Top 14: the MHR welcomes a Stade Français significantly resembling the Montpellier of 2022

Cobus Reinach et les Montpelliérains accueillent des Parisiens dans des conditions climatiques a priori compliquées. Midi Libre – GIACOMO ITALIANO

Le MHR reçoit le leader du Top 14, le Stade Français, ce samedi 30 mars, en ouverture de la 20e journée de Top 14.

If he rummages through his souvenir cabinet, the MHR risks coming across a few nostalgic objects. Starting with the most prestigious, its 2022 mirror, with the gold-stamped contours of the Shield of Brennus. A fine layer of dust has accumulated on the ice. A polish is necessary. Except that when contemplating itself, Montpellier risks seeing its double: the Stade Français.

Also read: "Right now, it’s Koh Lanta" : the MHR engaged in its fight to remain in the Top 14

The Parisians arrive at the GGL Stadium this Saturday with all the attributes that had made Hérault glory two years earlier. "It’is effective, it wins and they are first", summarizes center Arthur Vincent. And like the MHR At the time, no one talked about it. Quietly, in their corner, the men in pink advance and prance at the top of the ranking.

"What they offer isn’extravagant, it doesn’t work in all directions. But they have mastered the basics thoroughly. This is what gives you the means to win. That’s rugby. It’s the whole collective that is strong. And some individuals are doing well in the game", assures Paul Willemse. Like the back Léo Barré (21 years old), recently called up with the French team during the 6 Nations Tournament , from the English captain Jérémy Ward or the inexhaustible Rory Kockott.

"Everything is clear"

The Montpellier second line recognizes this parallel between the current season of the capital's players and that experienced by the Montpellier residents in 2022. "The touches, the scrums, the launches, the game plan… Everything is clear. Everyone knows their mission. It’s simple and it works. Like us, two years ago."

Stade Français is gradually regaining its letters of nobility, those which promoted it to the top of the Top 14 in the 2000s or in 2015. The contribution of the duo Karim Ghezal – Laurent Labit, right and left arm of Fabien Galthié with the XV of France between 2020 and 2023, is not insignificant. The first is head coach. The second is director of rugby. Even though there was some turmoil in the locker room in the middle of the season, the mayonnaise took hold.

Also read: The pillar Baptiste Erdocio, Basque force of the Montpellier pack before facing the Parisian leader

The MHR faced with this ? A shadow of itself for a year and a half, it found a semblance of life when it came time to play for its survival. The dose of antidepressants injected as an infusion at the end of November had its effect in getting out of the doldrums, to the point of getting out of the last two places. But the balance remains fragile. The Toulouse slap (54-7) last weekend brought back some headaches. A victory against the leader would take away part of it. It would not be enough to regain the silhouette of two years ago, when contemplating oneself in front of the 2024 mirror. But it would be one more step so that the object does not end up in the garbage bin. objects to forget.

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