MHR – Racing 92: against the Franciliens, Montpellier can aim (a little) higher in Top 14

MHR welcomes Racing 92, this Saturday, December 21 (4:30 p.m.), for the 12th day of Top 14.

We don't know if this is the sign of a team that is regaining confidence or, on the contrary, of a group that is calling for absolute caution. “I'm scared. I'm scared because we've never had three wins in a row. The group and the staff, we're not used to that. We're very worried about this upcoming match”, Joan Caudullo whispered this week.

However, the Montpellier manager prepared for this match against Racing 92 with two convincing victories in the Challenge, executives with recharged batteries and a more than positive dynamic over the last two months (4 wins, 2 losses). And, what's more, it's a team that's not very sure of its strengths that's coming. What's better ?

So, in a sensible and logical world, serenity should be in the MHR camp. But professional sport escapes this Cartesian principle. This Saturday, two clubs plagued by doubts at the slightest misstep face off. So, a chess game sets in, a sort of “it's me who's sicker than you”. The winner of the comm' arm wrestling match can distill that extra 2% of pressure into the other's head, potentially fatal at the final whistle.

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“Still sick or able to play for something other than survival”

Racing 92's nugget, Nolan Le Garrec, was the first to throw flowers. “Montpellier is perhaps the best conquest of the championship, with a fairly dense team profile on one-on-ones”, assured the international scrum-half (7 caps) in Midi Olympique. Very nice words, not gone unnoticed in the corridors of the GGL Stadium. “Racing is announced to be in difficulty, which says good things about us in the newspapers. I am very careful because we know very well that it is a big team that is coming”, Caudullo was wary.

No doubt the latter had the names of Gaël Fickou, Joshua Tuisova and Romain Taofifenua in mind… We would better understand the qualifiers “fear” and “worried” mentioned above. Words used to reverse the pressure, but no less realistic.

Then, with hindsight, this caution is legitimate in the Hérault camp. This confrontation against Racing 92 is a pivotal match. In case of success, the MHR will enter the top 8 for the first time since the 2nd day and will overtake its opponent of the day. For the first time in a very long time, he will be able to take a deep breath, savor his (small) piece of foie gras next Wednesday without the specter of staying up coming to twist his belly.

“This match will allow us to know if we are still a little sick or if we are capable of playing for something other than staying up”, whispered Joan Caudullo. The players' gift for the coach is a given.

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