The LOU ends the year 2023 with a success against Montpellier (20-18), this Saturday, at Gerland for the 11th day of Top 14. An important success for the race to maintain.
We had to end the year on a high note. It’s a half done thing…
For the 11th day of TOP 14, Fabien Gengenbacher’s players, without shining, won 20 to 18, Saturday December 30, against Montpellier.
However, a very important success for the race to maintain it. In the ranking, LOU is in 11th place with 20 points (tied with Oyonnax).
LOU Rugby will return on Saturday January 6, 2024 for a trip to Stade Toulousain for the 12th day of the championship.
The LOU well on board, Montpellier back before the break
It was under a bright sun in the blue sky of Gerland that the match began with the commitment made by the LOU Rugby players. The first minutes were marked by aggression on both sides.
It was in the 6th minute that hostilities began among the Lyon players.
The opening score was possible thanks to a successful penalty by Paddy Jackson. The Irish player recorded a record of 110 points scored since his arrival at LOU Rugby. A 3-point lead after ten minutes of play (3-0) for Lyon.
Arriving at the quarter-hour mark, Montpellier was punished by the referee. Number 3 Harry Williams received the yellow card and had to leave his partners for 10 minutes. An advantage for LOU Rugby which jumped at the opportunity.
In the process, a collective try was scored by Fabien Gengenbacher’s players. The transformation being automatic in these cases, the score was therefore 10-0.
Note that during this action, another Montpellier player, Lenni Nouchi, was also sanctioned with a 10-minute expulsion. Leaving the Hérault players 13 against 15 less for a certain time. Which did not prevent them from having a response.
It was Louis Carbonel who opened the scoring for Montpellier after 20 minutes of play (10-3). But in the minute that followed, the LOU put a diaper back on it.
Full-back Davit Niniashvili (21′) completed a try without much difficulty after a great collective action sliding laterally towards the opposing line. Paddy Jackson did not tremble to transform: 17-3.
In search of a response, Montpellier managed to reduce the gap in the score thanks to its first try in the 27th minute by Vano Karkadze, but without successfully converting. 17-8 on the scoreboard after 30 minutes in the match. It was in the 28th minute that the two teams found themselves again at 15 against 15.
Five minutes before the break, Montpellier continued to come back with a second try by their number ten Louis Carbonel. This time, the transformation was complete: 17 to 15 for LOU Rugby who saw the Montpellier opponent closer and closer in the retro.
It was on this tight score of 17 to 15 that the break was whistled. The suspense then remained total for the rest of the meeting.
Back in front, the LOU secured its meager advantage
In the same state of mind as at the end of the first period, it was Montpellier who showed themselves to be the most enterprising when the restart came.
A penalty from Louis Cardonel (45′), again, allowed the visiting team to take the lead for the first time in the match: 17 to 18 for Montpellier against Lyon four minutes after the restart which went in front for the first time in the match.
In order not to lose the thread of the match, Fabien Gengenbacher chose to opt for a double change with the entries of Hamza Kaabeche and Valentin Simutoga. LOU Rugby found itself on the edge of the precipice at that point in the match…
But hope returned thanks to another successful penalty from Paddy Jackson (52′). A decisive penalty in the match.
By two points again, LOU Rugby regained the lead by a thread: 20-18.
A third change was made on the hour mark by Fabien Gengenbacher: Ugo Vignolles took the place of Marvin Saint Gys Okuya as the pace of the match began to decrease.
In a slow period of the match in terms of intensity, the LOU Rugby players, who were holding on, continued to take turns including a triple change in the 65th minute: Kyle Godwin was replaced by Thibaud Regard. Xavier Mignot left his place to Taakir Abrahams and Pierre Pacheco took a breather to let Alban Roussel replace him.
There were only ten minutes left for the LOU which still remained in front with 7 units in advance. To be sure to consolidate everything, Fabien Gengenbahcer chose to bring Demba Bamba back onto the pitch in place of Valentin Simuatoga (71′).
The last five minutes of the match, almost unbreathable, were marked by a standoff between players from LOU Rugby and Montpellier. With wear and tear, it was ultimately the LOU that stood out without really shining. But ensuring at least the essentials to conclude 2023 on a good note.
Montpellier’s last missed chance
The last action of the match: a missed drop from Montpellier for a sigh of relief from the 15,570 spectators and majority supporters of LOU Rugby.
2023-12-30 21:14:04
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