Harlequins and Montpellier lock horns in Lyon on Friday night to decide who will be crowned European Rugby Challenge Cup champions. For Harlequins, it will make or break their season; after a disappointing end to their league campaign, a win here will see them enter the Champions Cup. Lose, and they will be fighting for the same bit of silverware next year.
HARLEQUINS
The aforementioned disappointing end to the league season saw them ship over 60 points and 10 tries at home to Exeter – a frankly embarrassing way for Conor O’Shea’s last home game to play out. They simply weren’t at the races, perhaps with one eye on this weekend.
If that’s the case, a huge reaction is needed to send the Irishman off with another piece of silverware – no less than he deserves for his huge contributions to the club.
Intriguingly, there’s no place for England prospect Jack Clifford across the back-row, as Robshaw, Wallace and Easter are named in the XV. George Lowe partners Jamie Roberts in the centres, while Scottish international and arch-finisher Tim Visser is named in a lethal back three with Marland Yarde and Mike Brown.
There is more experience throughout the core of the side, with Nick Evans and Danny Care pairing at half-back, and James Horwill slotting into the engine room behind a front row in which the solidity of Adam Jones and Joe Gray is preferred to the erratic brilliance of Dave Ward and Kyle Sinckler. Expect an impact off the bench from both.
MONTPELLIER
Jake White’s side have been enjoying something of a resurgence in the latter half of the season – before last weekend’s reverse to La Rochelle, in which they fielded a weakened side, they had won eight games on the bounce in the Top 14 (some of them were even away from home!). That eight game run included a whopping 53 point win over Champions Cup finalists Racing.
So, this Montpellier side mean business. Even in a league as diverse as the Top 14, they could be called the globetrotters. There are just three Frenchman – one adopted, Marvin O’Connor – in the starting XV, while shirt numbers two, three and four will be occupied by men called du Plessis. Two of those are front row brothers Bismarck and Jannie.
In the backline Nic White’s sniping will keep the Quins fringe defence honest, while in Demetri Catrakilis and Frans Steyn they have kicking options aplenty in the three quarters. Further wide, there is plenty of danger in the likes of Timoci Nagusa and Anthony Tuitavake, with Jesse Mogg to come from the bench. In short, depth is the buzzword for this squad.
Head to head battle: Jamie Roberts vs Frans Steyn
It’s a heavyweight battle between doctor Roberts and Frans Steyn in the inside centre channel. Both are big men, but with different strengths. Quins’ Welshman will hit hard, aggressive lines back against the grain and look for a weak shoulder to bust through the defensive line. While Steyn is capable of that too, his distribution and tactical kicking are also excellent, so expect him to put some width on it more often.
PREDICTION
Harlequins probably wouldn’t have minded losing to Exeter last weekend, had the final scoreline not been quite so morale-sapping. Mentally, they have a huge task to bounce back. It is a strong line-up that they name, with plenty of international experience, but can they put that pummelling to the back of their minds?
It is hard to find a weakness in the Montpellier side. They have grunt in the front five, mobility and power in the back-row, control from the halfbacks and flyers out wide. On top of that, they are in pretty decent nick after that run of eight wins that came to an end a short while ago.
The one thing going in Harlequins’ favour is, strangely, desperation – they need a win to make the Champions Cup next year, whereas Montpellier should wrap that up through the Top 14. Will that be enough? Looking at the depth of the Montpellier squad, you wouldn’t put any money on it. Montpellier by 6.
By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
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I reckon Montpellier by 9+.
This Quins side are OK, but have been tactically inept since December. Poor kick chase, and a seeming inability to break the line and create scoring opportunities. Defensively not brilliant either.
If they play to their strengths they have a chance, but Montpellier will be too good. I’m expecting to turn the TV off at 60 minutes.