Bismarck du Plessis scored one of Montpellier’s three tries as they claimed a 26-7 win over Western Province in Millau on Thursday.
Montpellier picked close to a full-strength side for this clash, and opened the scoring when Bok hooker Du Plessis dotted down from the back of a driving lineout on the quarter-hour mark.
The hosts doubled that lead when Vincent Martin collected a pass from Frans Steyn to score Montpellier’s second try, with Johan Goosen knocking over another conversion just before half-time.
Although Province got on the scoreboard when Scarra Ntubeni scored early in the second half of this final Currie Cup pre-season game, Montpellier hit back through Yvan Reilhac and Konstantin Mikautadze to claim a comfortable win.
WP will kick off their Currie Cup title defence with a clash against Free State on 25 August.
Montpellier – Tries: Bismarck du Plessis, Vincent Martin, Yvan Reilhac, Konstantin Mikautadze. Conversions: Johan Goosen (3).
Western Province – Try: Scarra Ntubeni. Conversion: SP Marais.
Montpellier – 15 Johan Goosen, 14 Vincent Martin, 13 Yvan Reilhac, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Gabriel N’Gandebe, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Martin Devergie, 7 Julien Bardy, 6 Wiaan Liebenberg (c), 5 Paul Willemse, 4 Nico Janse van Rensburg, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Grégory Fichten.
Subs: 16 Vincent Guidicelli, 17 Yvan Watremez, 18 Julien Le Devedec, 19 Kévin Kornath, 20 Henry Immelman, 21 Timoci Nagusa, 22 Enzo Sanga, 23 Levan Chilachava, 24 Romain Ruffenach, 25 Konstantin Mikautadze, 26 Thomas Darmon, 27 Julien Tomas, 28 Antoine Guillamon.
Western Province – 15 SP Marais, 14 Craig Barry, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Sergeal Petersen, 10 Dillyn Leyds (c), 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Kobus van Dyk, 6 Chris Massyn, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Michael Kumbirai, 2 Ramone Samuels, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Subs: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Ernst van Rhyn, 20 Chad Solomon, 21 Johan du Toit, 22 Herschel Jantjies, 23 Josh Stander, 24 Paul de Wet, 25 Dan du Plessis, 26 Duncan Saal.
Photo: @MHR_officiel/Twitter
