By the editorial staff
Published 10 minutes ago, Updated now
Mohed Altrad and Bernard Laporte, president and director of rugby of the MHR. PASCAL GUYOT / AFP
Montpellier, bottom of the Top 14, dominated Toulon this Sunday (27-17) and is now only three points behind 13th, Lyon.
Montpellier regained hope of remaining in the Top 14 by logically winning (27-17) in front of the solid Toulon team, slowed down in its good momentum, Sunday at the GGL Stadium at the end of the 12th day. Under the effect of a third success at home, the red lantern returns to four or five points from a trio of candidates to maintain, Lyon, barrier, Oyonnax, the promoted, and Perpignan. At the end of this victory, Bernard Laporte, the rugby director of the Hérault club, spoke at the microphone of Canal +, he had a little word about the RCT, with whom he won three Champions Cups between 2013 and 2015, as well as a Brennus in 2014. “I don’t like seeing Toulon lose, ever, and it will stay like that forever”he confided.
Before returning to the chaotic course of the MHR which is launched in the race for maintenance. “We found a state of mind. It’s happening there! Team spirit is essential in rugby, the desire to give everything for others. It’s this solidarity and this commitment. It’s necessary, insisted the former president of the FFR. We talk about the game but the game is dependent on physical domination. Today, I am delighted with the performance of our team. Congratulations to the staff for this week of training.”
The priority when he arrived at the bedside of a drifting MHR was to restore smiles and confidence to a group in full doubt. “When we arrived, we felt that the boat was capsizing, with wild eyes, we saw the players lost without team spirit. We had to find confidence and laugh. We argue a lot, but we have to laugh and smile too. You don’t have pressure when you play rugby. It’s the day we stop playing rugby that we’ll get depressed, that’s for sure. Because living with friends, moving around with friends, having projects with friends, it’s the most beautiful thing in life. The day you no longer have that, it’s depression. Ask the elders!”
“Seeing them like that, dynamic, euphoric and happy, it makes me happy and that’s already a good thing”
But the former coach of the XV of France (2000-2007) confides his enthusiasm for this unprecedented challenge, he who has always been used to playing the leading roles. “I love challenges, I love talking to players, I love working with the staff and watching training. Rugby is my life, advance Bernard Laporte. It’s difficult, I knew that before coming. But we will give everything. We are not world champions because we are last. But to see them like that, dynamic, euphoric and happy, it makes me happy and that’s already a good thing.” After two matches in the Challenge Cup (against the South African Lions and the Italians of Treviso), the MHR will host the Section Paloise in the Top 14 and will then have to deal with two risky trips to La Rochelle and Racing 92.
