PREVIEW: Pienaar and Cruden key to Montpellier's success
Montpellier, coached by Kiwi Vern Cotter, are marshalled around the paddock by Springbok scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar and All Black flyhalf Aaron Cruden.
Pienaar is one of a number of South Africans currently at Montpellier. Brothers Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis, Francois Steyn, Jan Serfontein. Paul Willemse, Wian Liebenberg, Jacques du Plessis, Nico Janse van Rensburg, Henry Immelman and Johannes Jonker all play for the French club.
"They [Pienaar and Cruden] are keys to our system," acknowledged Montpellier No.8 Kelian Galletier.
"These two world champions have the ability to be calm and serene at key moments of a match. And they're also capable of mixing it all up."
Meanwhile, Lyon are a perennial "yo-yo team" of the Top 14, having been either relegated or promoted four times in the six seasons since their 2011 promotion.
But not this season, as Pierre Mignoni has forged a team that saw off his former club Toulon last week and is now just one game away from French elite rugby's final.
"We have everything to win," Mignoni said after the 19-all draw with Toulon, his side advancing to Friday's semi-final against Montpellier on a superior try count.
Montpellier and Racing 92 finished first and second of the Top 14 at the end of the regulation season.
But Racing also face a surprise package in Castres, with their semi scheduled for Saturday, the two games being held in Lyon of all places.
Lyon president Yann Roubert was happy the "historic" semifinal for the club would be on home turf.
"We don't care about predictions!" Roubert said.
"We'll continue to work together and keep the squad's cohesion."
"People at the club don't believe it," added Mignoni, Lyon having being relegated in 2013 and 2015.
When Mignoni, 41, took over in the summer of 2015, he signed up a raft of more experienced players, several of whom were on the cusp of retirement such as Frederic Michalak or Thibault Privat.
"These guys brought a lot because they are, above all, great fellahs. With such good blokes it allows the team to grow," the former France international scrumhalf said.
And the club has big ambitions, promising to invest 66 million euros in developing their Gerland Stadium, now renamed after the Matmut insurance company for 20m euros over 10 years, and surrounds.
Montpellier's giant Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo was in no doubt about how big the game was for Lyon.
"Even if we were already guaranteed to play the semifinal, we're focused on the job that awaits us this weekend in Lyon," said Nadolo, just one of several big names in the Montpellier side.
"Lyon have battled to be in the top six and we know that this match will be important for them, but it is for us as well.
"Lyon are a good team, powerful, which has been built up season on season, but this year seems like one when they've consolidated.
"There are lots of good international players such as Delon Armitage, Toby Arnold or Mike Harris.
"Furthermore, having experienced it last year, we know that playing your last match at home is important and that there'll be a cracking atmosphere in Lyon.
"They also have some players who are leaving. It won't be easy, and besides, they haven't lost many matches at home!"
Agence France-Presse
