Bath a massive challenge - Nourault

Montpellier face 1998 Heineken Cup winners Bath Rugby at Stade Sabathe on Friday night in the opening round of the European Challenge Cup with Director of Rugby Didier Nourault declaring: "Bath Rugby is a massive test for us to have in our opening Challenge Cup game.

"They have an extremely physical game - you could say a very British style of play - very well trained and organised, playing the game a bit like a recital or drill in the same way regardless of the opponent.

"In fact, as far from our style of play as you could get!

"We prefer to analyse the opposition and to understand their style of play so we can adapt to them and counter their game. We allow them to take the initative. But if we had the same physical attributes amongst our players as Bath have, we would certainly look to play more like they do.

"We are very aware that they have a highly competitive scrum and an impressive line-out, that their defence is very strong and well organised, that they carry the ball very effectively and that they love the combat in a match.

"All of the English clubs have a good number of international players, which is very different to the French championship, where the international players are concentrated in a few of the clubs who are inevitably at the top of the table, and this will clearly put us at a disadvantage.

"What's more, given the exhausting start we have had to this year's French championship, we are being forced to rotate the squad and rest certain players.

"At least this will give us the opportunity to test some of our front row players such as Anthony Vigna and Philemon Toleafoa against what is a very high quality scrum, as well as putting our young French internationals Nicolas Descamps and Didier Chouchan an opportunity to shine."

Montpelllier are hoping that the experience brought to the club by the French international Olivier Sarramea and the Argentinian international Fédérico Todeschini will give them some of the lift they need on the pitch, whilst new additions to the coaching team in the form of Alan Hayardet will enable them to be more competitive both in domestic and European competition.

"We are hoping that with a bit of luck, we'll be able to field some of our talents like Sarramea and Todeschini who could be back from injury in time for the game," said Nourault.

"But even if we are able to put these guys on the pitch, we are under no illusions - the game against Bath is going to be very, very difficult."