CANADIANS PYKE & RYAN SMITH IN MONTAUBAN SQUAD VS WORCESTER (From MTG Website)         11th January 2008

It is no secret that Montauban's major priority is the Top 14 Championship. However, in the last two matches of the European Challenge Cup, Montauban is still in the qualification race for the quarter finals. To make it through, the team will almost certainly need to  win the last two international chances they have: The first is tonight at 18h30, at home in Sapiac, facing the English Worcester and the following Friday against Parme.

Ryan Smith is selected to the squad again, while fellow Canadian Mike Pyke returns to the squad from injury. Pyke reports, with a smile,  that "I am ready to play. For the last three months I have had to watch matches from the stands.  Fortunately, I am ready to play again, or I might have died." Since the Rugby World Cup, Pyke has only played once this year after an eye bone fracture in training. As he says, "It is much easier to play than to watch." However, Pyke acknowledges that the match against Worcester will be hard. They are bringing their best team and want to win. They have a solid pack, led by Pat Sanderson at flank, and with Irish international Darren Morris at prop. In their backs they have world-class players in New Zealanders Rico Gear, Sam Tuitupou and Loki Crichton. However, we have a solid team and we can win." Pyke wants to do his bit, especially after a three month layoff.

The five winners of the pools go through, and the three best second place finishers. In Pool 2 right now, Worcester have 8 points more than Montauban. First place would appear to be out of reach. It would need two Montauban victories as well as the English losing to Bucarest. However, if Montauban wins its next two games, they can qualify. It just depends on teams like Montpelier, Castres, Leeds, Newcastle or Brive. What a beautiful situation.

In five seasons of European Rugby, Montauban has only qualified once for the quarter finals in 2003. In that year, having defeated the Scottish Borderers twice, and having split the games with Ebbw Vale, Montauban was eliminated by Bath on a narrow home and away goal average. On the other occasions, Montauban never progressed beyond the Pool rounds.

In 2002,  MTG XV saw 4 victories, Rovigo (2), Ebbw Vale et Agen). In 2004, one victory against London Irish and great matches lost against Harlequins. Last season, in 2007, three victories were won: Padoue (2) and Newcastle). This season, we already have two wins (Parme et Bucarest), and we are waiting for a third. Montauban must win tonight to stay in contention for the quarter finals.

Montauban: 15 Mike Pyke, 14 Johan Dalla Riva, 13 Ryan Smith, 12 Miguel Avramovic, 11 Sylvain Jonnet, 10 Sébastien Fauque (c), 9 Cédric Garcia, 8 Damien Delpy, 7 Matthew Clarkin, 6 Guillaume Bortolaso, 5 Rowan Frost, 4 Karim Ghezal, 3 Pablo Lemoine, 2 Grégory Arganese, 1 Laurent DelBoulbes.
Replacements: 16 Tony Testa, 17 Patrick Blanco, 18 Scott Murray, 19 Marc Raynaud, 20 Jean Emmanuel Cassin, 21 Mickaël Etcheverria, 22 Anthony Tesquet,

Worcester: 15 Thinus Delport, 14 Rico Gear, 13 Dale Rasmussen, 12 Sam Tuitupou, 11 Miles Benjamin, 10 Loki Crichton, 9 Matt Powell, 8 Kai Horstmann, 7 Pat Sanderson (c), 6 Tom Wood, 5 Craig Gillies, 4 Will Bowley, 3 Tevita Taumoepeau, 2 Aleki Lutui, 1 Darren Morris.
Replacements: 16 Shaun Ruwers, 17 Matt Mullan, 18 Greg Rawlinson, 19 Drew Hickey, 20 Ryan Powell, 21 James Brown, 22 Chris Pennell.

Referee: Andy McPherson (Scotland)

 

Teams J Pts Diff. 1 WORCESTER 4 19 133 2 MTG-XV 4 11 62 3 BUCAREST 4 6 -36 4 GRAN PARMA 4 2 -159