Darren Sweetnam makes first Top 14 start in La Rochelle loss to Montpellier

Former Munster full-back Sweetnam had been named at 15 as Ronan O'Gara and Jono Gibbes rested many of their Champions Cup semi-final heroes for the first Top 14 outing after the win over Leinster last weekend

Darren Sweetnam. Picture: INPHO/James Crombie

Darren Sweetnam's first start for a much-changed La Rochelle ended on the wrong end of a 32-22 Top 14 defeat at Montpellier.

Fly-half Jules Plisson had kicked the Champions Cup finalists back into the game after the hosts had scored two early tries - but Montpellier, revitalised by their own run to the Challenge Cup final, ran in three scores in a dominant second period before the Rochelais' forwards bundled over a late consolation.