Latest
Overview
Season so far
Tournament record
Balle de match pour les Rouge et Noir qui peuvent valider leur billet pour les quarts de finale dès ce week-end en venant à bout une second fois de Bath
Montpellier forwards coach Mario Ledesma reckons European Rugby Champions Cup Pool 4 opponents Toulouse are hitting form at just the right time.
Les Rouge et Noir, four time European champions, had been on a miserable run of form in the Top 14, losing five games in a row.
But they have turned things around with back-to-back victories, including a triumph over defending European champions Toulon.
It means former Argentina hooker Ledesma has plenty to worry about ahead of Sunday’s meeting at Stade Ernest Wallon.
He said: “Toulouse are getting back to form, there is no doubt about it.
“In the first half they completely dominated Toulon and they have got some key players back like Bryan Habana, Juan Martin Fernandez-Lobbe and Bakkies Botha.
“They have extensive experience in the Champions Cup, so really we are not under any pressure.”
Montpellier’s preparations have not been helped by a serious injury to fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc, who suffered a broken tibia against Oyonnax last weekend.
Enzo Selponi is likely to fill the void left by the France international’s injury, and Ledesma is backing him to handle the pressure.
He said: “He must have confidence. Enzo is not someone who over-thinks things. He is not going to be mulling over the fact he will have to replace Trinh-Duc.
“Whether he plays well or not will not depend on that. We have to do our utmost to give him confidence that he is able to run the game for us.”
Toulouse coach Guy Noves is pleased to see his side back to winning ways, but is wary of a Montpellier side who won the last time they travelled
He said: “We have one day less than them to prepare and we know how good a side Montpellier are. The last time they came here they beat us, and that serves as a reminder to us of how dangerous they are.
“We will continue to work hard, these two wins do not guarantee us anything. We were happy to beat Toulon but the path ahead is very long.”
Match Facts
- These two sides have never met in the Heineken Cup.
- Toulouse have won 14 of their last 16 Heineken Cup home games.
- Montpellier missed fewer tackles per game (10) than any other team in the competition last season.
- Toulouse beat more defenders per game on average last season (26) than any other side in the competition.
- No player beat more defenders than Louis Picamoles in the tournament last year (28).
Toulouse were made to fight until the last to claim a 30-23 victory over Montpellier in their first European Rugby Champions Cup match.. - 19/10/2014 15:03
Toulouse were made to fight until the last to claim a 30-23 victory over Montpellier in their first European Rugby Champions Cup match..
A Yoann Huget double was matched by scores from Timoci Nagusa and Wynand Olivier before Jean-Marc Doussain chipped and chased for the decisive score in the Pool four clash.
Toby Flood knocked over a last minute penalty to seemingly deny Montpellier a losing bonus but they collected the kick-off and earned a penalty which Benoit Paillaugue converted to rescue a point.
Montpellier snatched an early lead thanks to a back-row breakout by Akapusi Qera. The dynamic Fijian had the defence scrambling and they were forced to go offside to stem the dangerous attack. Teddy Iribaren stepped up to slot his first three-pointer.
But the hosts came back fighting on the back of their 21-10 triumph over European Champions Toulon. A powerful sequence had Montpellier panicking and it was their turn to go offside in front of their uprights. Luke McAlister converted to level the scores after 10 minutes.
Both sides battled for supremacy before World Sevens player-of-the year Samisoni Viriviri set the all-French tie alight. Benjamin Fall set the flying Fijian away and he raced 60 metres to score. But the try was disallowed for infringements by both sides in the build-up.
But they got their score two minutes later through their other Fijian wing Nagusa. He finished a smart blindside move from a scrum to round the cover defence and score. Iribaren converted.
The first-half action was not finished there though. McAlister spotted an ocean of space behind enemy lines and kicked through for Huget to chase. The France wing scorched downfield and dotted down in the in-goal area. McAlister added the extras to give his side a 13-10 half-time lead.
The second period started with a bang. Iribaren was sent to the bin for a pull back on Jean Marc Doussain, but the 14 men still fancied their chances.
They flung the ball wide and Olivier managed to tip-toe down the touchline, evading some desperate tap tackles to cross at the corner for a seven-pointer.
But the home side hit-back instantly. They marched back downfield and McAlister found Huget with a pin-point cross kick, the Frenchman danced past a defender to reinstate their three point lead.
Census Johnston saw yellow for an off-the-ball body check which allowed Iribaren to draw level, but 14 man Toulouse showed their heart to get back in front. Imanol Harinordoquy offloaded to Doussain who collected his own chip through to score.
Toby Flood knocked over a last minute penalty to seemingly deny Montpellier a losing bonus but they collected the kick-off and earned a penalty which Benoit Paillaugue converted to rescue a point.
LIVE - TEST - Commentary