Top 8: First blood to Lille
The Top 8 reached halfway at the weekend, but in an unusually polarised the only game that mattered was the much anticipated meeting between the two unbeaten teams – Lille and Montpellier.
Published by John Birch, December 13th, 2017
3 minute read
PHOTO STÉPHANE MORTAGNE
The rivalry between Lille and Montpellier has everything, champions against runners-up for the past three years, North versus South, the Old Guard against cheeky newcomers. For the past few years every meeting between the two teams has been something to savour – this isLe Crunchof French domestic rugby.
To make it more interesting, Montpellier travelled north to find snow carpeting the ground in Lille. In the cold wind and freezing conditions in the cold Lille – perhaps with the benefit of a week of more of practice in snow and ice – were tactically the better team, thanks to its experienced combination of Laura Di Muzio - Alexandra Pertus, winning the breakdowns and making fewer mistakes overall.
The Villeneuvoises took an early advantage with a try from Scottish centre Lisa Thomson (7-0, 6th).
This was the only score of the first half. The second half saw the visitors benefit from the wind, but while Montpellier dominated possession they were not able to take advantage. Lille’s pack was able to hold out against everything Montpellier threw at them, the champions only managing to score two penalties.
"Both teams were up there. We wanted to measure ourselves and see who are the best. And it's us !", smiled Alexandra Pertus after a game. "It is a very satisfying to take the victory but we also know that it is a match that will is no real guide for the future given the conditions."
With this seventh win in seven games, the Lille – but Montpellier, with five bonus points, are just a single point behind.
The other three games saw big bonus point wins for the teams placed 3rd-5thover the lower placed teams. Third placed Toulouse saw off Paris’ Bobigny 32-3, while over the river Blagnac in fourth similarly dismissed Romagnat 40-3. Finally Rennes confirmed that they are now a contender for a play-off spot with a 47-8 dismissal of Bayonne.
P
W
D
L
F
A
BP
PTS
1
Lille
7
7
0
0
171
98
2
30
2
Montpellier
7
6
0
1
210
82
5
29
3
Toulouse
7
4
1
2
128
84
4
22
4
Blagnac
7
4
0
3
130
125
2
18
5
Stade Rennais
7
3
0
4
142
121
4
16
6
Romagnat
7
1
1
5
76
180
2
8
7
Bobigny
7
1
0
6
113
182
3
7
8
AS Bayonne
7
1
0
6
83
181
2
6