Only 13th after five days, the MHR is playing, against the promoted Breton, a match to extricate itself from the bottom of the ranking. And to avoid another difficult season.
The tension persists: three months after a miraculous rescue in Grenoble, during the accession jump-off, Montpellier is still struggling in 13th place in the Top 14 and is preparing to face Vannes on Saturday, promoted to last place, in an already decisive meeting . Just like the Bretons, who are discovering the elite for the first time in their history, Montpellier only has one victory (7-26) against Perpignan and six small points after five days. Here is the former French champion, crowned in 2022, already in a hurry and looking for a first success at home.
“We have the opportunity to win our first match at home. It’s a crucial match, it’s a final for us. It’s the dunces’ match. We hope not to bring out the worst dunces from this match”snaps scrum half Léo Coly. A latent doubt, an intermittent state of mind, recruits not up to the task, a defense that is too undisciplined and an experimental hinge: Montpellier has not chased away either dark thoughts or the after-effects of last season, the worst since 2003 and his rise to the highest level.
We experienced trauma last year, but we have to move on. We must grow, learn quickly as the high level requires
Geoffrey Doumayrou
“We experienced trauma last year, but we have to move on. We must grow, learn quickly as the high level requires. We must have the pride to show for the first time that we are at home. After two defeats at home, if we don’t show it there, when are we going to show it”warns the coach in charge of defense Geoffrey Doumayrou, inducted into a renewed staff and coached since July by Joan Caudullo.
Like its narrow defeats in front of Lyon (22-26) or Bayonne (28-27), Montpellier alternates between successful halves and fatal slumps. “We have difficulty finding consistency because we cannot stay focused on an individual level. Each guy makes his own little mistake that drags the team down. Bernard (Laporte, MHR rugby director, Editor’s note) it is often said: a guy who gives up, everyone who charges”explains Léo Coly.
A lack of leaders
Since the title won in 2022 and the departure of emblematic players like Fulgence Ouedraogo or Guilhem Guirado, the MHR seems to lack leaders. Without the rants of Benoît Paillaugue and Geoffrey Doumayrou, old club grunts converted to the staff under the eye of Bernard Laporte, seeming to bear fruit. “We try to get the players to take responsibility and influence on the strategy. We try to make the guys responsible”says former international three-quarter Doumayrou.
For now, the new Montpellier staff is catching up on the physical level but is looking for the key to escape from a long tunnel. “I knew there was a lot, a lot of work. We knew we had physical work to do, with the delay we had last year. We are still behind the big teams, we are making up for it a little”calls out Geoffrey Doumayrou, who is waiting for answers from his players on the pitch.
“Bernard (Laporte) tells us that we are right, but we must win. We have to change the players. We have to find a way to do it. We have to win because we won’t have much time either.”smiles Geoffrey Doumayrou, who knows that a coach, even young, needs victories.
