Stade Toulousain – MHR line-ups: Montpellier close to a typical team, Jack Willis captain of a Toulouse in fine form

The Stade Toulousain and MHR staffs have revealed their group for the clash on Saturday, January 25 (2 p.m.), a match counting for the 15th day of the Top 14.

The teams

STADE TOULOUSAIN : Capuozzo – Delibes, Costes, Ahki, Lebel – (o) Mallia, (m) Graou – Banos, Roumat, Willis (cap) – Vergé, Arnold – Ainu’u, Lacombre, Neti.
Replacementsçants : Hawkes, Bertrand, Placines, T. Ntamack, Saito, Kinghorn, Epée, Merkler.

MONTPELLIER : Bouthier – Vincent, Cadot, Serfontein, Moorby – (o) Hogg, (m) Reinach – Nouchi, Vunipola (cape), Camara – Duguid, Verhaeghe – Hounkpatin, Uelese, Forletta.
Replacementsçants : Tolofua, Abuladze, Tauleigne, Bécognée, Simmonds, Bridge, Darmon, Japaridze.

Of course, there won't be Antoine Dupont's gang. But still, this team looks great. With its captain Jack Willis, one of the best players in the championship, Stade Toulousain will host Montpellier armed. The three-quarter line can compete with any in the Top 14.

But Montpellier arrives at Ernest-Wallon with its best possible team. Cobus Reinach, announced as out at the beginning of the week, will finally take his place at scrum-half. First surprise. The two other strong choices are the starting positions of Anthony Bouthier at the back, sliding Joshua Moorby to one side, and the replacement of Arthur Vincent on the wing. A sign of the Hérault staff's desire to solidify the back of the pitch with players who are strong on the man in defense.

English captains

A few juicy duels will be worth watching. The two English captains, Billy Vunipola and Jack Willis, should offer us a fratricidal confrontation in the frontal game.

Behind, the center of the pitch promises sparks. The two bulldozers Jan Serfontein and Pita Ahki are the metronomes of the defense and their three-quarter line.

At the end of the match, the contribution of the bench will be closely monitored. Montpellier's choice of 6-2 is an indicator of MHR's desire to finish the game strong. It promises to be good.