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Montpellier reach last four of Challenge Cup with Benetton victory

By PA
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Montpellier reached only their second ever European semi-final after edging out Benetton in an entertaining 31-25 victory in the Challenge Cup.

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The contest proved to be a head-to-head battle between Montpellier scrum-half Benoit Paillaugue and Benetton fly-half Paolo Garbisi as the pair dominated the scoresheet at the GGL Stadium.

Paillaugue edged the tie in the French side’s favour with 23 points to 20-year-old Garbisi’s 22 as Montpellier joined Bath, Leicester and Ulster in the last four.

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Dan Biggar – All Access

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The 33-year-old Frenchman scored two tries, two conversions and three penalties, with Paul Willemse also crossing, while Anthony Bouthier added a first-half drop-goal.

Garbisi kicked five penalties as Benetton trailed 21-15 at the break, but he scored and converted his side’s only try as the Italians took an early second-half lead, with Tommy Allan adding a consolation set-piece late on.

Garbisi opened the scoring with a penalty inside two minutes but home kicker Paillaugue levelled proceedings with one of his own, only for Garbisi to kick the Italian outfit into a 6-3 advantage after six minutes.

Paillaugue ran in the first try from the back of the ruck in the 11th minute but Benetton hit back when Willemse was sin-binned for an offside and repeated fouls, with Garbisi landing the resulting penalty.

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Willemse returned to the field before Bouthier put Montpellier back in front with a drop-goal, with Garbisi and Paillaugue trading further penalties as the hosts kept their noses ahead.

Garbisi’s fifth penalty kick of the half put Benetton into a 15-14 lead but Willemse made amends for his infringement with his side’s second try, which Paillaugue converted.

The young Italian scored Benetton’s only try in the 45th minute, which he converted, to put his team into a one-point lead but Paillaugue responded with his second score.

He converted for a 28-22 lead before adding a penalty on the hour mark, with Allan replying with one of his own for a six-point game.

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Montpellier flanker Yacouba Camara was sin-binned with five minutes remaining to set up a tense finale but the Top 14 side held on for only their second last-four appearance and first since winning the competition in 2016.

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Trevor 2 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 6 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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