The MHR came out on top against Vannes (26-24). The Montpellier team, who got into their game better, were never able to kill the match and even saw the Bretons take the lead at the end of the match. But Joan Caudullo’s men were able to react to get back in front thanks to the composure of Léo Coly against the posts. Vannes only leaves with the defensive bonus and may have regrets.
This Saturday, October 12 in the afternoon, the first fear match of the 2024/2025 Top 14 season took place on the soggy lawn of the GGL Stadium. Pitting the premises of Montpellier Hérault Rugby against the Breton visitors of Racing club Vannetais, this meeting effectively pitted the last two in the standings locked at 6 points and only one victory in five days. A meager record which therefore gave this opposition the imperative desire for victory on both sides. Despite this high stakes, the show was there throughout the afternoon.
Quickly, after the kick-off, the Cistes showed their ease against a Vannes team inside. Léo Coly opened the scoring with a penalty (3-0, e) then Wilfrid Hounkpatin, in force after some good undermining work from his forwards, scored the first try of the game (10-0, 12th). However, the RCV did not let itself be counted on and, on its first foray into the MHR camp, it went for a try thanks to its Chilean Iñaki Ayarza, who went behind the line for his first match under the colors of Vannes (10-7, 18th). The only team in the Top 14 not to have won at home after five days, Montpellier however resumed its march forward via breakthroughs from Christopher Tolofua (20th) then a try from Maël Moustin at the end of the line (17-7, 24th) .
A penalty try which puts Vannes back in the match
While the average points scored by the MHR since the launch of this 2024/2025 Top 14 campaign was until then 16, they scored a whopping 17 in just 24 minutes of play. With this reaction behind the Breton test, we thought then that the MHR was going to play its rugby, worn by its stars Billy VunipolaCobus Reinach or Stuart Hogg. This was not the case since, a few minutes later, winger Madosh Tambwe, for having deliberately kicked the ball while he was on the ground to prevent a Vannes try, received a yellow card… and RC Vannes is credited with a penalty try (17-14, 28th).
If the score no longer changed before returning to the locker room, the MHR found the post on a penalty from Léo Coly (38th). At the break, at the broadcaster’s microphone, captain Lenni Nouchi didn’t beat around the bush: “We dominate, but we make too many stupid mistakes as usual and that allows them to stay in the match. They are pragmatic and score as soon as they can.”
Montpellier’s inconsistency paid in cash
The start of the second period, played in increasingly heavy rain, turned to the advantage of the MHR, more disciplined and efficient in scrum, as if to return one 5 meters from the Vannes line (45th). In the process, Léo Coly passed a penalty giving his team a little breathing room (20-14, 46th). However, Montpellier’s inconstancy awoke in the following minutes (kick directly into the touchline from Lenni Nouchi, 49th; Stuart Hogg did not find the touchline on a penalty, 52nd). So much so that Vannes, after a superb penalty from Maxime Lafage (54th), once again went behind the Montpellier line through Jules Le Bail, behind a lot of preparatory work from his pack (20-21, 55th). The RCV then took the lead in the score for the first time in the game and dreamed of success far from its bases at the Stade de la Rabine.
From this test, we witnessed a magnificent mano a mano between the two teams. One side systematically responding to the other for 10 minutes. First, on a superb push from the first replacement line 100% made in Georgia from Montpellier (63rd), Léo Coly allowed his team to take the lead again (23-21, 64th). On the dismissal of Maxime Lafage, Stuart Hogg missed and Salesi Rayasi obtained a penalty on the ground (65th) which the same Maxime Lafage easily passed (23-24, 66th). Then, Vannes grew bolder, but Robin Taccola made a forward move (71st) which allowed the MHR to restart and score the winning penalty (26-24, 74th).
A defensive bonus point for Vannes
If it was the penalty for the win and the relief for Montpellier, we did not know it at that time. The last minutes before the siren were unbreathable, but the MHR defense finished the game well, confining the RCV to its 22 meters. Resigned and to keep the defensive bonus point, the Bretons therefore put the ball into touch once the 80 minutes had elapsed. A bitter taste defeat for Maxime Lafage: “We’re scuttling ourselves! It was important to keep, all the same, this defensive bonus, but there are really a lot of regrets this evening, he explained into the broadcaster’s microphone. We need to be more consistent over 80 minutes! Pro D2 is over, we are in the best championship in the world and the slightest error is punished.”
On the Montpellier side, smiles were in order since this 4-point success allows them to leave the red zone of the ranking. “We are enjoying it because we are in a complicated period. I hope that we will restart a new dynamic”launched Léo Coly once the success was confirmed. For the MHR, it will be necessary to confirm this victory next Saturday in Toulon while the Vannes residents will host Clermont at home to restart the machine.
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