1
Ruthless Montpellier overpower Lyon to reach Top 14 final
By Peter Hanson
Montpellier overpowered Lyon in a one-sided 40-14 victory to punch their ticket into the Top 14 final on Friday.
Lyon had upset the odds to defeat French powerhouses and three-time European champions Toulon in a match that went to extra-time last weekend to reach the semi-finals.
But big-spending Montpellier, who had a three-week rest period after finishing top in the regular season, proved too tough an obstacle to overcome at Groupama Stadium, as Vern Cotter's side booked a showdown with Racing 92 or Castres.
Continue reading below
There was little to split the teams in the opening 20 minutes with two Ruan Pienaar penalties and three points from Frans Steyn helping Montpellier into a 9-6 lead, Michael Harris kicking Lyon's points.
Montpellier put their stamp on the match in the 26th minute, though, a fine flowing move from right to left resulting in Alexandre Dumoulin's lofted pass being touched down by Nemani Nadolo in the corner.
A Harris penalty reduced the arrears, but Liam Gill's yellow card on the stroke of half-time left Lyon down a man and the numerical advantage paid immediate dividends when Dumoulin crashed over from close range.
Pienaar added the extras and kicked another three-pointer early in the second half, before a clever pick-and-go from captain Louis Picamoles earned a third try.
Paul Willemse exploited a gap in the Lyon defence with eight minutes to go to put the icing on the cake and, although Harris managed a consolation score, Montpellier reached a first domestic final since 2011.
In other news:
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Bristol confirm Harry Byrne signing
3
Sam Burgess' admission of guilt over rugby union experience
4
Close to perfection: Johann van Graan's favourite game
5
Latest Comments
"Both the Smiths look significantly better players than Burke." Would agree there. He would have a lot. of ground to make up to get to their level. But then who knows what injury does.
Go to commentsI'm not very hopeful of a better change to the sport. Putting an Aussie in charge after they failed for two decades is just disgusting. What else will be brought in to weaken the game? What new rule changes will be made? How will the game be grown?
Nothing of value in this letter. There is no definitive drive towards something better. Just more of the same as usual. The most successful WC team is getting snubbed again and again for WC's hosting rights. What will make other competitions any different?
My beloved rugby is already a global sport. Why is there no SH team chosen between the Boks, AB's, Wallabies and Fiji? Like a B&I Lions team to tour Europe and America? A team that could face not only countries but also the B&I Lions? Wouldn't that make for a great spectacle that will also bring lots of eyeballs to the sport?
Instead with an Aussie in charge, rugby will become more like rugby league. Rugby will most likely become less global if we look at what have become of rugby in Australia. He can't save rugby in Australia, how will he improve the global footprint of rugby world wide?
I hope to be proven wrong and that he will raise up the sport to new heights, but I am very much in doubt. It's like hiring a gardener to a CEO position in a global company expecting great results. It just won't happen. Call me negative or call me whatever you'd like, Robinson is the wrong man for the job.
Go to comments