Challenge Cup, MHR – Lions: Jan Serfontein captain against the South Africans, Chalureau and Garbisi back

Jan Serfontein titulaire et capitaine du Montpellier Hérault Rugby contre les Lions de Johannesburg. Midi Libre – JEAN MICHEL MART

Le staff montpelliérain a dévoilé son équipe qui affrontera les Lions de Johannesburg pour la 3e journée de Challenge Cup, ce samedi 12 janvier.

L'équipe

MONTPELLIER : Tisseron – Bridge, Doumayrou, Serfontein (c), Dakuwaqa – (o) Garbisi, (m) Reinach – Doumenc, Perrin, Van Rensburg – Chalureau, Duguid – Macharashvili, Karkadze, Fichten.

Substitutes : Paenga-Amosa, Forletta, Thomas, Willemse, Foguet, Foursans, Cadot, Darmon.

A bit like mid-December and the first two Challenge matches, Patrice Collazo and his staff field a hybrid but very competitive team. Grégory Fichten and Bastien Chalureau, lacking playing time in the last two weeks, are back as starters. George Bridge, injured in the knee during the warm-up against Castres on December 23, is fit and will start the match.

Facing their compatriots, Cobus Reinach, Janse Van Rensburg and Jan Serfontein are lined up from the start. The latter is also a captain.

Two hopes on the sheet

It will also be a first at home, in Challenge, for the two hopefuls: Maël Perrin (1.91m, 118 kg) and Cantin Foguet (1.92m, 101 kg). The first will start at number eight. The second, on the bench at Newcastle (24-19), will be a substitute.

Note that All Black pillar Karl Tu'inukuafe will have neck surgery in the coming days, the club announced this Friday, January 12.