Jake's 'winning ways' did the trick

Montpellier's new coach, Jake White, arrested a nine-match slide for his French club by using his tried and tested method - going back to basics.

The South African, a former World Cup-winning Springbok coach, got off to a winning start as the Top 14 strugglers beat European and French champions Toulon 16-12 at the weekend.

White was brought in as a consultant to replace the suspended Fabien Galthie in an aim to stem the tide of losses in European and domestic action.

Club President Mohed Altrad, who caused so much controversy when he called Galthie a failure, was full of praise for White.

He received plenty of backing from the players for the way in which the new boss ran the show.

The extraordinary post-match fireworks suggested Montpellier had won the league, although they move up one position to seventh - within striking distance of a play-off spot.

"Jake White told the players to get back to basics," Altrad said.

"All week we practised what was produced in the game against Toulon.

"Ben Lucas had been pushed to the side in the past and he had a great game.

"Having said that, the No.10 wasn't the difference in this game, it was the forwards who did the job.

"We rediscovered that fighting quality. We'd got to the end of a system and the players no longer wanted to play.

"We had to do something, even if I took my time to take a decision. We dominated this game, which will no doubt be a reference point for us."

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Captain Fulgence Ouedraogo echoed similar sentiments.

"There was a lot of pressure, but the team was able to buckle down and get the win," the flank said, adding: "However, we can still raise our game a few levels.

"We had only a week to work [with White], so we focused on the basic stuff and it worked."

The South African influence was there for all to see, with No.8 Alex Tulou also speaking about the change in attitude brought by White.

"It's been a while since we had produced a game like that," Tulou said.

"We were just not getting the basics right for the past two months, so we focused to do that properly - that was the major change.

"We needed that, and it will give us confidence."

Lucas, Montpellier's Australian No.10, said these are the games you live for.

"The whole game was enormous right to the very last second, it was so close and we just buckled down and fought right to the very end and got the victory," Lucas said.

"The big boys up front really stepped to the mark and dominated the opposition; this is quite an incredible feeling to end a very incredible week."

He also spoke of the South African influence, White and new forwards coach Shaun Sowerby.

"It has been a tough start for both of them, so little time to work, but we are off in the right direction now we must work hard and continue.

"We are again excited about our rugby."

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