Reinach scores as Montpellier fight back to beat 14-man London Irish
CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Montpellier recovered from a 24-6 deficit to defeat 14-man London Irish 32-27 on the opening day of the European Champions Cup on Friday.
The French Top 14 champions took full advantage of Irish’s Argentine hooker Agustin Creevy being red-carded late in the first half for a high tackle on Anthony Bouthier.
Montpellier went on to score four tries through Thomas Darmon (2), Cobus Reinach and Alexandre Becognee with Louis Carbonel adding three conversions and two penalties.
Juan Martin Gonzalez scored two tries for Irish with Lucio Cinti also crossing.
Paddy Jackson, who played in the 2012 final with Ulster, kicked a penalty and three conversions.
Rory Jennings also added a late penalty.
Creevy had played a key part in one of Gonzalez’s tries with a neat offload, but moments later he was sent off for a high tackle on Bouthier.
The Montpellier fullback left the field for a head injury assessment.
The scorers:
For London Irish:
Tries: Gonzalez 2, Cinti
Cons: Jackson 3
Pens: Jackson, Jenning
For Montpellier:
Tries: Reinach, Darmon 2, Becognee
Cons: Carbonel 3
Pens: Carbonel 2
Red card: Agustin Creevy (London Irish, 33′)
Yellow cards: Enzo Forletta (Montpellier, 25′); Leo Coly (Montpellier, 73′)
Teams:
London Irish: 15 Ben Loader, 14 Lucio Cinti, 13 Will Joseph, 12 Benhard van Rensburg, 11 Ollie Hassell-Collins, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Ben White, 8 So’otala Fa’aso’o, 7 Juan Martin Gonzalez, 6 Matt Rogerson (captain), 5 Adam Coleman, 4 Rob Simmons, 3 Lovejoy Chawatama, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Facundo Gigena.
Replacements: 16 Mike Willemse, 17 Danilo Fischetti, 18 Oliver Hoskins, 19 Chunya Munga, 20 Chandler Cunningham-South, 21 Joe Powell, 22 Rory Jennings, 23 Luca Morisi.
Montpellier: 15 Anthony Bouthier, 14 Ben Lam, 13 Thomas Darmon, 12 Paolo Garbisi, 11 George Bridge, 10 Louis Carbonel, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Zach Mercer, 7 Alexandre Becognee, 6 Yacouba Camara (captain), 5 Bastien Chalureau, 4 Florian Verhaeghe, 3 Mohamed Haouas, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Enzo Forletta.
Replacements: 16 Curtis Langdon, 17 George Tuinukuafe, 18 Titi Lamositele, 19 Clement Doumenc, 20 Leo Coly, 21 Julien Tisseron, 22 Masivesi Dakuwaqa, 23 Marco Tauleigne.
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Federico Vedovelli (Italy), Clara Munarini (Italy)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)
