On a pitch at the GGL Stadium which suffered, the Montpellier residents ended up defeating the Racingmen (21-17). After a particularly closed first act, the Cistes took advantage of the indiscipline of the Ile-de-France residents to take a slight lead. The Ile-de-France residents could even have gone ahead if Nolann Le Garrec's transformation had not found the post, but they missed their chance at the end of the match.
A turning point match in a season between two usually ambitious teams but too far in terms of level than the best teams in the Top 14 this season. This highly contested meeting on this winter solstice day highlighted a major concern on which Cistes and Racingmen will have to work hard: indiscipline. The six yellow cards made the match crazy but above all very difficult for both teams and it was Montpellier who knew how to best take advantage of the opposing errors to win, in particular thanks to a very dominant scrum.. It is perhaps the MHR which really launches its season this evening by overtaking Racing but there is work to be done for both clubs.
A closed and indecisive start
The stakes were real for both teams and the start of the match showed it only too well. Despite Montpellier's domination in possession, it was Racing through its scorer Nolann Le Garrec who opened the scoring with a penalty (10th, 0-3). And as during the entire meeting, the reaction of the team which collected points was not long in coming. The first try of the match came at the end of the first quarter of an hour. A forward from Le Garrec forced by the tackle of Léo Coly in front of the Racing try line became decisive. The Altosequan melee was sanctioned, as often in this first act, and Billy Vunipola, as a good captain, opened the way with a penalty played quickly by hand to take the score (16e, 5-3).
While Racing was pushing to also score their try, Moorby, the Ciste full-back, was penalized on his 22m for a voluntary forward move. He left his partners for 10 minutes but without consequences. Mainly due to the Ile-de-France slag in touch (throwing not straight), in scrum (sanctions against Ben Arous) and in the passing game (forward). It was even Montpellier which was very close to flying away with the score immediately returning to 15 with the good try of Maël Moustin, served on a plate by Hogg, but a mistake by Coly in the action canceled the try after the passage to the video.
The approximations on both sides, despite good intentions, changed the score little or nothing. Nolann Le Garrec responded to Léo Coly's penalty (35th, 8-3) from afar in the middle (37th, 8-6). The end of the first act was marked by the yellow card of Eddy Ben Arous, after a third collapsed scrum (MT, 8-6).
An almost identical second period
Racing started its second period at 14 men but quickly regained the lead thanks to the boot of Le Garrec (43rd, 8-9) before Feleti Kaitu'u also received a yellow for foul play. Racing was now playing with 13 men and Léo Coly punished this mistake with a penalty (46th, 11-9). When the first yellow card returned (Ben Arrous), Racing lost a new member for 10 minutes, Rowlands for a useless anti-play gesture. This was immediately punished by the Cistes and the hooker Jordan Uelese by a penetrating group coming off the sideline from 5m (46th, 18-9).
Racing 92 had to react and pushed the MHR harder to make a mistake. Le Garrec reduced the gap with a penalty in the middle (65th, 18-12). The match then restarted with indiscipline changing colors. Chris Tolofua, the Hérault hooker, also took his yellow as an anti-play gesture. And like the second Ciste try, Racing immediately took advantage with its first try of the match signed Ibrahim Diallo on the same action, a touch from 5 m. Le Garrec only found the post for the corner conversion and Racing 92 remained behind (70th, 18-17).
Yet another foul in the scrum by Racing offered a winning penalty to Léo Coly 5 minutes from time (75th, 21-17). And it was at that moment that the Ile-de-France residents were unable to take on a match that was just waiting to turn in their favor. The Montpellier team ended the match at 14 and then at 13 after Tambwe was yellowed for a high tackle on Le Garrec close to scoring a try. The Altoséquanais' last attempts at play came up against the opposing defense as well as their own clumsiness, like Tuisova's two forwards in two minutes. Racing cannot be satisfied with the defensive bonus. For Montpellier, the victory is beautiful, whatever anyone says.
