MHR sporting director Bernard Laporte takes stock halfway through the championship, after the victory against Clermont (18-22) this Saturday, December 28. The former coach of the French XV is optimistic about what is being put in place in Montpellier.
How much did you feel that the victory against Clermont (18-22) had done good? ?
We came so close away – which is encouraging –, in Bayonne (28-27), in Castres (30-26) and in Bordeaux (9-6), that I am happy for the guys. We had regrets about these three matches. It rewards them for all their efforts.
But let's not forget that we beat Vannes and Racing by a narrow margin. The Top 14 is so balanced. We mustn't give up. All the matches are decisive.
Do you feel that a group dynamic has been created over the last few weeks??
It's obvious. First of all, a lot of new players have arrived, leaders too. One of them, Billy (Vunipola), is captain. The graft had to take. The cement of a team is the state of mind. Here, you feel that it is there. There is a desire to move forward together. That's good.
Then the staff and players got their bearings…
(He cuts in) Yes of course, an osmosis was created. Last year, I said that we had an unbalanced team, we didn't dominate anyone. Today, the pack of forwards… All the teams that play you tell you, uff… I spoke with 2-3 Clermontois after the match, they had prepared to face a tough, dense team, that hurts, and they told me: “We were served”.
And yet, Nika Abuladze, Paul Willemse were missing…
Janse (Van Rensburg) and others weren't there either. We know that we have to operate with 35 today. But it raised the level. And in all positions. Those who were a little erased last season, we found them again. It's nice to see Baptiste Erdocio and Enzo Forletta stringing together good matches. Nobody falls asleep. It's healthy, there are no dirty tricks. The staff manages the competition perfectly.
Now, I have too much experience to say that we have arrived. The foundations are solid, but the Top 14 is so tough that we can't get excited.
Do you feel like, finally, the coin is falling more in your favor this moment ?
Yes, I agree, especially yesterday (Saturday) with 2 or 3 rebounds that went our way. Maybe the wind is turning a little.
The staff wants to be a difficult team to play against. What do you think about that ?
There is no great team that is not a pain up front. All the teams I have coached, every time we won, it is because we beat everyone up front. People who talk to you about Toulouse's backs, but the forwards then ? That's really thick.
200% Deposit Bonus up to €3,000 180% First Deposit Bonus up to $20,000But that doesn't mean that our three-quarters are not good. It just takes time. Cobus (Reinach) is just coming back after almost five months out, Léo (Coly) has improved a lot. At the opening, we repositioned Stuart (Hogg) because Domingo (Miotti) was injured, Thomas Vincent, who arrives from Pro D2, showed good qualities but he still has to develop.
I am convinced that the work that Benoît (Paillaugue) is doing behind will pay off.
Read also:“I fed them up a bit with the maintenance”: the reaction of Joan Caudullo and the players of ASM Clermont – MHR
How do you judge Stuart Hogg's performances ?
He's an exceptional player. We know that. When he called me and expressed his wish to play in the Top 14, I wanted to take him straight away. He's a guy with international dimension, he does us good, he doesn't tremble over two 50-meter penalties. These are guys who make the difference in a match. He also has all his problems that I hope will be resolved, that's what we wish for him.
Can you recall how he ended up at MHR, when he had retired?
His agent called me. He asked me what I thought, Stuart hadn't played for a year… I told him: “Bring him in, we'll talk”. Stuart, he loves rugby, he is passionate. He makes the effort, everyone has their problems, I hope he gets out of them as soon as possible.
We all make bets. I signed Juan Smith (South African third row, at the time of Toulon) when he had three Achilles tendon operations. Everyone told me he was burnt out. He was twice European champion with us.
We are not in a situation where everyone wants to come to us. We have to take that into account. We have to keep winning so that young people want to come to Montpellier, as was the case at one time.
Halfway through the season, how do you judge the state of the club? Are you where you wanted to be?
There is a club spirit that wasn’t there before. And from the top to the bottom. Everyone is pushing in the same direction. Everyone respects their lane, that’s what I told them at our first meeting. The touchline coach doesn’t take care of the defense. And we are all at Joan’s service, me first. Because if there is one who has to take a beating one day, it’s him.
I am delighted with the state of mind that there is in the staff. Jo manages it wonderfully. When I am with them, I feel like I am 30-40 years old, when I am 61. I am having a great time, it’s great. And I say it again, there is a club spirit. Before, some were encroaching on the corridor of others, which no longer exists.
With the current dynamic, are you reviewing the objectives upwards??
That's what I was saying before, everything remains fragile. Right now, it's working well. But this good state of mind, it's not just with us. Everyone is hanging on. I often say, let's take care of ourselves, not others. If we are all in this spirit of restoring this club's nobility, we will move forward. Afterwards, telling you that we will qualify in the top 6, we will do this, that… I say, let's let things happen, let's have fun. There are no small teams, we can see that clearly. Vannes who will win in La Rochelle, who would have thought of it ? The championship and its rules do that.
The ranking is rather pleasant to look at anyway, isn't it ?
Being 7th halfway through, with a team under reconstruction, a new staff, we are delighted. I take this opportunity to congratulate the staff, who do what is necessary, who are conscientious, diligent, competent. They have the recognition of the players, the guys who coach have worn the jersey and that counts.
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