Omens good for holders

A GAME of firsts, this one.

Fabien Galthie’s Montpellier have never played in the Heineken Cup before and Leinster will be opening their European account on French soil for the very first time at the Stade de la Mosson, at the 17th time of asking.

It may well turn out to be Leinster’s toughest assignment in the pool stages. Then again, it may not. With the French, as always, it is impossible to say and Montpellier’s run-up to this could be interpreted two ways.