won more turnovers (7) than any other player in the Challenge Cup this season.
- Alberto Chiesa has made (55) and missed (15) more tackles than any other player this season.
Dos au mur dans l'optique d'une miraculeuse qualification en quart de finale d'European Rugby Challenge Cup
Montpellier ran riot against Rugby Calvisano in a one-sided Pool 3 clash at Peroni Stadium.
The try bonus point was under lock and key after just 21 minutes and they now look ahead to their trip to the Twickenham Stoop and a Round 6 clash with leaders Harlequins.
Jake White's men made it three wins from their five games with a 47-7 win to let Quins know they cannot take their foot off the gas.
Calvisano – pointless from their five group matches and now with a try count of 40-3 against them – did have the final word with a 78th try from Marco Susio, converted by Filippo Buscema while Montpellier were donw to 14 men for the closing stages with Pat Cilliers in the sin bin.
Montpellier have now won seven of their eight matches against Italian opposition in the Challenge Cup and there was never any danger of them losing a second.
Left wing Marvin O’Connor got the first of his two tries after just seven minutes with No 8 Akapusi Qera, O’Connor and right wing Benjamin Fall bagging the bonus point in w whirlwind opening.
Montpellier emptied their bench in the second half and had to wait until the 55th minute to add further scores from Fall and Robert Ebersohn – Demetri Catrakilis contributing six conversions to a comfortable win.
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