MHR: players upset the hierarchy, others are injured, which team to face Bayonne ?

Janse Van Rensburg et Lenni Nouchi devraient être sur la feuille de match ce samedi contre Bayonne (15h). Midi Libre – SYLVIE CAMBON

The MHR welcomes Aviron Bayonnais this Saturday February 24 (3 p.m.). The Montpellier staff will have to choose between those who performed at Racing 92 and the team executives.

A difficult choice presents itself to the Montpellier staff before welcoming Bayonne. Should we trust the brilliant players who won Racing 92 last weekend (20-44) ? Or reinstate certain executives, left to rest in the capital ? The question is not that simple.

At Ciel et Blanc, the strategy put in place was clear: align punchers to meet the requirements of the synthetic turf at the Paris Défense Arena. Hence the presence of Auguste Cadot, Alex De Nardi, Lenni Nouchi, Thomas Darmon and Gabriel Ngandebe.

🎟 Venez nombreux pour le retour du TOP 14 au GGL Stadium et la réception de l'Aviron Bayonnais ce samedi 24 février à 15h00 ! .
.#TeamMHR #MHRAB 🏟️

— Montpellier Rugby (@MHR_officiel) February 19, 2024

"Patrice really likes to plan and implement precise strategies based on several parameters. We talk a lot. It's good", explains attack coach Vincent Etcheto.

Significant experience

The strategy worked for Ciel et Blanc. And the players mentioned above, less visible lately, have performed well. The temptation to reward them can be great. But the equation is more complex.

First, the staff's strategy against Bayonne will count in the choice of men. What's more, on a fatter lawn. The context too. In the fight for survival, home matches are too important for any risk to be taken. The pressure is greater than outside. The serenity and experience exuded by Jan Serfontein, Sam Simmonds, Geoffrey Doumayrou or Anthony Bouthier seem difficult to neglect.

Emulation and communication

So, in this puzzle of player choice – that coaches prefer to have rather than face a slaughter of injured -, natural selection gives a little help when deciding.

Second row Florian Verhaeghe suffered a sprained ankle and will be out for around three weeks. Auguste Cadot is currently with the French VII Development team (antechamber of the French VII team). These two are already absent for the Basques reception. Anthony Bouthier (ribs) and Geoffrey Doumayrou (adductors) are doubtful. And Paul Willemse is serving his last week of suspension. His return is hoped for against Oyonnax next weekend.

Also read: "Obviously, we don't do things like everyone else" : reactions after the MHR victory at Racing 92

However, these physical glitches do not resolve the dilemmas between Marco Tauleigne or Alexandre Bécognée, Lenni Nouchi or Clément Doumenc, Julien Tisseron or Alex De Nardi, George Bridge or Gabriel Ngandebe. "The performances of these boys reassure us in our convictions. It forces us, constantly, not to have fixed ideas about guys", Etcheto slips.

Faced with this emulation, the Montpellier staff manages. Communication becomes a basic element. "We talk to each other all the time. Little words here and there. As I had with George Bridge this (Wednesday) morning. Sometimes it's formal with interviews, sometimes not. Patrice's way of managing, with Bernard (Laporte) at his side, is pretty cool. The players appreciate it, I think", adds the former coach of Aviron Bayonnais (2015-2019). And it’s felt on the ground. Hopefully it lasts.

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