Heineken Cup 2013/14 Pool 5, Round 4 (Benetton v Ulster Montpellier v Leicester)

[Draggs]

Pool Five, Round Four

 

[Big Ewis]

oh boy, MP LEIC should be an absolute cracker ! Both with fantastic backs, and Montpellier will be playing with a sense of urgency we may have not seen so far this year...whatever happened to that fantastic early form of theirs...must win for Galthié's men, and Leicester won't come to fart around either...
Perhaps the match of the weekend, especially in light of last week's sheer spectacle.

 

[gaston le gaff]

Pride is going to be the main affair on Sun, we are out of it now, but need to win to turn the losing streak around before Toulon away the following week. The boys looked good yesterday in training and are waiting for a second chance at Leicester, mind you they will not be coming to spend a Jolly in the South of France. There will be a few changes from last week as 4 players will be absent on hoiday, and one or two will be rested, but the team will still be good enough for a win. Looking forward to anther great MHR v Tigers fest!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tony Manx]

Not sure you missed something at the end of your post?

That is good to hear as last week's was one of the more entertainig games, if frustrating at times!

 

[gaston le gaff]

Not sure you missed something at the end of your post?

That is good to hear as last week's was one of the more entertainig games, if frustrating at times!

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[Big Ewis]

Trinh-Duc looked very good last week at times, and then crappy in stretches. He's really, really one of the last French Flair guys, typically embodies it.
If MP can get a more constant effort from him, with surely Pélissié turning up as he did last time against the Tigers - Leicester most probably won't get as brilliant a start this time around and just break MP's head open with a stunning 3 tries in a row, and the latter won't have to chase after the score the whole match - I see Montpellier taking this.
They can definitely hold up in the scrum, despite no Nicolas Mas. They've got the pack in general to assert themselves up front. And they've got some very capable backs themselves.

I think the key here is good rhythm to start it off, and then things will come in naturally and they'll play their game, but they've got to set the tone in this one.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Montpellier
15. Pierre Berard; 14. Lucas Dupont, 13. Anthony Tuitavke, 12. Wynand Olivier, 11. Yohann Artru; 10. Enzo Selponi, 9. Benoit Paillaugue; 1. Yvan Watremez, 2. Mickael Ivaldi, 3. Nicolas Mas, 4. Robins Tchale Watchou, 5. Thibaut Privat, 6. Alexandre Bias, 7. Mamuka Gorgodze (c), 8. Alex Tulou
16. Thomas Bianchin, 17. Na'ama Leleimalefaga, 18. Paea Fa'anunu, 19. Johnnie Beattie, 20. Mickael Demarco, 21. Eric Escande, 22. Thomas Combezou 23. Anthony Floch,

Leicester Tigers (v Montpellier, away)
15 Scott Hamilton
14 Niall Morris
13 Vereniki Goneva
12 Dan Bowden
11 Miles Benjamin
10 Toby Flood (c)
9 Ben Youngs
1 Marcos Ayerza
2 Tom Youngs
3 Dan Cole
4 Louis Deacon
5 Graham Kitchener
6 Jamie Gibson
7 Julian Salvi
8 Thomas Waldrom

Replacements
16 Neil Briggs
17 Boris Stankovich
18 Fraser Balmain
19 Ed Slater
20 Jordan Crane
21 David Mélé
22 Matt Smith
23 Ryan Lamb

Montpellier got an eye on next week, interesting to see if the youngster will come out trying to get into next weeks squad.

Tigers should win this and try and get a TBP IMO.

 

[Tony Manx]

Sorry, Montpellier will try hard with their youngsters but Leicester are beginning to turn it on and think they will win!

 

[Big Ewis]

Sorry, Montpellier will try hard with their youngsters but Leicester are beginning to turn it on and think they will win!

ghhaa, buh...ehh, ju...DON'T SAY THAT !!

P.S.: yeah, forget everything I said before. Montpellier are playing Mas as a starter, but no Pélissie or TD..among other absentees. K, wtf...
Leicester by 50.

 

[gaston le gaff]

ghhaa, buh...ehh, ju...DON'T SAY THAT !!

P.S.: yeah, forget everything I said before. Montpellier are playing Mas as a starter, but no Pélissie or TD..among other absentees. K, wtf...
Leicester by 50.

Maybe you will have to eat that silly Xmas Hat you have put on Louis,Yoe.... Lots of young talent a lots of savour faire and the 50 pts you know where you can put them, but as its Christmas and good will to all men and the Yoe's i will only let you imagine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Tony Manx]

Maybe you will have to eat that silly Xmas Hat

Now that is something I will watch!!

 

[Big Ewis]

Maybe you will have to eat that silly Xmas Hat you have put on Louis,Yoe.... Lots of young talent a lots of savour faire and the 50 pts you know where you can put them, but as its Christmas and good will to all men and the Yoe's i will only let you imagine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

that's CHRISTmas, thank you very much. And I'm not very hungry atm, plus I wouldn't want to mess with Louis's preferences...
but some Top 14 teams just aren't made for "exotic" matchups I suppose, and though MP have shown quite some resolve and ability, they've also possibly aligned with Castres as a strong Top 14 side that just can't get it done in an H Cup ? I dunno, may be talking too soon...but the choice of a roster is one that doesn't inspire me much..

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

Ulster get the bonus point, 35-3

 

[Tony Manx]

Hard to see past Leicester taking the bonus point from MHR here...............but Allez Montpellier!!

Just hope we have a match half as good as the Leinster Saints one yesterday...............the match of the season for me!!

 

[Peat]

Allez Montpellier!

 

[Tony Manx]

Imagine what the Racing under Labit and Travers would have been able to achieve against Quins if they had the spirit, determination and unity of the Montpellier seconds under Galthie!!

They are holding their own against Leicester and seem to be edging ahead slightly if not on the scoreboard!!

 

[Big Ewis]

Boy, Tigers didn't look like they were 14 men there ! Well actually they did...teams often seem to play way more aggressively and efficiently, just more focused when they're down a guy, the obvious psychological repercussion..

Anyways: MP have lost wayyyyy too many balls, Tigers were absolutely dominant in the rucks. MP have got to play those rucks with more vigor, and fine-tune their attack just a little bit.
Entertaining first half for a nil all.

Lookin forward to the next 40, and the tries will come eventually, someone needs to crack the other open and isssss onnnn.

 

[UlsterRugby2012]

Looks like Leicester should take it, but I seriously hope Montpellier can pull something out of the bag here..

 

[Tony Manx]

I am not so sure as yet...............they certainly will not get more than the win though that is for sure........I think!!!

 

[Mrs. Peter Quinn]

Leicester completely butchered that from some poor passing...not acceptable at this level really. 0-0 still