The international scrum-half, author of 18 of UBB's 23 points, was the main architect of the success of Christophe Urios' team, which preserved second place after its sixth away victory and relaunched completely in the race for direct qualification for the semi-finals.

At the dawn of an affordable final sprint (Toulon, Lyon, in Perpignan), Bordeaux-Bègles retains a five-point lead over its pet peeve, La Rochelle, and over Castres.

The Bordelais have found themselves fully to break the doubt, after a black series of eight defeats in nine matches, and revive their ambition at the best time.

Montpellier experiences a setback in the final sprint.

If the MHR keeps first place by a short head, and two small points (69 against 67), it complicates its end of the season.

Qualified in the quarter-finals of the European Cup, he weakens his qualification for the semi-finals and will not be able to allow himself a dead end.

For Montpellier's Yacouba Camara (left) and Paolo Garbisi (right), surrounding UBB center three-quarter Yoram Moefana, the home defeat 23-22 in the closing match of the 23rd day of the Top on April 24 2022 is a setback Pascal GUYOT AFP/Archives

The team of Philippe Saint-André, who had not flinched at home since October 16 in front of Clermont (20-22), cracked in this meeting that looked like the final phase.

Carried by two former Héraultais, Louis Picamoles and François Trinh-Duc, the UBB perfectly mastered the first period in front of Montpellier deprived of the two leaders, the second line Paul Willemse and the scrum half Cobus Reinach.

Hooker Maxime Lamothe put the Bordelais in orbit following an early test (7th), registered on a dazzling forty-meter raid.

Efficient in defense, solid in conquest, the Urios team left only crumbs to Montpellier, feverish, approximate in their choices and uninspired like their Italian opener Paolo Garbisi.

But failing to find solutions in the Bordeaux defense, Montpellier took advantage of the indiscipline of the visitors and the yellow card inflicted on the third line Mahamadou Diaby (64th) to pick up the score thanks to three penalties from Handré Pollard.

Following a penalty played by hand, the second row Florian Verhaghe scored a try in force (76th) and allowed the MHR to regain a short advantage (22-20).

Just before scrum half Maxime Lucu overturned everything with a final penalty (80+1) and gave victory to UBB.

© 2022 AFP