Montpellier close gap at the top with 50-point pasting of Racing
“We were well aware the Racing players did not want to have this game postponed. The club simply wanted it put off because it suited them” - Antoine Battut
It was the postponed match that was given the go-ahead only by one of the highest courts in the land, an historic game that risked destroying the fairness of the Top 14. And in the end, much to the relief of many, Montpellier beat champions Racing 54-3 to snatch second place in the table from Clermont.
With eight tries to their names against a humbled Racing who could do no more than scrape a solitary penalty from Dan Carter.
Not just another result, this one. No, revenge was in the air and the hostile banners hoisted by home fans in the stands told you this from the start.
They called for the resignation of League president Paul Goze for calling off the original fixture five weeks ago in the wake of Racing’s botched merger with Stade Francais.
They accused him, too, of favouring Racing chief Jackie Lorenzetti, his former employee in an estate agency business, with his verdict.
For make no mistake, Montpellier had been ready to play. Racing, reeling from two bad defeats, were not.
And, to add to the confusion, Goze claimed the Racing players were ready to go on strike if the match had gone ahead as scheduled.
It was an argument that had some influence on the court that imposed the replay against the wishes of Federation president Bernard Laporte.
One, though, which was totally refuted by Henry Chavancy, a Racing star who asserted none of his clubmates had even contemplated strike action.
No matter now. For Montpellier have won on the field the five points that Laporte wanted to award them. And the only benefit that Racing received was to keep the two points Laporte wished to deduct from their total for not honouring the original fixture.
That still leaves Racing in sixth place, the last spot they require to qualify for the play-offs in defence of the title they won last season.
Just one position above Stade Francais whom they must visit in the penultimate game of the regular season next weekend.
How piquant it is that Stade, who were to be swallowed up in the merger with Racing, now have the chance to replace them at the sharp end of the season.
Not a problem, of course, for Montpellier, whose president Mohed Altrad, disappointed by his failure to buy into Gloucester, is still seeking damages from the League for their handling of the situation with Racing.
He did not have long to wait to see his powerful team surge into genuine contention for a guaranteed place in the Top 14 semi-finals.
Three tries in the opening 17 minutes were enough to assure him of that, his mighty forwards making mincemeat of any opposition.
It was mountainous Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo who started the rout with French international No.8 Kelian Galletier driving through behind his pack for the second.
South African hooker Bismarck du Plessis had to leave the field early with blood streaming down his face, but was soon back to carry the ball over the line for the third try.
Imagine then the feelings of Montpellier flanker Antoine Battut, the former Racing star who had some hard words for his old club.
He said: “We were well aware the Racing players did not want to go on strike to have this game postponed. The club simply wanted to have it put off because it suited them.
“We really need to give another image of French rugby and that should start with those in charge and certain presidents.”
If that message required rubberstamping, Montpellier emerged for the second half ready to do just that.
Sean Robinson, Racing’s South African full-back, was soon yellowcarded for a deliberate knock-on with a penalty try to follow. Fly-half Willie du Plessis, who converted seven tries, grabbed two of them for himself within three minutes of each other.
His South African compatriot Pierre Spies, a substitute flanker, added another and Fijian winger Timoci Nagusa struck the final blow on the stroke of full-time.
A condition of the match being replayed was that Racing’s French internationals, unavailable for that reason on the original date, would not be fielded.
In the event, they had to start with France hooker Camille Chat because injuries had left them short in that department. It made not the slightest difference.
It could be that Montpellier need to beat Bordeaux-Begles at home in the last match of the regular season to beat Clermont to that semi-final spot which runaway leaders La Rochelle already have.
In that case, the match could feature the last involvement for Bordeaux of former England international Joe Worsley, their defensive coach. Raphael Ibanez, who hired him for Bordeaux, will not be in charge next season. And the word is Worsley’s time is counted, too.
Tom Palmer, another ex-England international who joined Bordeaux as a medical replacement and started coaching the team in March, has also been told he will have to go.