Montpellier have to learn quickly from Saints loss
JAKE White admits it is “do or die” for his Montpellier side today as they host Leinster in the south of France.
Winning the Challenge Cup last season ensured their place at Europe’s top table but their hopes could be kicked into touch only two games in if they fail to beat an Irish side who saw off Castres last weekend.
Montpellier led 14-13 at Northampton as the clock ticked past the 80-minute mark but they conceded a late penalty and fly-half Stephen Myler stepped up to land the match-winner for Saints.
Now, with their backs against the wall, White hopes his men have learnt from their mistakes.
“I hope the players learn from this experience and bounce back against Leinster,” he said.
“It is a do-or-die game for us. That’s no secret – we’re not under any false illusions about how tough it’s going to be.
“We are really looking forward to playing Northampton in the last round. We are really looking forward to it, and I mean that. The players are desperate to face them again and that’s a good sign.
“That game just shows how fine the margins are in professional sport. We had two chances at the end to win it but we’ve ended up losing the game.
“We gave two penalties away in the last 90 seconds which wasn’t good, but we get to play them again. Last year we lost our first game to Harlequins and went on to win the competition. Stranger things have happened in sport.”
Frans Steyn and Alexandre Dumoulin move in to start at fly-half and inside centre as Vincent Martin gets the nod at outside centre and Ben Botica drops to the bench.
Montpellier will be captained by the evergreen Akapusi Qera who starts in the back row alongside Fulgence Ouedraogo and Pierre Spies. Their main targets will be the Lions pair of Jonny Sexton and Sean O’Brien who have both been passed fit to start.
Fly-half Sexton missed last week’s game against Castres with a hamstring strain while flanker O’Brien made his longawaited return from injury after eight months out playing for their A-side in the British & Irish Cup.
They are two of the five changes made by head coach Leo Cullen. Mike McCarthy had been named at lock but withdrew through illness and has been replaced by Mick Kearney, while Cian Healy, James Tracy and Mike Ross all come into the front row.
Cullen said of O’Brien: “It’s always a difficult one trying to reintegrate a guy who has been out, coming off surgery and coming back in
“We’ve been very cautious in the way we’ve reintroduced him. It will be a big ask stepping into a physical environment. Montpellier are a big strong team but Seanie is a big strong guy so hopefully he’ll go well.”