Bokpellier? French club follows Springboks’ lead with World Cup tactic
Springboks Kwagga smith and RG Snyman after the Rugby World Cup Final and screenshot of Montpellier's teamsheet.
French club Montpellier are following the Rugby World Cup-winning Springboks tactic this weekend in the Top 14.
While eyes may be glued to the Six Nations, the domestic French league, the Top 14, is still in action with a full round of fixtures.
Saturday’s clash sees Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle side host the basement dwellers Montpellier.
7-1 split
Looking to get their season back on track, Montpellier are desperate for a victory on the road, having lost all six of their away games this season.
Patrice Collazo, who took over as head coach following Richard Cockerill’s sacking, has backed the Springboks tactic of selecting seven forwards and one backline player on his bench for the crunch fixture.
With La Rochelle missing many of their star players, who linked up with the French national team, Montpellier have the opportunity to pounce and secure an otherwise unlikely win.
In an attempt to do just that, Collazo has backed South Africa‘s risky tactic in the pre-World Cup fixture against New Zealand. He did the same in the pool stage loss to Ireland and the victory over the All Blacks in the final.
Montpellier have several top players at their disposal in the starting line-up with French internationals Anthony Bouthier (full-back) and Arthur Vincent (right wing) in the back three with left wing Julien Tisseron.
In form centre, Jan Serfontein starts alongside Geoffrey Doumayrou, with Leo Coly and Louis Carbonel as the starting half-backs.
Marco Tauleigne, Alexandre Becognee and Yacouba Camara make up the back-row while Bastien Chalureau and Florian Verhaeghe packing down as the starting locks. Loosehead prop Enzo Forletta and tighthead Titi Lamositele flank Wallabies hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa.
Wasn't expecting Montpellier to follow South Africa's lead with a 7-1 bench
Although, I guess if you've got Cobus Reinach, why not!
Might also get to see what Sam Simmonds can do in the three-quarters pic.twitter.com/ONAaMuPHF8
— Paul Eddison (@pauleddison) February 2, 2024
Springboks scrum-half Cobus Reinach is the sole backline player on the bench for Montpellier, as he was for South Africa in their record win over New Zealand at Twickenham.
Reinach is joined by forwards Baptiste Erdocio, Gregory Fichten, Tyler Duguid, Clement Doumenc, Nico Janse van Rensburg, Sam Simmonds and Luka Japaridze.
La Rochelle v Montpellier
La Rochelle: 15 Brice Dulin, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Jack Nowell, 12 Ihaia West, 11 Dillyn Leyds, 10 Antoine Hastoy, 9 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 8 Yoan Tanga, 7 Levani Botia, 6 Judicael Cancoriet (c), 5 Will Skelton, 4 Thomas Lavault, 3 Aleksandre Kuntelia, 2 Tolu Latu, 1 Louis Penverne
Replacements: 16 Quentin Lespiaucq, 17 Alexandre Kaddouri, 18 Remi Picquette, 19 Matthias Haddad, 20 Thomas Berjon, 21 Hugo Reus, 22 Simeli Daunivucu, 23 Georges-Henri Colombe
Montpellier: 15 Anthony Bouthier, 14 Arthur Vincent, 13 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 12 Jan Serfontein, 11 Julien Tisseron, 10 Louis Carbonel, 9 Leo Coly, 8 Marco Tauleigne, 7 Alexandre Becognee, 6 Yacouba Camara, 5 Bastien Chalureau, 4 Florian Verhaeghe, 3 Titi Lamositele, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Enzo Forletta
Replacements: 16 Baptiste Erdocio, 17 Gregory Fichten, 18 Tyler Duguid, 19 Clement Doumenc, 20 Nico Janse van Rensburg, 21 Sam Simmonds, 22 Cobus Reinach, 23 Luka Japaridze
Date: Saturday, February 3
Venue: Stade Marcel-Deflandre
Kick-off: 16:00 GMT
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