Ice-cool Myler hands Saints last-gasp win
IF this was a snapshot of how life would have been under Jake White, England supporters can count themselves lucky that Eddie Jones got the job 12 months ago.
On a dark night at Franklin’s Gardens, Montpellier delivered a Dark Ages display but returned home with just a losing bonus point as Stephen Myler snatched victory with the final kick of the game.
The expression ‘joué, joué’ did not feature in the French playbook, with the Top 14 heavyweights failing in their efforts to batter their hosts into submission.
It was like an invasion of walking wardrobes, White’s side using brawn over brain to make an early statement in the Pool 4 opener.
Stacked with heavyweight Georgians and South Africans, the visitors backed themselves to win an arm wrestle and consistently looked to attack around the fringes.
But they were playing catch-up after four minutes. Harry Mallinder freed his arms in the tackle to find Louis Picamoles, who subsequently offloaded to Calum Clark. It was the No 7s first try almost two years, having endured 11 months of shoulder rehabilitation, which included two visits to coach youngsters in Sierra Leone.
Francois Steyn did little to improve Montpellier’s image, shouting ‘miss!’ as Myler lined up the conversion, but the Saints No 10 had a successful re-take.
World Cup final referee Nigel Owens then deemed the first French attack to be held up, but the slabs of imported meat continued to attack with their driving maul.
Myler extended the lead to 10 points after Jacques du Plessis flipped Tom Wood, but the Top 14 side dominated first-half territory and possession.
The heavy rain favoured White’s forward-orientated style of play and No 10 Ben Botica narrowed the deficit with a penalty.
Having butchered an earlier overlap, the French eventually scored through Steyn, who finished a move started by Nemani Nadolo, the 6ft 4in, 20st 7lb Fiji wing.
Picamoles, who played for Montpellier between 2004 and 2009, charged into the visitors’ half soon after the break. The Saints marched forward and Myler kicked three points to edge towards a first victory over Top 14 opposition for six games. Northampton struggled to find a way through and, missing England lock, Courtney Lawes, who withdrew before kick-off, were counter-punched by a Steyn penalty.
Moments later, the 53cap Springbok missed a penalty to give his side the lead but, in the 66th minute, found his range and Northampton trailed for the first time.
Mallinder missed a long-range shot with 60 seconds left but Montpellier failed to clear and with the clock on red, Owens awarded Saints another penalty. Myler kept his nerve from 35 metres to set the Saints on a forward march to Castres next Sunday.