Montpellier and Castres will bring the curtain down on the 2017/18 Top 14 season when they lock horns on Friday the 1st of June.
The 2017/18 French Top 14 season will come to a close this Friday evening at the home of all French sport, the Stade de France. The iconic venue will be the scene for the battle royale between heavyweights Montpellier and surprise package, Castres.
Montpellier v Castres
Friday 1 June
Stade de France
20:45
To Win (80 Mins)
Montpellier 1/4
Draw 25/1
Castres 28/10
Montpellier
Vern Cotter’s first season at the helm of Montpellier has been an exceedingly successful one thus far with his charges topping the standings at the close of the regular season. They then went onto defeat Lyon 40-14 last Friday to secure their place in the final.
Key to Montpellier title tilt has been the form of Fijian winger Nemani Nadolo. The former Canterbury Crusaders man has been in sensational form and opened the scoring against Lyon last week. He is likely to be the catalyst here once again.
Castres
Unlike Montpellier, Castres route to Saturday’s final has been a much more complicated one with the Southern France having to go through the play-off phase before the semi-finals due to them finishing the regular season in sixth place.
Despite having the odds stacked against them in the playoffs and semi-finals, Castres have managed to make it all the way to the final beating Stade 11-23 in the play-off and a much fancied Racing Metro 16-19 in Lyon last week.
Verdict: Montpellier 1/4
Cotter’s men won the two regular-season games between the sides. The first was played in round 3 where the men from Montpellier battered their way to a 17-22 away win
Written by Darry Worthington for @Hollywoodbets.net
