European Challenge Cup Round 2

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS V MONTPELLIER

Franklin’s Gardens

Saturday October 18^th, 7.45pm

The Saints face French opposition again this Saturday when Top 14 side Montpellier Hérault RC visit Franklin's Gardens in the second round of pool matches in the European Challenge Cup.

Montpellier beat Bristol fairly comfortably in their opening game of the competition, securing a 33-15 win at home.  They did not, however, score a bonus point, something that could come back to haunt them should the group go to down to the wire.

At the end of the 1985 season in France two teams from Montpellier, Stade Montpelliérain (SM) and Montpellier Université Club (MUC) reached the top division of French rugby.  The mayor of Montpellier, Georges Frêche, called the heads of both clubs to a meeting and made a suggestion – that they unite to form one team.  Thus, in 1986, Montpellier Rugby Club (MRC) was born.  During the mid 1990s the club progressed from the second to the first division, but internal problems saw coaches and managers leave the club, and MRC was subsequently relegated.  Now, and my French isn't up to much, I think the players went on strike because the club was letting too many leave (we all know how much the French love a good strike after all).  Anyway, times were not good for Montpellier Rugby Club.  A crisis both on and off the field saw the club plummet down the leagues in the late 90s, but some good recruitment in management positions meant that they soon bounced back. 

The next few years saw the club consolidate its position in the community and the region, and in 2003 they gained promotion to the then Top 16.  The following season, 2004, saw Montpellier win the now defunct Parker Pen Shield, beating Italian side Viadana in the final.

An eighth place finish at the end of the 2007/08 season, just two points behind seventh placed Montauban, meant that Montpellier failed in their bid for a place in this year’s Heineken Cup, but this didn’t stop coach Didier Nourault from securing the services of former All Black Justin Marshall at the start of the 2008 season from the Ospreys.  Marshall is not the only name familiar to even the most casual rugby fan, with Montpellier boasting such names as Ollie Smith (formerly of Leicester Tigers), François Trinh-Duc, and Louis Picamoles amongst a squad of both young and experienced players. 

Montpellier's record in the Top 14 this year is mixed – two of their four away trips have resulted in defeat, two in victory, while at home they've lost one out of three (a 5-3 defeat against Perpignan).  The Saints are undefeated at Franklin's Gardens so far this season, but last week's win in Toulon was their first on the road. 

The Saints and Montpellier look, after the first round's results, like the two teams likely to be contesting for top spot in Pool 2.  After their failure to qualify for this year's Heineken Cup, Nourault will not want the same thing to happen again.  The squad announced yesterday has been affected by injuries and, perhaps, the citing of Justin Marshall (for he is not included), and Trinh-Duc has been rested ahead of Montpellier's game against Bourgoin next week.  French international Ouedraogo has a shoulder injury, but Louis Picamoles and Julien Tomas (their favoured scrum-half) return after being rested against Bristol last week. 

The Montpellier squad, therefore, reads as follows:

Backs: J. Tomas, A. Tomas, F. Todeschini, S. Mirande, R. Lubbe, O. Smith, T. Brana, JM. Alcalde, O. Sarramea, J. Schutte

The Saints haven't been so kind as Montpellier and Jim Mallinder is, as usual, keeping his cards close to his chest.  There were no obvious casualties after last week's game, but Ben Foden seemed to suffer a slight twinge as he scored his try and might make way for the equally capable Lee Dickson.  Paul Diggin has also staked his claim for a place, scoring against Toulon and for the Wanderers in midweek so I wouldn't be surprised if Chris Ashton or Sean Lamont was given a week off, though Digger did play some 70 minutes on Monday and might be restricted to another cameo appearance.  It is unclear how serious the injury to Christian Day is, though after Courtney Lawes' performance last week he may well retain his place even if Day is ready to return. 

I really cannot offer much more than speculation when it comes to the position of fly-half.  Whether the cut sustained by James Downey last week is enough of an excuse to play someone else at 12 remains to be seen.  If so, might this be the time we get to see Spencer and Myler line up together?  After his performance against Toulon it is difficult, in normal circumstances, to see how Myler could possibly be dropped.  However, when you add in the Carlos factor the situation becomes as clear as mud!  It would be almost unthinkable, surely, for Spencer to be left out again, so it might be that Myler gets a rest this week. 

If it were up to me, and thank goodness it's not, this is the side I would pick (feel free to ridicule/comment, it's only fair):

15.  Reihana

14.  Ashton

13.  Ansbro

12.  Carlos

11.  Digger

10.  Myler

9.  Foden

1.  Tiny

2.  Dylan

3.  Murray

4.  Lobbe

5.  Lawes

6.  Hopley

7.  Gray

8.  Wilson

(Subs: Shields, Stewart, Smith, Rae, Dickson, Mayor, Everitt)

I don't expect that side to play by any means, but it's easier to name my choices than attempt to read Jim Mallinder's mind!

I'm nearly done, but there are just a few points worth mentioning.  Firstly, if you are not involved in SWH7 in any way yet you can involve yourself by sponsoring a walker or having some change ready to throw in a bucket on Saturday evening.  Speaking of Saturday evening, don't forget that that's when this game is – we're live on Sky, so kick off is at 7.45pm.

Lastly, let's give a nice warm welcome to those who travel from Montpellier.  We're always treated with great kindness when we're in France, and because Northampton can't quite match the South of France when it comes to, well, most things, let's try and outdo them on the hospitality front at least!

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