After a first half where the MHR was rather dominant, particularly up front, the Héraultais only owed their salvation to their opening half or scrum half, Léo Coly, who was impeccable in his shots on goal . In the Vunipola brothers’ duel, Billy showed the way for his team, Mako was disappointing and caught in a closed scrum.
The Tops:
- Billy Vunipola: 7,5/10
In a match played in the rain, the Montpellier team was able to rely on the power of their English international to find progress. Often well placed and fair in his interventions, the younger Vunipola had a much better match than his elder Mako, who was opposite. Special mention for the right pillar Wilfrid Hounkpatin, effective in the same register. Es-Castrais also dominated Mako Vunipola in the scrum.
Second appearance and first start with his new club MHR for the under-20 international, who had a good match. Caught short by the Vannes attack on Ayarza’s try, the Montpellier rookie recovered well afterwards, notably with a try at the end of the line, his first for his new team as well as some well-felt defensive pressures .
Positioned at the opening to replace the Argentinian Domingo Miotti, Léo Coly highlighted himself both in the animation of the game and in his precision against the poles. In particular, he took his responsibilities superbly at the end of the match where he passed two penalties placed on the 40 meter cross, to the left of the posts. The MHR can thank him…
A real poison for the Montpellier defense. His sharp ball catches pushed his team forward. Very good in defense, the young French pure Vannes product asserts himself as a real hope. For the moment, he has only had the right to away matches (Toulon and therefore Montpellier), but what he shows will quickly count as one.
The flops:
- Nicolaas Janse Van Rensburg : 4/10
Expected in the combat and air sector, the South African did not meet expectations despite good activity. Penalized in the first half, Van Rensburg suffered from the comparison with the Vannes third line, more efficient and just as combative.
In a match played in the rain, we rarely saw him with ball in hand and that’s a shame. But above all, the Scotsman lacked precision in his footwork, particularly in finding the touches that would have given his team some air.
The Breton scrum-half is expensive because it was on one of his kicking plays, which put his partners out of play, that Vannes conceded the penalty which turned the game on its head. Before that, the eldest of the Le Bail brothers had not alternated enough between the Bretons’ balloons, using upwind choices and tiring his forwards early on the Vannes actions.
Until then, it was one of the satisfactions of the start of the season for the Bretons. Only this Saturday, the English international suffered in a closed scrum against Hounkpatin and seemed somewhat overwhelmed by the pace in the game. For the first time, he frankly disappointed and was not a driving force in the pack. forwards unlike his brother in the camp opposite.
Montpellier notes:
15. Stuart Hogg : 4/10
14. Maël Moustin: 7/10
13. Thomas Darmon : 6/10
12. Arthur Vincent : 5/10
11. Madosh Tambwe : 5/10
10. Leo Coly : 7/10
9. Cobus Reinach : 6/10
8. Billy Vunipola : 7,5/10
7. Lenni Nouchi : 5/10
6. Nicolaas Janse Van Rensburg : 4/10
5. Tyler Duguid : 7/10
4. Yacouba Camara: 5/10
3. Wilfrid Hounkpatin :7/10
2. Christopher-Eric Tolofua : 6/10
1. Enzo Forletta: 6/10
Vannes notes:
15. Gwenaël Duplenne: 4/10
14 Inaki Ayarza: 6/10
13. Robin Taccola: 6/10
12. Francis Search : 5/10
11. Philip Nakosi : 3/10
10. Maxime Lafage: 5/10
9. Jules Le Bail: 4/10
8. Sione Kalamafoni : 5/10
7. Francisco Gorrisen : 6/10
6 Simon Augry : 4/10
5. Joseph Edwards : 5/10
4. Mattéo Desjeux: 6/10
3. Santiago Medrano: 5/10
2. Théo Béziat: 6.5/10
1. Mark Vunipola : 3/10
