VIDEO SUMMARY. Leinster nebulizes and humiliates MHR with 13 triesRemember, last January, Montpellier conceded nearly 90 points on the Leinster lawn. A humiliating defeat of thirteen attempts that had heightened fears of the worst for the MHR’s European campaign. This Saturday, however, the Héraultais validated their ticket to the quarter-finals despite another setback against the harlequins† Indeed, of the six games played in Championship Cup this season, Philippe Saint-André’s men have only won three. Including the first round of 16, 40 to 26, against the same Quins. Some will quickly remember that one of those wins (against Leinster) was on the mat because of the Covid† The English for their part had achieved a full house in the group stage with four successes in as many matches. And this without taking advantage of a green carpet victory. Saturday’s performance in the round of the second leg of 16 was therefore not enough to qualify them, due to a very small point difference in favor of the Habs.
Montpellier took a walkover win against Leinster pic.twitter.com/OoxKZFQwk1
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†Montpellier have certainly been the better team in the last eight days, but they will make it to a European quarter-final on a two or three-game basis“, says the former Scottish coach mat williams through Rugby Pass. According to him, the English, who were among the best teams in the tournament, deserved better. A similar situation could have arisen with the Racing 92 as the French Stadium had a big game on sunday. Despite its five wins, the Ile-de-France club could have bid farewell to the Champions Cup in favor of the Parisians who had only won one group match. †There’s no competition in the world where you can see that.” Due to the health crisis, eighth rounds in the home and away games have been added to the final phase this year. Williams hopes that EPCR will not maintain this format in the future.
You cannot have a league where teams that only win one or two matches advance to the quarterfinals and eliminate teams that have won all but one of the matches during the season. This makes the season irrelevant.
For others, this round of 16 provided tough competition and tension. After the first leg, no formation was really guaranteed to see the quarters, except maybe the Rochelais Stadium† For the Telegraph, Brian Moore recalls that this format gave a second chance to the teams that were beaten in the first leg. With nothing to lose, they played in a more liberated way, like the Quins. Without this return match, Toulousedominated byUlster after Mallia’s red, would have said goodbye to his title and wouldn’t have offered us a great match on the Irish lawn with a rescue attempt by Dupont. Like Montpellier, the Stade ultimately only owes its qualification to a very small point. †The concept added a new dynamic to the tournament, including bringing to life what would otherwise have been pretty hopeless cases.‘ writes the Irish Times.
Not forgetting that this format allowed any club to play in front of their audience and fill their stadium. Where the old format saw a draw decide which team played at home. Crowds who should be pushing the EPCR to keep it. The system may not be perfect, but we still find some of the best teams in Europe in the quarters: the leaders of the URC, the premier league and Top 14namely Leinster, Leicester and Montpellier; the defending champion from Toulouse and the finalists from La Rochelle; without forgetting Racing 92, several times also finalists, and the Munster, titled twice. We are far from the last stages with a discount. “Whoever comes from this group probably deserves the title of European champion.“From now on, it’s a new competition that starts with cleavers. May the best win.
