Chris Gleadell's Thoughts from the Chron 22nd Jan
By Chris Gleadell
January 22 2009
It is Tuesday afternoon and I sit writing this speeding across France on a TGV heading home to blighty after what has been an excellent, extended for the majority, weekend for all the Saints supporters who travelled out to Montpellier for the European Challenge Cup group game at the Stade Yves du Manoir.
Chris Gleadell's Thoughts from the Chron
22nd January 2009
In this column over the last few weeks I have been waxing lyrical about the city and its surrounds and I think it lived up to expectations for all. Some supporters had even booked before the game was confirmed as a Thursday night fixture but travelled out none the less on the Friday to enjoy the rest of the weekend and join in the festivities with those already there.
As always the intrepid support made their way from the four corners with people making the trek by plane not only to the local airport but via Nimes, Marseille and Perpignan amongst others. An ever increasing number, it gets higher with each trip, made the journey south by rail too. Whatever their mode of transport it was clear over the weekend that there was a sizeable number in town as you could not walk down any avenue or alleyway without bumping into somebody decked out in Gold Black and Green sooner or later. The focal point was the Place de Comedie where most were happy to sit out in the winter sunshine at the many cafes with a coffee, or something stronger as the day progressed, watching the world go by.
In the evenings things got livelier and whilst there was a smattering of Saints support just about anywhere I think it was the owner of the Grey Hound (that's not a mistake) bar on Comedie who thought all his Christmases had come at once. Usually one of the quieter bars on the main square a number of supporters adopted it as their central meeting point over the weekend. Indeed so busy was it after the game on Thursday night that the barman kept inventing new French bye-laws as an excuse to serve yet one more round to the increasing number in there. I am sure I saw the shutters go down at least three times before they were soon open once more to allow more ‘guests' in. Around 3:30 in the morning when the list of laws was exhausted with ‘I can serve you one more if it is in a disposable glass' the stragglers made it back to their hotels. The weary look on quite a few faces and half opened eyes when you walked around town in the morning were testament to what a good night it was as the win was celebrated in style.
A fair few supporters also chose to explore further afield once they got the rugby part, the game, out of the way. From Sete to Nimes to Palavas, some even as far as the Millau Bridge. all had Saintly visitors over the weekend whilst many others kept more local either on foot in the miles and miles of backstreets or using the ultra efficient tram system to explore the hidden parts of the city and beyond to the outlying villages..
One disappointment was the game being on a Thursday, had it been Saturday I think we may have well doubled the figure there but I spoke to a few people over the weekend and I don't think there was one that did not enjoy the experience. I think, just like me, there will be quite a few that make it back to Montpellier again and again and again.
AND RUGBY TOO!
And all that and a game of rugby too! As I have mentioned before a lot of Montpellierans are new to watching the game but it was disappointing that only half their usual crowd turned up to the game last Thursday night. Whether this has anything to do with their current turmoil, their chairman resigned the day before the game and there were some question marks over certain players, or maybe it was just their indifference to this competition a more than half empty stadium did not do the surrounds justice. Whatever the number we were made to feel welcome by the locals, especially those of us who chose to sit with the Montpellier support. What started as a bit of bi-lingual banter and joint questioning of the referees interpretation of the game ended with a few MHRC supporters trying to join in ‘Oh When the Saints' at the end of the game. Montpellier might be a little bit more cosmopolitan than other places we have visited over the years but as always the game of rugby is a great leveller where support is concerned.
As for the game itself well the final 28-24 scoreline was probably not a true reflection of the game overall. In cold conditions (temperatures were to drop to -3 later) the lads found it hard to get into any rhythm and chance after chance went begging. Montpellier on the other hand, for a time at least, looked like they came to play anything but rugby and there must be questions not only of their tactics but of the choice of colour of card given by referee Allen after the flurry of punches.
By the time the locals upped their game and decided to play a bit - and what a ‘bit' it was - the Saints had a couple of scores in the bag already and whilst it was touch and go for a while in the end had enough in the tank to edge it.
The win for the Saints makes it five out of five so far in the completion and still holding on as the second seed spot that guarantees not only a home quarter-final but should they be successful a home semi too. With Saracens dropping a point last weekend that place can be secured with any kind of win over Toulon in the final ECC group game at the Gardens on Saturday.
Toulon of course have much publicised troubles of their own. They currenly sit at the bottom of Frances Top14 as Chairman Boudjellal's many, many millions have failed to buy the success he promised his fellow Toulounais.
The Saints should in theory win this one at a canter to set up a home quarter final against the second best runner up of the five groups. Sometimes however theory goes out the window in these situations but I cannot see it against a side who will in all probability field mostly a third string again. I might well be counting chickens early one more but another half century in this competition is not out of the question.
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-- Marcus Aurelius, Roman Emperor 161-180 A.D.
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