“Of course we'll be attentive”: against the Lions, some MHR players have the opportunity to show themselves before the list of the XV of France

Montpellier will face the Johannesburg Lions this Saturday, January 11 (6:30 p.m.), at the GGL Stadium, a match counting for the 3rd day of the Challenge. The opportunity for some to show themselves before Fabien Galthié unveils his list for the 6 Nations Tournament.

Next Wednesday, January 15, Fabien Galthié will name his group of 42 players to prepare for the Six Nations Tournament. As luck would have it, with the improvement in the situation of the MHR, Montpellier players are being mentioned to join the list. The names of Lenni Nouchi, Yacouba Camara, Arthur Vincent, and even Maël Moustin have been circulating here and there. All of them, apart from the last one, injured in the hamstring, have one last chance to show themselves this Saturday, against the Johannesburg Lions. If the coach has doubts between two players, perhaps the final performance of the weekend will help decide.

No doubt these guys will keep their eyes glued to their phones at the beginning of next week. “When you've had the chance to taste a nice slice of the cake, you become a little gaga over it. We're bound to follow this list with interest. Playing for the Blues is part of everyone's dreams, goals, there's nothing more beautiful. So of course I'll be attentive“, assured center Arthur Vincent this week.

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“These are heavy responsibilities”

The 25-year-old Montpellier international, with 18 caps under his belt, may have a card to play. With Gaël Fickou's injury (93 caps), Paul Costes and Antoine Frisch's poor form, his return to an interesting level and his past with the Blues, a recall is plausible.

Camara and Nouchi, two other MHR executives, are also on the extended list of the French XV. The absence of a confirmed number 4 at world level, apart from Thibaud Flament, and in view of the XXL performances of “Yacou”, a return to the Blues of the Hérault soldier is looming. “I think about it, yes. It's always nice to play for the French team. But there are quality players, young ones”, acknowledges the 30-year-old native of Aubervilliers.

The former Toulouse player, however, victim of several physical problems in recent years, seems perplexed.“Maybe I have other things on my mind, maybe I want to, or not. Maybe I prefer to give my all for my club. I'm thinking about it, I'm talking to the staff, my family. These are heavy responsibilities. I'm already waiting to see if I'm called up”, Camara says, seemingly resigned to no longer being obsessed with it.

“Nouchi is an international, he has to consider himself as such”

Over the last three weeks, Fabien Galthié and his assistant coach, Laurent Sempéré, in charge of the conquest, have visited the club. The players claim not to have spoken individually with the coach. The latter, however, inquired about each player, especially Maël Moustin. The 20-year-old winger, who has been injured in the thigh since the end of December, is the great satisfaction of the start of the MHR season.

Montpellier manager Joan Caudullo does not hesitate to discuss this type of subject with his players. “A guy like Lenni (Nouchi, 2 caps, 21 years old), I communicate with him not as a player from the training center, but as an international. He has to consider himself as such on and off the field. It is important to have a status to help the team move up”, he confides. Nouchi, captain this Saturday, will have a new opportunity to prove it to his staff. And to that of the French XV. Especially since Charles Ollivon will be absent for a long time…