La Rochelle edge Top 14's opening day battle of the champions

Ronan O'Gara's Champions Cup winners get the better of Top 14 champions Montpellier at the Stade Deflandre

La Rochelle full-back Brice Dulin is tackled during the Top14 win over Montpellier at the Marcel-Deflandre Stadium

A pair of yellow cards 20 minutes apart were decisive as Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle came from behind at Stade Marcel Deflandre to edge a nip-tuck encounter with French champions Montpellier 26-22 on the opening day of the new Top 14 season.

The hosts’ winger Dillyn Leyds cruised over for the game’s opening try after 57 minutes, shortly after Montpellier lock Bastien Chalureau was sin-binned for one offside too many. The hosts second - and decisive - score came via a penalty try two minutes from time, after prop Mohamed Hoauas was carded on behalf of his pack following repeated penalties at a 5m scrum.