Montpellier (AFP)
Montpellier dropped the leader Lyon (33-8), beaten and punished for the second time this season, on Saturday during the 10th day of Top 14.
Far from being sovereign at the beginning of the season, like its timid European debut, the MHR continues a third game without defeat in the league and climbs to the 4th place pending the close of the 10th day.
Xavier Garbajosa's team has kept his home unbeaten alive and has made a big comeback success at the expense of his pet peeve. Montpellier has even rehabilitated through this meeting conducted from one end to the other with five trials registered.
Lyon conceded its second Top 14 defeat more than a month after its first failure at Clermont (24-15) but still retains its lead in the league with a point advantage over Bordeaux, convincing winner at Racing.
Excited by his bad debut in the European Cup, scoring two defeats in Northampton and ahead of Leinster, the LOU suffered a third setback in a row and seems to be losing momentum, the day after the World Cup in Japan, which had not affected. Worse, he passed totally by his match, suffering as much from the power of the pack héraultais as its shortcomings.
Still master of the first period, Montpellier has relied on his expertise in the mauls to complete the first 40 bonuses with the offensive bonus already in his pocket. Effective in the conquest phase, he scored three tries following penaltouche and provoked the yellow card of hooker lyonnais Mickaël Ivaldi (32nd).
Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo (7th), author of a test by match, the South African hooker Bismarck Du Plessis (32nd) and the 3rd line center Louis Picamoles (37th), all three back to the competition in recent weeks have made it possible to put to reason a leader overwhelmed by the effectiveness of the Hérault and lacking any reaction.
Pierre Mignoni's team was awkward and unfortunate in this match, like his replacement opener Jean-Marc Doussain. A peeved came into play (59th), he came out after crushing a penalty in the middle and injured. Anecdotal but symbolic.
Lyon also conceded two new tries by the second line of South Africa Nicolaas Van Rensburg (72nd) and hooker Yuri Delhommel (77th) before saving the honor by a test of Xavier Mignot after the siren.
© 2019 AFP