Montpellier started their TOP14 season with an away game against Biarritz, the first competitive match for the new coaching duo Galthie, Bechu, this would show if the hard work over the last 10 weeks was going to bring results.

The first half was not the start that Montpellier needed, shunted around the park by the B O front five, who were dominant in both set piece scrums and mauls, for the first 40 mins., missed tackles and far too many defensive errors which gave numerous occasions for Yachvili to slot over 3 penalties in each half, which results in 18 points given away, plus two first half tries from Bidabe and Peyrelongue a total that is far too great a deficit in today’s modern game.

.Montpellier managed a far better second half scoring 3 tries through Jean-Mat Alcalde, Masi Matadigo and finally the young 19 year old Pierre Berard getting his name on the score sheet, they could not quite get that bonus defensive point that they in fact deserved, the final conversion from Santiago Fernandez just going wide, and Montpellier finishing one little point short of reward. Final score Biarritz 30 Montpellier 22.

Discipline has never been Montpellier’s point fort, but they are going to have to learn the hard way, the amount of penalties and yellow cards has to decrease if we are going to have success Progress has been made, it was not that long ago that at 21- 3 down after the first half, the heads would have dropped and the doors would have opened for an avalanche of points against us, but this was not the case, Montpellier came out in the second half fighting for respect, they managed respect,  falling just short in the end, but with merit on their side and with a base to build on for next Fridays first home game of the season against Racing Metro.

This coming week hard work will be the order of the day, our coaches Galthie and Bechu will not be happy with the result and already next Friday, we will be hosting Racing Metro, with their star studded performers, who are already on a high after their away win against Brive 18-23, Racing will be coming to try to further their progress, in this already exciting new TOP 14 season, but with renewed confidence we can stop them, and this from happening.

Friday 20th August Stade Yves du Manoir k.o. 19.00
                             MONTPELLIER  v RACING METRO 92.

Steve Whittell.