Montpellier, double finalist of the French championship, complicated his chances of maintaining by losing (19-21) Sunday on his land in front of Castres, his pet peeve, in a late match of the 3rd day of Top 14. The MHR has lost a match that he should not lose.
With this 7th defeat in a row, in all competitions, he stagnated in 13th place, that of play-off, and exudes such helplessness that he does not know how he will be able to escape his fate of relegation potential.
Montpellier scorns the card Philippe Saint-André, appointed on January 3 as coach to replace Xavier Garbajosa, and shows a more worrying face than ever before receiving Lyon, Racing 92 and Stade Français, three contenders for the phase final.
The Hérault team, which led until the 72nd minute (19-14), again cracked under the effect of a second try from Castres, registered by the third line Ma'ama Vaipulu, entered during the second period .
Castres goes on
Castres, for its part, continues a third success in the wake of those obtained in Lyon (15-14) and ahead of Agen (39-23).
Under the impetus of his new technical boss, Pierre-Henry Broncan, he made a leap forward to move away from the play-off place and even come back to five points behind Lyon, classified in 6th place.
Montpellier rather mastered the first period under the impetus of international back Anthony Bouthier.
Replaced at the opening, he was effective in his kicking game to occupy the field and face the posts, with 80% success.
If Castres scored the first try on the outside thanks to the back Julien Dumora (12th), his South African alter-ego Heny Immelman responded immediately (14th) to bring the MHR back in the lead and partially remove the pressure .
Solid in conquest, around a controlled touch and an effective scrum, the MHR kept the ascendancy during a large part of the second period, until a failure of Bouthier against the poles (69th).
Eight minutes from the end, Montpellier cracked by conceding multiple faults and conceding a second try (72nd) through the 3rd line Vaipulu.
He concluded a movement from the Tarn forwards and plunged Montpellier into doubt.
A deep doubt.
Read also
Top 14 Ranking
