Montpellier’s Jake White

Newport Gwent Dragons bowed out of the European Challenge Cup with semifinal defeat by a strong Montpellier side.

Montpellier’s dominance earned them a 22 / 0 lead, with Demetri Catrakilis scoring 5 penalties and Bismarck du Plessis crossing for a try.

Dragons rallied with tries from Hallam Amos and Carl Meyer but they suffered their 2nd successive semifinal loss in Europe.

Montpellier will face Harlequins in the final in Lyon on 13 May.

Dragons’ build up to the game had been overshadowed by the departure of director of rugby Lyn Jones, with namesake Kingsley Jones assuming control until the end of the season,

Wales No 8, Taulupe Faletau, was passed fit for the Dragons despite injuring his eye in the derby defeat at Cardiff Blues.

Montpellier, coached by 2007 World Cup-winning coach Jake White, boasted 8 South African players in their squad, including front row brothers Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis.

The visitors dominated proceedings and slowly built up a lead during the 1st half, with Demetri Catrakilis slotting over 3 penalties and Benoit Paillaugue adding a 4th.

They went into the break leading 12 / 0 after Dragons fullback Carl Meyer put his penalty wide of the post with the final kick of the 1st half.

Dragons made an encouraging start to the 2nd half but they encountered further problems in the scrum, which had proved costly during the 1st half.

Catrakilis punished them further with his 5th penalty of the game before he converted Bismarck du Plessis’ try following a driving lineout.

But the Dragons responded immediately as Meyer and Faletau combined to set up Amos to score his 2nd try of this season’s competition.

Meyer failed with the conversion but the fullback made amends when he crossed for his side’s 2nd try of the game, which replacement Angus O’Brien converted.

Despite the Dragons’ late flourish they fell to their 3rd semifinal defeat in European rugby’s 2nd-tier competition.

Teams:

Montpellier: 15 Benjamin Fall, 14 Timoci Nagusa, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Marvin O’Connor, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Benoit Paillaugue, 1 Mikheil Nariashvili, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 4 Robins Tchale Watchou, 5 Paul Willemse, 6 Fulgence Ouedraogo (Captain), 7 Akapusi Qera, 8 Pierre Spies
Replacements: 16 Mickael Ivaldi, 17 Yvan Watremez, 18 Davit Kubriashvili, 19 Thibaut Privat, 20 Wiaan Liebenberg, 21 Nic White, 22 Benjamin Lucas, 23 Anthony Tuitavke.

Dragons: 15 Carl Meyer, 14 Adam Hughes, 13 Tyler Morgan, 12 Adam Warren, 11 Hallam Amos, 10 Dorian Jones, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 1 Phil Price, 2 Elliot Dee, 3 Brok Harris, 4 Rynard Landman, 5 Nick Crosswell, 6 Lewis Evans (Captain), 7 Nic Cudd, 8 Taulupe Faletau
Replacements: 16 Rhys Buckley, 17 Boris Stankovich, 18 Lloyd Fairbrother, 19 Matthew Screech, 20 Ed Jackson, 21 Charlie Davies, 22 Angus O’Brien, 23 Jack Dixon.

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant Referees: JP Doyle, Greg Garner (England)

bbc