RUGBY. Castres – Montpellier: Montpellier is champion of France, the summary of the final of the Top 14

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RUGBY Castres Montpellier Montpellier is champion of France the

Author of a dream first period with 3 tries in 10 minutes, Montpellier was able to tighten its defense then to stifle Castres and win its first title of champion of France.

00:00 – Thank you

Thank you all for following us for the live commentary of the Top 14 final which will have seen Montpellier win the first title of Champion of France in its history against Castres. See you soon for new live rugby and in particular the summer tour of the XV of France in July in Japan.

06/24/22 – 11:45 p.m. – Montpellier, champion of fire and ice

Montpellier, champion of fire and ice - Castres - Montpellier ©Christophe Ena/AP/SIPA

Castres had experienced a storm in the semi-final, the first 20 minutes in apnea against an unleashed Toulouse but had been able to bide its time and recover. We believed for a moment in a similar scenario when in a situation against Palis missed his overcoat and offered the MHR a first opportunity, perfectly negotiated by the vista of a Paillaugue author of a volley pass on a class step for a dashing Arthur Vincent to flatten in the end. Behind, Verhaeghe concluded in force a well-constructed action once again in a Castres defense disoriented by the slaloms of Paillaugue. We then watched for the reaction, the start of the number one of the season but it did not come. Worse, a handful of minutes later, after a clear three-quarters movement, Bouthier crossed behind Vincent who served him for a magnificent third try. The quarter of an hour had not been reached and the final was already folded, over even before having finally started for Castres who were never going to recover from this catastrophic start, from these three tries conceded in quick succession.

Because Montpellier is not Toulouse and its defense is much harder. Union Bordeaux-Bègles had the bitter experience of it in the semi-finals and it was going to be Castres’ turn to pay the price in the second half. The Hérault furia lasted half an hour. Half an hour of recited rugby, half an hour of play, repetition. A perfect score against a team suffocated and multiplying clumsiness. So solid all season, Castres was a shadow of itself, absent in the fight, losing the ball in contact like Nakosi and Botitu, and not helped by the premature exit of Urdapilleta. Without its conductor, the CO had to wait until the end of the first act to unlock its counter and get its head out of the water. But floating is not enough against the Hérault predator. And after the attacking fire, Philippe Saint-André’s team showed their ice defense. Regenerated by many changes, the CO returned with better intentions and settled in the opposing camp. Dumora thought he was scored for the first time but an arm from Montpellier prevented him. It was only a matter of time, we thought, but it was not. Camara and his partners had erected the wall and took the shocks without flinching. Three times, Castres reached the in-goal but never scored the try that could have revived them. Instead, the Hérault captain snatched the ball from Cocagi’s arms, after a long streak of Castres domination. The admission of the impotence of the Tarn against the impermeable defense of the MHR. If Botitu ended up finding the opening 6 minutes from the end, it was only for the honor. For a long time already, smiles had invaded the faces of the Héraultais on the bench and in the stands. Nothing could shake this group, resurrected by the magic of Saint-André, returning from the depths in the heart of winter 2020. One year after winning the European Challenge, the MHR could savor their first title of champion of France, this first shield of Brennus, raised by the former captain of the XV of France Guirado and the Hérault totem Ouedraogo, legends at dusk happy for their last in career.

06/24/22 – 11:34 p.m. – The Shield is for Montpellier

The just reward for the efforts of a season and a final dominated from start to finish, Montpellier can lift the shield of Brennus. Camara and Guirado lifted the object of all desires. A strong and unique moment in the history of the MHR.

06/24/22 – 11:31 p.m. – Saint-André: “We showed that we knew how to play rugby”

“Today, the hungry, it was the MHR. We showed values ​​but we also achieved a first half-hour at a high level. We showed that we knew how to play rugby. Today, it is a great victory”, proudly declared Philippe Saint-André. the former coach of the XV of France wins his first title of champion of France.

06/24/22 – 11:24 p.m. – Paillaugue: “We are making history”

“We are making history. We are the first and we will forever be the first. We have been chasing after them for so many years. reward of a workforce, a club, a president. It’s nice to win a title”appreciated Benoît Paillaugue, at the club since 2009, present during the two finals lost in 2011 and 2018, and living his last match with the MHR before joining Toulon at 34 years old.

06/24/22 – 11:22 p.m. – The Montpellier premiere

Founded in 1986, Montpellier Hérault Rugby was playing its 3rd Top 14 final. It was the first club to have lost its first two national finals in 2011 and 2018. This is the club finally crowned for the first time in its young history. He succeeds Toulouse, champion of France in 2019 and 2021 (no title in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, editor’s note).

06/24/22 – 11:19 p.m. – Vincent’s emotion

“There are no words to describe it. This is the first title in our history”, reacted with tears in his eyes Arthur Vincent, author of the first try of the MHR to launch the final and who is coming back from a long injury. The winger, a native of Montpellier, dedicated this title to the whole group and to all the injured who were unable to make the trip to the Stade de France.

06/24/22 – 11:16 p.m. – Babillot: “I want to congratulate Monptellier”

“I want to congratulate Montpellier. They were pragmatic, tough defensively and scored when needed”first greeted Castres captain Mathieu Babillot with fair play before returning to the performance of his team. “We had a complicated start to the match. On a turnover, they scored then behind, they put in a second. It’s very, very hard. In a final, that doesn’t forgive. We hang on but it’s too much hard.”

06/24/22 – 11:13 p.m. – Bouthier: “A childhood dream”

“It’s a childhood dream come true. We are champions of France. After a complicated year last season, we held on, we were looking for this title of European champion and today, with this group, we defended on our line for 40 minutes without ever letting go”savored Anthony Bouthier, author of the 3rd Hérault essay.

06/24/22 – 23:08 – Montpellier is French champion!

At the end of a final controlled from start to finish, Montpellier defeated Castres and won the first title of champion of France in its history (29-10). Author of an infernal first half hour sublimated by 3 tries, the Héraultais then controlled and stifled the Tarn revolt.

06/24/22 – 11:06 p.m. – Zeghdar beaten by Rattez

Zeghdar recovers and taps for himself far ahead. In the 22 meters from Hérault, he was overtaken by the good return of Rattez.

06/24/22 – 11:05 p.m. – Fault on dismissal

Upon receiving the dismissal, Doumayrou is destabilized in the air. The Castres are sanctioned with a penalty while the center is forced to leave the field.

24/06/22 – 23:04 – Pollard passes his penalty

Shifted to the left at 25 meters, Pollard is impeccable on foot and brings the score to 29-10 4 minutes from the end of this Top 14 final.

06/24/22 – 11:03 p.m. – Staniforth high tackle

In front of his 22 meters, Satniforth takes the lead Paenga Amosa and concedes a penalty.

06/24/22 – 23:01 – Dumora transforms

Glued to the sideline on the left, Dumora adjusts his shot and ensures the transformation to bring the CO to 16 points (10-26, 75th).



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