JAMES HARRINGTON
FRENCH COLUMN

TIME was very firmly called on Richard Cockerill’s brief run as Montpellier manager six days ago, after just five months and a total of seven Top 14 matches.
The ‘results today’ demands of high-pressure clubs like Montpellier meant that the end was both predictable and predicted. Despite the expectation, however, it was still spectacular when it came after a sixth defeat in a row.
It turned out owner Mohed Altrad had been in contact with former FFR President Bernard Laporte, who accepted the post of director of rugby the morning after last Saturday’s defeat ...