A relentless show of force.
A coronation that does not suffer from any dispute.
Montpellier won the first title of champion of France in its history by outclassing Castres (29-10) at the Stade de France.
Some announced a closed match, bitter and tense.
Finally the case was folded in less than a quarter of an hour.
Four forays of the MHR into the opposing 22m, results: three tries and a penalty.
CO will never recover.
“I felt the guys smiling, determined and ready to fight before the match,
said Philippe Saint-André, the Hérault manager.
I knew that in this final, we would be hungry: we had not yet won a title and there are still eighteen months, we were penultimate in the championship.
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The return to the forefront is masterful.
The victory of Montpellier does not suffer from any dispute as they have shown control and composure.
“We didn't give up for 80 minutes.
This year, we are at the top of the table all season and then we have two exceptional matches in the semis and finals
, ”continues Saint-André.
Impossible to prove him wrong.
To lift the shield of Brennus, the MHR delivered two almost perfect matches, first against Bordeaux-Bègles by Christophe Urios, completely muzzled, then against Castres by Pierre-Henry Broncan, asphyxiated from the start.
Two matches where their opponents appeared without a solution.
Read alsoThe notes of Montpellier-Castres: Serfontein and Mercer take everything
The crowning achievement of a successful season, during which Guilhem Guirado and his teammates were regularly in first place.
One of the keys to their final success, they say, is to have finished in second place, thus avoiding a passage through the “dam” box and therefore benefiting from a week to gain strength and prepare. .
“I believe that the direct qualification in the semi-finals allowed us to regenerate, to recover
Arthur Vincent
, to redo the juice”
, agrees PSA.
“Hit rock bottom so you can get back up”
The strong turpitudes crossed last season were finally a blessing in disguise.
The group has reunited, a dynamic has clearly been created in the wake of the maintenance acquired with forceps and the title gleaned in the Challenge Cup.
“Everyone knows that you have to hit bottom to be able to come back up, and we did it,
underlines the flanker and captain Yacouba Camara.
We've been through some tough times and this band has steel metal.
We proved it again tonight
(Friday).
And Jean-Baptiste Elissalde, the rear coach, to support:
“The guys have been champions all year and even in the hard last year, they were incredible guys.
They were rewarded for their work.
»
Read alsoTop 14: on video, the summary of the Castres-Montpellier final on video
After much criticism and ridicule in recent seasons, Montpellier has just joined the big leagues.
Philippe Saint-André launched the reconquest operation and this first title could definitely uninhibit the Hérault club.
"We are a team that knows how to play rugby, we don't just defend,"
insists Philippe Saint-André.
Yacouba Camara wants to see further:
"Now that we have this shield, we are more than brothers or friends, we are a family, and that is something very important to us."
In the meantime, the celebrations are expected to last a few days.
Moreover, PSA delivered the key to its pre-match motivational speech:
"I told them:
" If you are champions, we are on the roof all week! "It promises ...
