Montpellier Reaches Top 14 Final After Beating Stade Français, Miotti Stars

Montpellier Hérault Rugby (MHR) has advanced to the Top 14 final after defeating Stade Français 25-15 in a hard-fought semi-final match at the Vélodrome.

The victory marks a significant turnaround for MHR, which narrowly avoided relegation just two years ago. Now, the club will compete in its fourth final, aiming to secure a second Brennus Shield against the formidable Toulouse next Saturday. In a match that proved more open than anticipated, Montpellier displayed enterprise, skillful play, and effectiveness, particularly in the second half where their scrum dominated.

This win extends MHR's impressive run to 23 victories in their last 26 games across all competitions. They also recently secured their third Challenge Cup title, convincingly beating Ulster 59-26 in Bilbao. Notably, both finalists, MHR and Toulouse, were the top two teams from the regular season, having bypassed the preliminary playoff round.

Argentine fly-half Domingo Miotti was instrumental in Montpellier's success, contributing 17 points through five penalties and a conversion. Despite a recent adductor injury, Miotti remained composed under pressure, guiding his team to a lead they would not relinquish. He finished the season as the third-highest scorer in the Top 14.

A critical moment in the match occurred in the 67th minute when Stade Français appeared to score a try, which would have leveled the game. However, a desperate defensive effort by MHR's Donovan Taofifenua saw him successfully contest the ball in the in-goal area, leading to the try being disallowed after video review. The final points for MHR came from a penalty kicked by Léo Coly in the 72nd minute.