Montpellier 5-30 Bath
IF MONTPELLIER VS Bath is a sign of things to come in this weekend’s Champions Cup action then we are better off at home snuggled under at least two duvets with a hot chocolate.
Bath triumphed 30-5 at the Altrad Stadium in a game that was played in such a downpour, you could be forgiven for putting up your umbrella on the couch.
Obviously it looks like a great result for the visitors – and it was – but Mike Ford’s men will lament the fact that despite having three tries and 30 points scored after 50 minutes, they couldn’t get the bonus point that would have really reignited their qualification chances.
And what on earth has happened to Montpellier? They came into the season with such promise but they have been downright awful in Europe and it is no surprise that coach Fabien Galthie is coming under pressure.
Rene wasn’t rearrangering people in midfield, Wynand Olivier was quiet and after a bit of arm wrestling in the first 20 minutes, Bath took over.
Bath were 6-0 up after 25 minutes when Peter Stringer was introduced for the injured Chris Cook. And that was when the game exploded.
Stringer was lighting quick to each ruck and his industrious running from breakdown to breakdown infused a bit of woshkabomy into his team-mates – they scored 17 points before half time after his arrival, with a penalty try and another score from Henry Thomas.
The penalty try came due to Bath’s increasing dominance in the scrum but also because Montpellier had two forwards, Antoine Battut and Thibaut Privat, in the bin.
Leroy Houston scored Bath’s third try early in the second half but a slightly – repeat: slightly – greater effort from Montpellier frustrated the visitors and the home side scored a late consolation try through back row Alex Tulou.
Even the introduction of Slammin’ Sam Burgess couldn’t get that all-important fourth Bath try but it was still a clinical and powerful performance from the travelling side.
