MHR: Three weeks before the start of the Top 14, the opening is still a work in progress for the Montpellier staff

Léo Coly en compagnie de Stuart Hogg et Domingo Miotti (caché) lors de l’entraînement. Midi Libre – SYLVIE CAMBON

Avec le départ de Louis Carbonel, le poste d’ouvreur est à prendre au MHR. Premiers éléments de réponse sur ce chantier en cours lors du match de préparation face à Aurillac, ce vendredi 23 août.

It was already one of the critical positions last season for Montpellier, who didn't really have a backup solution in No. 10 in case of a problem with Louis Carbonel. The departure of the former Toulon player for Stade Français at the very end of the season didn't help Montpellier's situation at fly-half.

Also deprived of the young Louis Foursans (who also left for Paris), Montpellier has therefore signed two new players to compensate for these departures. This season, the MHR will count on the Argentinian Domingo Miotti (28 years old, 9 caps) who arrived from Oyonnax and on the young Thomas Vincent (25 years old) who is coming off a full season with Agen (Pro D2).

First meeting in Aurillac

Preparation The MHR will play the first of its two preparation matches, this Friday (7 p.m.) against Aurillac (Pro D2) at the Jean-Alric stadium as part of the Louis-Fajfrowski Trophy (a meeting to be followed live on www.midilibre.fr).#Joan Caudullo's men will then leave for training in Corsica, à Bastia. They will play a second match against the English Harlequins (Thursday August 29). The Héraultais will return to the Top 14 with a meeting at home facing &agrav; Lyon, Saturday September 7 (4:30 p.m.) at the GGL Stadium.

If Puma had an honest performance in the last Top 14, Thomas Vincent will discover the elite. He only played a few bits of matches with Agen in 2019 and 2020 before the Lot-et-Garonne club was relegated. Not easy for a position with so much responsibility. Montpellier also inquired about the young Georgian international fly-half Luka Matvaka (23 years old, 22 caps), but his non-Jiff status in a squad already at full strength at this level put an end to discussions.

Under these conditions, the MHR seems even less equipped than last season. In the collective shipwreck, Louis Carbonel had managed to pull his weight, being one of the most used and most regular players in the squad but also one of the best scorers in the championship.

The staff has therefore considered several alternatives. The versatility of Léo Coly, who was also an excellent scorer when he played at Mont-de-Marsan, could be an argument. He also provided interim cover during Carbonel's absence.

Coly or Hogg as backup ?

The scrum-half could be the fallback solution in the event of the absence or injury of one of the two fly-halfs.

The staff also reportedly wondered about the possibility of using full-back Stuart Hogg in this position to help out. But the Scot's injury (calf injury and out for at least six weeks) has put this option on hold.

Especially since the MHR is also lacking at the back with the injury of Anthony Bouthier, who is not expected to return before 2025, while the New Zealander Joshua Moorby is not expected to arrive until the end of October.

The first preparation match, this Friday against Aurillac, should therefore give some indications on the hierarchy of fly-halfs this season.

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