The Montpellier residents remained under pressure from Usap for a long time to finally obtain a victory without bonus (42-31). A bad point in the race to the final stages.
The matches against Perpignan follow one another and are not alike. This MHR-Usap, fourth edition of the season, was far from the offensive festival provided by the Héraultais a fortnight ago in Challenge (53-13 victory). A result still in the minds of Hérault at the start of the match? “I don’t hope so given what the coaches have been telling us all week”whispered Lenni Nouchi. “Montpellier wanted to push us to a knockout and we didn’t want to relive that scenario”assured Mathieu Cidre, the coach of the Usap forwards at the end of the match. The Catalans succeeded in their bet, unlike Montpellier who were hot in the butt and lost a bonus point en route in their race to the final stages.
The atmosphere was therefore clearly not one of self-satisfaction after a match where the MHR ultimately did not control much. “We have the right to be less good”put into perspective Joan Caudullo, the Hérault manager, a bit upset by the performance of his men.
Unlike his last outings, Montpellier was much less clinical. With almost 70% possession in the first period, the MHR never managed to get rid of the Catalans who were determined to bring something back from this “fan day”. Worse, he scared himself in the last quarter of an hour when he saw Perpignan come back within reach of a converted try for victory.
To get through it, the Héraultais relied on their fundamentals. Two tries following penaltouches signed Uelese, (14th and 41st), or two others in force by Piccardo (18th) and Chalureau (35th). This should have undermined a Usap which is struggling on its own with its 13th place and an access match as an objective. What followed was ultimately quite frustrating. Perpignan even flirted with the defensive bonus for a long time before Taofifenua’s try shattered this hope in the final seconds.
“A lot of frustration”
Montpellier will have to be content with these four points “only”. In the end, the improved victories of Toulon in Montauban (22-47) and Pau in Bayonne (22-54) put a little pressure back on the Héraultais who are left with a good refresher before moving to Bordeaux, in a week. “There is a lot of frustration in this match. Overall, we were all average, if not lousy”says captain Lenni Nouchi.
“I repeat it if today I am given a sheet with 6th at the end of the season, I will sign. We did not lose, we won”still wants to positive Caudullo. Four points and that’s it, this is the lesson that must be learned from a match where we did not recognize the dominant MHR of recent weeks at Septeo.
We will have to raise our voices in Bordeaux on Saturday (9 p.m.) to hope to leave with something. Otherwise, Montpellier will have to get its ticket for the final phases in the last ones which await it against Montauban then Pau at home, or at Castres and Lyon. In short, far from being a long, quiet river in a Top 14 which does not lack spice…
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