Ahead of Top 14 final, Castres’ Combezou talks up Montpellier

Montpellier head coach Philippe Saint-Andre, meanwhile, insisted this week his side are ‘51-49’ underdogs to claim their first-ever French championship, after finishing two points and one place below the leaders.

TIME TO DELIVER: Montpellier's French flanker Zach Mercer (C) runs with the ball during the French Top 14 rugby union match between Montpellier and Castres. (Photo by PASCAL GUYOT/AFP via Getty Images)

Castres are ‘not at all favourites’ to beat Montpellier in the Top 14 final on Friday and lift the Bouclier de Brennus for a sixth time despite finishing the regular season at the top of the table, according to veteran centre Thomas Combezou.

“Just look at their season, their journey in the European Cup and the depth of their bench. They are one step ahead of us,” he told journalists at Stade de France on Friday, ignoring the fact Castres finished top of the table for the first time, and are chasing their third domestic title in their fourth final in the past nine years.