Montpellier and the Lions are the top two sides in Pool 2 of the European Challenge Cup as they prepare to clash at the GGL Stadium on Saturday
Montpellier v Lions, Saturday 13th January, Montpellier, KO 22:00 (South African time)
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Sco)
Assistant Referees: Finlay Brown (Sco) , Ethan Glass (Swi)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Sco)
Weather Forecast - Montpellier
Montpellier:
Montpellier have won both their matches so far and they top this pool with a full house of 10 log points. They were 24-18 winners away to Newcastle Falcons in the opening round, surviving a late Falcons fightback and they subsequently put the Ospreys away 38-5 at this venue in Round 2. After this they finish the pool stage away to Benetton.
Montpellier are currently bottom of the standings in the French Top 14 with a record of 3 wins and 9 defeats.
Lions:
The Lions are in second spot in this pool, 1 point shy of Montpellier, 3 clear of third placed Benetton and 4 better off than the Ospreys who are currently fourth. The Falcons have 1 point and USAP have yet to open their account.
The Lions were 5/1 underdogs for their first round clash away to Perpignan but they came out on top 28-12. They went on to land a bonus point win over Newcastle Falcons, 35-13 in Johannesburg and in the final round of pool matches they are at home to the Ospreys.
The Lions were in URC action last weekend when they came from 18-3 down to edge out the Sharks 20-18 in Durban. Their URC record comprises of 4 wins and 4 defeats which puts them in eleventh spot on the log, 2 points off a play off spot but with a game in hand.
Team News
Montpellier: 15 Julien Tisseron, 14 George Bridge, 13 Geoffrey Doumayrou, 12 Jan Serfontein (c), 11 Masi Dakuwaqa, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Mael Perrin, 7 Clement Doumenc, 6 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, 5 Bastien Chalureau, 4 Tyler Duguid, 3 Lasha Macharashvili, 2 Vano Karkadze, 1 Gregory Fichten
Replacements: 16 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 17 Enzo Forletta, 18 Henry Thomas, 19 Paul Willemse, 20 Cantin Foguet, 21 Louis Foursans-Bourdette, 22 Auguste Cadot, 23 Thomas Darmon
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Boldwin Hansen, 10 Jordan Hendrikse, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Hanru Sirgel, 7 Izan Esterhuizen, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Conraad van Vuuren, 2 Jaco Visagie (c), 1 Morgan Naude
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Raynard Roets, 20 Ruhan Straeuli, 21 Travis Gordon, 22 Johan Mulder, 23 Gianni Lombard
The Betting
Montpellier -16.5
Lions +16.5
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
Betting Angle
The Lions have left a few regular starters at home and although they are still putting out a decent side that could spell trouble against Montpellier who showed with their home win over Toulon in the Top 14 last week they are in decent form.
This is a week for the big handicaps to arrive in my opinion and I am going for a big home win
Stay close to our forum thread where I will post any additional bets and other punters share their plays
BET: 3 units Montpellier -16.5 at 19/20 at WSB
Note, odds quoted are available at the time of writing but are subject to change.
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