Heineken Cup 2021/22

[riocard911]

Fun fact courtesy of the Wikipedia entry for Gang Starr's Guru, who died, unfortunately, in 2010:

"The French city of Montpellier named a small street 'Allée Guru' after the rapper, citing his influence on both hip hop and jazz."

That is pretty damn cool, IMO. Chapeau!!!

[cormac]

Bath absolutely rinsed at home by Saracens. Finished 17-71 after Bath got a couple of late consolation scores. Saracens were very good but Bath were little better than a rabble.

[Blueberry]

Bath absolutely rinsed at home by Saracens. Finished 17-71 after Bath got a couple of late consolation scores. Saracens were very good but Bath were little better than a rabble.

Didn't see it but that is a staggering score......dear oh dear.....

[riocard911]

October 23, 2021: Racing 21-32 Montpellier

[blockhead]

Beno Obano Anthony Watson both out for a long spell with ACLs.

[Ruckedtobits]

Another big home win for Montpellier who beat Lyon 30-8 and, in particular, scored two penalty tries along the way. They also replaced 7 forwards during their victory.

This team grows as a threat as the weeks progress and they move into 4th place with +56 point difference. A hard experienced pack who will be difficult to crack at home.

[wixfjord]

Beno Obano Anthony Watson both out for a long spell with ACLs.

Jeez that's bad luck for both of them. Both have had serious injuries before.

[Ruckedtobits]

Having seen Montpellier in their second game, I caught up with them again in this Top 14 clash at home to Lyon on Premier Sports. Although they won well with a 30-8 scoreline, the game was not as one-sided as the numbers suggest. A few non-playing factors were relevant, viz:

1. The game was played in a deluge for about 60 minutes & drizzle for the remainder;
2. The pitch was magnificent throughout, cut short and didn't cut up;
3. M. Poite was referee and his award of the 2nd penalty try to the home team was, least, generous whilst the first one was a direct result of two YCs in as many minutes to two Lyon defenders during the same attack;.
4. Both teams had 6 + 2 benches but MontP actually substituted seven forwards.

The key players for MP were their half-backs, Reinach and Garbosa, mid-field S African Henri Pollard & Demeyrou and No 6 Camara. The two English Ex- Bath players Thomas & Mercer also contributed well in their reduced appearances.

MP are significantly fitter than previously and not as big up-front as they have been. In the conditions, they box-kicked and chased incessantly and effectively. Their line speed is quick and efficient and defensively they drove the bigger Lyon team backwards regularly. The scrum and maul are competent rather than dominant and their line-out is almost totally the "Camara-show"

Two penalty tries plus a horror concession by new Lyon Kiwi out-half Sopoango, dropping a straight pass over his own goal line and not re-gathering before Reinach got a hand to it, gave MP a win they deserved, but not by this margin.

IMO, they'll be our toughest Pool opponents and although they only have two away games together after the Autumn international break (Top14 v Castres & EPCR v Exeter) before we face them in mid-December, the challenge of facing Leinster in a home European Friday match will be a big occasion which they will relish.

A BIG WARNING SIGN FOR THIS GAME.

[riocard911]

Another victory on the road for Montpellier today, 27-31 against Stade Francais. They're looking dangerous....

[hugonaut]

Another victory on the road for Montpellier today, 27-31 against Stade Francais. They're looking dangerous....

We beat Japan 60-5 today. We're looking pretty dangerous too.

[riocard911]

Another victory on the road for Montpellier today, 27-31 against Stade Francais. They're looking dangerous....

We beat Japan 60-5 today. We're looking pretty dangerous too.

Chapeau!!!

[Blueberry]

Another victory on the road for Montpellier today, 27-31 against Stade Francais. They're looking dangerous....

We beat Japan 60-5 today. We're looking pretty dangerous too.

[blockhead]

Another victory on the road for Montpellier today, 27-31 against Stade Francais. They're looking dangerous....

We beat Japan 60-5 today. We're looking pretty dangerous too.

Bravo Sir.

[mildlyinterested]

Pierre Brousset in charge of Leinster v Bath
Wayne Barnes in charge of Leinster v Montpellier

[Morf]

When did we think we'd see the day that Barnsey would be an almost universally welcome appointment . . .

Has come along way since the days refusing to speak with Heaslip.

[riocard911]

When did we think we'd see the day that Barnsey would be an almost universally welcome appointment . . .

Has come along way since the days refusing to speak with Heaslip.

In my own opinion, the making of Wayne Barnes was when he red carded Hartley for giving guff in the Prem final in 2013. That was brilliant!!!

[FLIP]

Barnes hasn't got better, the overall standard has got worse.

[jezzer]

Barnes hasn't got better, the overall standard has got worse.

Nah, Barnes extracted the bug up his arse some years ago and has been a much better, less pedantic ref since. He used to be cold, finicky and prone to the odd glaringly bad call.

Now he's channeled his inner Nige and does a good job of letting it flow while not fooking up the big calls.

[Oldschool]

Barnes hasn't got better, the overall standard has got worse.

Nah, Barnes extracted the bug up his arse some years ago and has been a much better, less pedantic ref since. He used to be cold, finicky and prone to the odd glaringly bad call.

Now he's channeled his inner Nige and does a good job of letting it flow while not fooking up the big calls.

Has always been pro-active on player health/safety and that for me is the most important thing.

[Ruckedtobits]

Probably the best new this week was the announcement that South African and Montpellier out-half Handre Pollard has signed for Leicester for next Season. In very few team sports, where all the players are united and dedicated to the cause of their team's destiny this season, does a major player announce his impending departure on the eve of starting the 'biggest' competition of the season.

Although Pollard's departure may have been leaked prematurely by Leicester rather than pre-emptively by Pollard, it certainly doesn't contribute to the team solidarity within Montpellier, whether their focus is the Top 14 or the European Cup. If Pollard, and his agent, were truly focused on the fortunes of his current employer, they would certainly have insisted that Leicester keep this information confidential until at least the completion of the Pool games.

Montpellier play lowly Perpignan this weekend whilst the two front-runners Toulouse & Bordeaux face off in a top of the table clash, but even a win will not improve their current 3rd place. A loss however could see La Rochelle move ahead of them and indeed, so tight is the race behind the top two, failure to beat Perpignan could result in a fall to fifth.

Leinster will be focused on Bath before they contemplate facing the French powerhouse, but hopefully the Pollard story will be reflected in a reduction in team unity within the Montpellier camp, which will make that fixture just a little less onerous.