MONTPELLIER SCORED A converted try in the dying seconds to win 30-29 away to reigning champions Clermont on Sunday and retake first place in the Top 14.
Montpellier picked up three points to move a point ahead of La Rochelle and Racing 92, who both won on Saturday.
The defeat leaves Clermont 10th in the table after 16 rounds, 11 points away from the playoff places.
It was only Montpellier’s third victory in eight away games in the league.
With Kiwi coach Vern Cotter making his first return to Clermont, the club he led to their first French title in 2010, Montpellier won by a single point right at the death when Nemani Nadolo scored a 79th-minute try which Ruan Pienaar converted.
The two heavyweights delivered a duel of great intensity as they traded blows and scores.
Montpellier lock Louis Picamoles, dropped by France for the Six Nations, scored two tries in the first 20 minutes, separated by a home try scored by another lock, Paul Jedrasiak.
When Clermont centre Mali Hingano scored a try with 16 minutes left and Greig Laidlaw converted to take his tally to 19 points, the home team led by six.
But giant Fijian winger Nadolo crossed to give Pienaar, who kicked 15 points, the last word.
The only worry for Montpellier was seeing All Blacks fly-half Aaron Cruden suffer another setback in his injury-plagued Top 14 career when he was forced off with a knee problem after just 24 minutes of the game.
Cruden, 29, who only signed last summer, had already been sidelined by a right knee injury throughout December.
Struggling Stade Francais suffered a 40-5 thrashing at home to Pau in Greg Cooper’s final game in charge of the capital club.
It was announced earlier this month that Cooper would return to New Zealand for personal reasons, the former All Black subsequently citing his daughter’s ill health.
“Mentally, we were not there,” said Stade skipper Sergio Parisse. “It’s our responsibility. We do not look for an excuse.”
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
“One played in Rome yesterday” – ah c’mon Gary , surely you can poke the bear a bit harder than that
@Paul Burke: the Scotland players coming back is one thing but getting Murphy is a godsend for Glasgow.
You have to admire the strength and dept of Leinster .
Given the amount playing for Ireland yesterday to still be able to field that team is astonishing
Can’t think of any other club side with that playing pool .
Credit where credit is due.
So much for non-biased journalism! Should be writing for the Mirror!
Last paragraph is wrong (saying Leinster got try BPs in 11 or of 12 games). They got a try BP in the game lost to Connacht too. So 12 out of 12. Pretty impressive really.
@gpq: * ‘out of’
@gpq: munster stopped them from getting 4 tries
@Scott Crossfield: that’s another accolade to add to the trophy cabinet so
@Scott Crossfield: Yeah. You’re right. Was half asleep when I wrote that. Wasn’t thinking. That’ll teach me to try to be smart. 11 out of 12, then. Still pretty impressive though. And today 12 out of 13.
Next week will be tougher though. Most of the 1st team on national duty, only Henderson & Burns from Ulster, unless I’m mistaken again. And now H. Byrne & Frawley injured. Might not even win!!
Does anyone actually think this Rainbow Cup is actually going to go ahead? It’s going to be called off and we’ll have the same playoffs as every other year.