After Saturday’s victories for Racing and La Rochelle in the Franco-French clashes against Stade Français and UBB, but also Toulouse’s loss against Ulster, two other French clubs, MHR and ASM, completed the impressive French contingent in these eighth rounds in an unprecedented format in the Champions Cup, to be played on Sunday against the English of Harlequins and Leicester. With varying fortunes.
Important but contrasting success for Montpellier
The glass half full, or half empty? Reading the result obtained by Philippe Saint-André’s men on their lawn, winners 40-26 of Harlequins, we can estimate that the MHR achieved a great performance in the round of 16 first leg. But observing the scenario of this long one-sided match, one wonders if the Montpellier residents will not leave the GGL Stadium with some regrets.
Impressive for 50 minutes against the reigning English champions completely overwhelmed, the leader of the Top 14 spent four tries in an exhilarating first period, and even a fifth on the way back from the locker room by Titi Lamositele (42nd). Carried in particular by a Zach Mercer in great shape, elected man of the match with great activity and two tries (31st, 39th), Montpellier led up to 34-0!…. and then boom.
The Hérault club, which was the one which had conceded the most points (52) and tries (7.7) on average during the group stage of the European Cup this season, was caught up by its bad reputation. The French suffered the blow physically and let the Harlequins register four tries in the last 30 minutes to stay alive in this eighth, before the return leg scheduled in London. Let’s hope they don’t end up harboring huge regrets next Saturday.
Clermont gives in to more pragmatic
Under a radiant sun at Marcel-Michelin, the Clermontois also had to stuff themselves with a strong head of European rugby. Opposed in Auvergne to a Leicester who prances at the head of the Premiership with seven victories in nine games in all competitions, ASM did not arrive with the same full of confidence. Despite a well-managed Massif Central derby last weekend against Brive (41-10). Although in difficulty in the Top 14 (8th), Clermont held the shock for a while.
ASM controlled in the first period with a deserved 10-10, and perfectly launched by the splendid collective action concluded by Cheikh Tiberghien (7-0, 14th), author of his first try in the European Cup. The English experimenters quickly reacted with their international Ellis Genge (7-5, 19th), before imposing a big physical fight for the rest of the match. But the Tigers, tough and fond of this kind of meeting – even at fourteen for 20 minutes – have imposed themselves with wear. Thanks to three tries in the second half of Jack Van Poortvliet in the closed (10-15, 46th), Hosea Saumaki at the end of the line (10-22, 53rd) and the magician Harry Potter (10-29, 65th).
At first solid, the Clermontois gradually lost confidence over the opposing banderillas, just avoiding collapse at the end of the game. It gets seriously complicated for the future with these 19 points behind. ASM, which has already reached the final of the competition three times without ever having succeeded in lifting the trophy (2013, 2015, 2017), will have to whip in six days at the legendary Welford Road Stadium. “We have nothing to lose, we are not going to hide there”, hammered Morgan Parra at the microphone of BeIN Sports.
The number: 90
The hinge Morgan Parra and Camille Lopez has been associated for the 90th time with the ASM. The tricolor hinge has become the most tenured in the history of the Auvergne club ahead of Yves Lafarge and Jean Pierre Romeu (between 1976-1981). Their first association dates back 8 years, it was August 23, 2014 during a Championship match against Brive.
All the results of the round of 16 first leg
Friday evening.- Connacht (Irl) – Leinster (Irl), 21-26
Saturday.- Sale (Eng) – Bristol (Eng), 9-10. Bordeaux-La Rochelle, 13-31. Toulouse – Ulster (Eng), 20-26. French Stadium – Racing 92, 9-22. Exeter (Eng) – Munster (Ire), 13-8.
Sunday.- Montpellier – Harlequins (Eng), 40-26. Clermont – Leicester (Eng) 10-29
