Francois Steyn celebrates Montpellier win over Sale Sharks

Montpellier head coach Jake White cannot wait to return home triumphant for their European Rugby Challenge Cup semifinal, after beating Sale Sharks in their own backyard.

The side sat 2nd in the Top 14 turned on the power in the 2nd half after a tight 1st half. Benoit Pallaugue hit 6 penalties to steer his side to a 25 / 19 triumph, despite a late solo score from Sale centre Sam James.

The victory for Montpellier has set up a last-4 clash against either Challenge Cup champions, Gloucester, or the Newport Gwent Dragons. White is targeting a pair of victories on home soil in their pursuit for European glory.

He said: “I’m obviously very happy, it wasn’t that pretty, we didn’t play that well and we made a few mistakes which allowed them field position, and they put us under the pump. But it’s a new squad and Montpellier have never got themselves in positions like these, so I’m very happy that we can take another step forward.

“The result was all that mattered tonight, it’s knockout rugby and there are no bonus points for how many tries you score. It would have been nice to score a couple more tries, but the win was the 1st prize, and we can start building something now.

“We had a lot to play for. We knew we would have a home semifinal if we won the game. It will be massive to go back home and have all our supporters there. After that we go to Lyon in the final, so we knew we had 2 potential games in France if we won today.”

Match Report:

Montpellier outmuscled Sale Sharks to kick their way into the European Rugby Challenge Cup semifinals with a 25 / 19 triumph at the AJ Bell Stadium.

The French heavyweights took a slender, 1-point advantage in at halftime after Paul Willemse’ driving score was wiped out by Sale wing Tom Brady’s score. But Jake White’s men turned on the power in the 2nd half, winning a succession of penalties. Benoit Paillaugue kicked 6 of them to ensure the victory, before Sam James’ solo score made for a tense finish.

All eyes were on Sale’s star man Danny Cipriani from the off, allowing the England flyhalf to bring his powerful ball carrying backline into action. And after a spell of heavy pressure, the defence were forced to play the ball on the floor, and Cipriani fired the Sharks from in front from the penalty.

But Montpellier struck back immediately. Some slick hands from South African centre Francois Steyn and Australian international Jesse Mogg got Jake White’s men back down into Sharks territory. And when they worked it back to the righthand side, the towering lock Willemse was shunted over. Paillaugue converted for a 7 / 3 lead.

The Montpellier scrumhalf added a penalty before the Sale Sharks bit back through Brady. Some lightning fast hands from Cipriani and Nev Edwards gave the wing the space to dart in at the corner. Cipriani was inches out with his conversion, but landed a penalty to give Sale an 11 / 10 lead at halftime.

But their advantage was wiped out 5 minutes into the 2nd half when Paillaugue landed a penalty from long range, after the Sale scrum buckled against a powerful drive. And the slight No 9 added another tricky shot after Eifion Lewis-Roberts gave a penalty away with his 1st action of the game.

Flanker Cameron Neild led another promising Sale attack before he produced a deft offload to break through the defensive line. And they could only be stopped illegally by Thibaut Privat, who handled on the floor, and was duly sent to the sin-bin by referee John Lacey. Cipriani stepped up to land another penalty goal to cut the gap to 16 / 14 after 62 minutes.

But Sale failed to roll away at a ruck a minute later, and Paillaugue restored their 5-point lead. Replacement hooker Neil Briggs was also shown Yellow to make it 14 vs 14, and Paillaugue hit another inch perfect penalty to take the game away from the hosts. And he nailed another 3-pointer 9 minutes from time to send the French side through to the last 4.

But there was still time for the irrepressible James to chip ahead and score 5 minutes from time to give Sale hope.

Scorers:

Sale Sharks:

• Penalties – Danny Cipriani (3)
• Drop Goals – 0
• Tries –Tom Brady (1), Sam James (1)
• Conversions – 0

Montpellier:

• Penalties – Benoit Paillaugue (6)
  
• Drop Goals – 0
• Tries – Paul Willemse (1)
• Conversions – Benoit Paillaugue(1)

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