Montpellier's dramatic comeback in the Challenge Cup has sent shockwaves through the rugby world. The French side trailed 24-14 at halftime, but a resurgent effort from their players saw them score three tries in the final 15 minutes to secure a thrilling 33-31 victory over Connacht.
The Irish province had dominated the early stages of the game, with tries from Ben Murphy and Dylan Tierney-Martin giving them a commanding lead. However, Montpellier's hooker Lyam Akrab crossed for their first try, and they soon found themselves trailing by just two points.
A late flurry from the hosts in the final quarter saw Melvyn Rates' 74th-minute try give Stuart Hogg the chance to level the game with a conversion. The kick proved to be the turning point of the match, as Connacht's scrum-half Sam Gilbert was unable to find his mark on the subsequent attempt.
But Montpellier were not done yet. With just over five minutes remaining, wing Melvyn Rates' replacement Valentin Welsch touched down under the posts to level the score once again. Hogg then slotted home the conversion for what would prove to be the winning kick, securing a bonus point for Connacht.
The dramatic finale marked Montpellier's first victory in all competitions since November 2022 and sets them up nicely for the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup. For Connacht, the defeat leaves them with two bonus points and a slim chance of reaching the last 16 if they can overcome US Monauban on Saturday.
The Irish province had dominated the early stages of the game, with tries from Ben Murphy and Dylan Tierney-Martin giving them a commanding lead. However, Montpellier's hooker Lyam Akrab crossed for their first try, and they soon found themselves trailing by just two points.
A late flurry from the hosts in the final quarter saw Melvyn Rates' 74th-minute try give Stuart Hogg the chance to level the game with a conversion. The kick proved to be the turning point of the match, as Connacht's scrum-half Sam Gilbert was unable to find his mark on the subsequent attempt.
But Montpellier were not done yet. With just over five minutes remaining, wing Melvyn Rates' replacement Valentin Welsch touched down under the posts to level the score once again. Hogg then slotted home the conversion for what would prove to be the winning kick, securing a bonus point for Connacht.
The dramatic finale marked Montpellier's first victory in all competitions since November 2022 and sets them up nicely for the knockout stages of the Challenge Cup. For Connacht, the defeat leaves them with two bonus points and a slim chance of reaching the last 16 if they can overcome US Monauban on Saturday.
i mean, connacht had it in the bag but montpellier just refused to give up! valentin welsch's try with like 5 mins to go was clutch 
and stuart hoggs conversion sealed the deal. cant believe how dramatic this match was. congrats to montpellier on their first win since nov 2022 u guys must be buzzing!!
! I mean, Montpellier's players really showed some heart in that final quarter, didn't they? I was on the edge of my seat watching that game, couldn't believe it when their players just started scoring tries one after another. It's like they were all fueled by a fire within 
. And that conversion kick from Hogg was pure magic 
. I'm glad Montpellier are back in the mix now and looking strong for the rest of the competition. Those Connacht fans must've been gutted, but you can't blame them for wanting to see their team push it to the limit 
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. One thing's for sure, Connacht's gonna have to pull up their socks if they wanna make it to the last 16, but Montpellier's got the momentum now and that's gotta count for something 
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and on the other side, Connacht still have a slim chance of making it to the last 16, fingers crossed for them 
it's a great lesson for teams who are looking to mount a comeback like this.
and now they're in a pretty good position to make the knockout stages if they can beat us monauban on saturday... fingers crossed for them! 
. And that final try by Welsch was like a gift from heaven 
! The French team deserves all the credit for their impressive display, and I'm hyped to see how they'll do in the knockout stages 
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. And can we talk about Melvyn Rates? The guy is like a x-factor player - he's got three tries in this one match alone! 
. And did you know that Stuart Hogg has now converted 13 out of his last 15 kicks? 
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And for Connacht, they're still in it but they need to step up their game if they want to make the last 16. They'll definitely need a win against Monauban on Saturday! 
. In all seriousness though, that final 15 minutes was insane. I'm still trying to process how they managed to score those three tries and somehow pull off the win 
. But on the other hand, you can't fault them for wanting that bonus point. The fact remains, Montpellier's victory is a testament to their team spirit and dedication. Bring on the knockout stages! 
. That late flurry in the final quarter was insane 
! And Valentin Welsch's try with 5 minutes to go? Game changer 
! I love how they kept their cool and didn't give up, even when it looked like all hope was lost 
just saw this game and wow what a comeback by Montpellier! I was on the edge of my seat when Melvyn Rates' replacement Valentin Welsch scored that try with like 5 mins left. What a clutch performance from their team, it's clear they were hungry for a win 
melvyn rates' try with like 5 minutes left was the game changer and stuart hoggs conversion was clutch 
. I mean, come on, who tries to kick a conversion in the final quarter and misses? 
Montpellier's team effort was all they needed, nice comeback! 
. And can we talk about Melvyn Rates for a sec? he's been on fire in this tournament!