Lions hunt ‘statement’ win in Montpellier
The Lions are confident that a youthful squad can snaffle an upset win against an underperforming yet star-studded Montpellier side on Saturday.
The Lions are confident that a youthful squad can snaffle an upset win against an underperforming yet star-studded Montpellier side on Saturday.
Lions Head coach Ivan van Rooyen has named a blended squad of experience and youth that will travel to Montpellier for round three of the European Challenge Cup.
Controversial former French Rugby Federation (FFR) president Bernard Laporte has been appointed director of rugby of struggling Montpellier.
Cheslin Kolbe turned up the heat and picked up a try assist to help Toulon beat Montpellier and edge closer to the Top 14 playoffs.
Cobus Reinach dotted down as Montpellier recovered from an 18-point deficit to beat London Irish on the opening night of the Champions Cup on Friday.
La Rochelle survived a late scare to edge Lyon 23-21 and take pole position in the Top 14 on Saturday with champions Montpellier bouncing back from their opening round defeat to beat Bordeaux-Begles.
Springbok flyhalf Handre Pollard will have a shot at silverware after Montpellier progressed to next weekend’s Top 14 final with a 19-10 win over Bordeaux-Begles on Saturday.
Holders Toulouse beat Munster on Saturday to reach the semi-finals of the European Champions Cup, and will face four-time European champions Leinster for a place in the competition’s finale.
Handre Pollard is thrilled to be on duty in the Champions Cup playoffs, partly because the high stakes will prime the Springbok flyhalf for the pressures of the pending international season.
Cobus Reinach has agreed to a three-year extension with Top 14 side Montpellier that will likely see the Springbok scrumhalf play the final years of his career in France.