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CA Brive will host Montpellier in the last Top 14 round to be played in 2017, with the visitors hoping for a win which would allow them to end the year on the first place in the standings.
Brive had a good run for a few weeks back in November, a period in which the top sides were without many players due to International duty, but lately Brive returned to their usual poor form. The hosts are 13th in the Top 14, and are coming after three consecutive losses in all competitions, all of them ugly. They lost twice to Connacht in the Challenge Cup by 7 and 45 points, and were also beaten last week in the Top 14 by fellow relegation battlers, Agen (13-27 away).
Montpellier is on the back of a 21 point home win against a very solid Lyon side, and the win allowed today`s visitors to maintain the first place in the standings. Montpellier currently has 9 wins and 4 losses and will hope to end 2017 at the top of the league, but they will need to improve their away form, which has been poor with 2 wins and 4 losses.
Bet on Brive vs. Montpellier and claim your 100% (100 Eur) bonus at Ohmbet now!Team news: Both teams will mix the lineups a little bit in order to have fresh legs, but there won`t be major changes. Luafutu for Brive and Picamoles & Du Plessis for Montpellier will be the biggest absences from the starting lineups, but all will surely feature in the second half. Cruden will continue to miss out for Montpellier after his injury two weeks ago, a massive blow.
Brive has been consistently one of the worst sides in the Top 14 aside for a few weeks in November, and it`s no surprise that they are sitting second to last in the standings. Their recent form gives them no reason for optimism ahead of the visit from Montpellier, but Brive will hope that playing at home will be enough to pull of an upset – as home court advantage is always a massive factor in French rugby.
Montpellier hasn`t traveled well this season, but on the other hand they did have a very tough schedule away from home. Montpellier’s losses on the road came against La Rochelle, Racing, Bordeaux and Stade Francais – all better than Brive, all very strong home teams, and the first three being playoff caliber teams.
Montpellier will feel this is a great chance to snatch a 3rd road win in 7 games, and they will fancy their chances against an out of form, inferior opponent. Look for the visitors to come out with maximum intensity as the first place at the end of the year is on the line, and that would be key, as intensity is the most important factor in the home / away discrepancy in the Top 14.
I expect a relatively close and physical clash, but Montpellier`s overall quality and their strong bench should make the difference in the second half, particularly after the likes of Picamoles and Du Plessis come in. Brive has been horrific in the second half of games in December (15-79 in the last three games combined), so it makes sense to expect Montpellier to edge it in the last 30 minutes or so.
My tip here is Montpellier to win. Prediction: CA Brive – Montpellier 21 – 28.
Pick: Montpellier
Odds: 1.66 @ Unibet
Stake: 8
Possible profit: 5.28
Event date: 30 December
