Top 14: Montpellier crushes a revamped Bordeaux-Bègles and climbs into the Top 6
Author of six tries, the MHR collected a bonus victory this Sunday, against Bordelo-Béglais who had rested their key players.
Montpellier had a chance to play, and the opportunity was seized. Montpellier got back into the race for the final phase by punishing (46-27) Bordeaux-Bègles, the completely revamped Champions Cup finalist, on Sunday at the GGL Stadium, at the end of the 23rd day of the Top 14 .
With three matches remaining, thanks to their third bonus point of the season, MHR have moved into sixth place in the league, ahead of La Rochelle, where they will travel to on Sunday. And, three years after their only title, they can dream of a top-six finish.
For the first time this season, Joan Caudullo's team dominated with style and six tries a team from the top three, admittedly weakened by the absence of all its key players: Jalibert, Lucu, Bielle-Biarrey, Penaud... left to rest or convalesce a week after their success against Toulouse (35-18) in the semi-final of the Champions Cup . This eighth defeat of the season does not prevent Bordeaux-Bègles from retaining the second qualifying place for the semi-finals with two points ahead of Toulon, swept away on Saturday by the leader Toulouse .
Montpellier, despite being without their injured playmaker Stuart Hogg, had a magnificent first half-hour, scoring four tries through winger Maël Moustin, who scored twice (12th, 22nd), New Zealand fullback Joshua Moorby (18th) and flanker Lenni Nouchi (27th). Known for their defense, MHR, the 12th-ranked attacker in the league, took Bordeaux at their own game, clearing all the balls in the rain, which was not conducive to high-flying goals.
However, shortly before and after half-time, a visibly upset UBB got back on track thanks to two tries from Irish international fly-half Joey Carbery (40th) and full-back Jon Echegaray (42nd). With the help of their bench, Montpellier added two more tries from New Zealand winger George Bridge (57th) and fly-half Anthony Bouthier (72nd) to secure the bonus point. And to offer themselves an exciting end to the season.
lefigaro
