Early Immelman try for hosts, McInally replies with great Edinburgh score
Fall breaks two tackles for second Montpellier try, Ngandebe adds another soon after
Fife touches down for Edinburgh in second half
Toulon v Newcastle in Pool 5 on Sunday
Montpellier 7-7 Edinburgh
Chris Paterson
Former Scotland international on BBC Sportsound
Quote MessageThere's nothing to fear here for Edinburgh. There's an opportunity for them to really get after this game and get in front before the interval
Montpellier 7-7 Edinburgh
That Edinburgh try has given the home side something to think about. Suddenly Montpellier don't look as assured with the ball.
They look to go wide but Gabriel Ngandebe knocks the ball on and Darcy Graham almost collects the loose ball. Had he done so, the wee winger was racing away to score.
Montpellier 7-7 Edinburgh
Chris Paterson
Former Scotland international on BBC Sportsound
Quote MessageIt's a phenomenal try. That's the speed and intent Edinburgh have added to their game. It's typically French rugby but it's come from Edinburgh
Stuart McInally
WHAT. A. TRY.
We've already seen some special tries in this opening weekend of the Champions Cup but this is up there with any of them.
Bill Mata runs in between two defenders on halfway, frees his hands to make a beautiful offload to Grant Gilchrist. The big lock in turn finds Simon Hickey who moves it on to Henry Pyrgos.
The scrum-half looks to be in but is hauled down just short. However, hooker Stuart McInally is first on the scene and he picks up to crash over.
Sensational try and Edinburgh are back in business.
Montpellier 7-0 Edinburgh
The little shimmy from Ruan Pienaar for the try was a moment of class, but other than that there hasn't been much flashy play from Montpellier. Not much in the way of off-loading, but they have so much power man-for-man that every time they take contact they are making yards.
A few scrums in quick succession slows the pace of the game and perhaps gives Edinburgh a bit of a breather. Well, their backs at least....
Montpellier 7-0 Edinburgh
Having conceded the early score they would have wanted to avoid, it's all about staying in the game and gaining a foothold for Edinburgh at the moment.
Blair Kinghorn sends a howitzer of a punt from his own 22m line down into touch inside the Montpellier 22.
But Edinburgh have struggled to get their hands on the ball and the more defending they have to do the more chance they will tire late in this game.
Montpellier 7-0 Edinburgh
Chris Paterson
Former Scotland international on BBC Sportsound
Quote MessagePienaar is almost Matador-like, pulling the defence all at once, and when they did fly out Immelman is able to run that short, hard line
Henry Immelman
The rolling line-out maul put Edinburgh on the backfoot and the ball is whipped wide to Ruan Pienaar. Henry Pyrgos looks to fly up on the makeshift fly-half but the South African dances away from the tackle and pops a pass for full-back Henry Immelman arriving like a steam train on the short line to crash over.
Conversion added and Edinburgh have work to do already.
Montpellier 0-0 Edinburgh
Hamish Watson is pinged at the ruck and Montpellier have a penalty around 5m inside the Edinburgh have.
They elect to kick to the corner but Bismarck Du Plessis' throw is too long and Watson is able to make amends by snatching back possession.
Montpellier 0-0 Edinburgh
As expected Montpellier send their big ball-carriers into the Edinburgh defence but the Scots stand up well and Matt Scott forces a terrific turnover to relieve the pressure.
Montpellier 0-0 Edinburgh
Ruan Pienaar gets us under way.
Montpellier v Edinburgh (15:15)
Chris Paterson
Former Scotland international on BBC Sportsound
Quote MessageA disciplined team performance gives Edinburgh a chance. They need to work together. If they allow the star individuals of Montpellier to take control then you are going to be up against it
Montpellier v Edinburgh (15:15)
Hugo Southwell
Former Edinburgh, Stade Francais and Scotland back
What an opportunity for Edinburgh. I really feel they've got a chance against Montpellier and Toulon at home next week.
Montpellier have had some brilliant results and some shocking results this season. They've got a huge pack and Edinburgh have got to match them up front. Richard Cockerill has picked a really strong eight.
If they sit back and absorb Montpellier running at them, they will struggle. They've got to take the game to Montpellier, move the point of contact, and not let their big forwards dominate.
Edinburgh will win one of these first two games - you've heard it from me.
Montpellier v Edinburgh (15:15)
Montpellier have won just one of their six opening games in the tournament (D1, L4). However, this will be the first time they’ve begun their campaign at home since their debut when they drew 16-16 with Leinster in 2011-12.
Edinburgh are participating in the Champions Cup for the first time since 2013-14 when they won three of their six pool stage games.
Montpellier were the only side to maintain a 100% scrum success rate last season, winning 40/40 on their own put-in.
Montpellier’s Nemani Nadolo made the most metres (553) and clean breaks (16) and beat the most defenders (38) of any player in the 2017-18 season - but he's out injured this weekend.
Image source, Getty ImagesMontpellier beat Glasgow Warriors home and away in last season's Champions Cup
Montpellier v Edinburgh (15:15)
"For months now, the sound of a reverberating thud has been heard almost on a loop in the rugby quarters of the beautiful city of Montpellier in the south of France. Big name after big name has hit the floor injured. They've been falling not like flies but like buffalo.
"The giant, prolific and positively terrifying Fijian wings, Nemani Nadolo and Timoci Nagusa, both out of the team to play Edinburgh in the opening round of the Heineken Champions Cup at the Altrad Stadium on Saturday.
"Of course, Edinburgh coach Richard Cockerill's heart will not be bleeding for his counterpart, Vern Cotter, who is now one of the best-paid coaches in rugby and has one of the best squads in the game."
Read the pre-match thoughts of BBC Scotland's chief sports writer Tom English.
Image source, Getty ImagesPowerful Fijian wing Nemani Nadolo, who blasted holes through Glasgow Warriors last season, is one of a host of Montpellier stars sidelined through injury
Montpellier v Edinburgh (15:15)
Edinburgh will be without winger Duhan van der Merwe, with Dougie Fife starting in his place.
Another Scotland cap, Matt Scott, is drafted into a XV that shows three changes from the win over Cheetahs.
Loose-head prop Allan Dell will make his 50th appearance in the only change made to the pack by Richard Cockerill.
The hosts have been shorn of injured 130kg Fiji wing Nemani Nadolo.
The 30-year-old, who scored 19 tries in last year's Top 14 for the beaten finalists, is sidelined with a knee injury that requires surgery.
Former Scotland boss Vern Cotter has named Springbok Ruan Pienaar at fly-half with Aaron Cruden and Johan Goosen out.
Montpellier: Immelman; Fall, Ngandebe, Martin, Serfontein; Pienaar, Sanga; Nariashvili, B Du Plessis, J Du Plessis, Van Rensburg, Willemse, Ouedraogo, Liebenberg, Picamoles (capt).
Replacements: Giudicelli, Fichten, Guillamon, Kornath, Galletier, Tomas, Reilhac, Dumoulin.
Edinburgh: Kinghorn; Graham, Johnstone, Scott, Fife; Hickey, Pyrgos; Dell, McInally (capt), Nel, Toolis, Gilchrist, Bradbury, Watson, Mata.
Replacements: Ford, Sutherland, Berghan, Hamilton, Ritchie, Kennedy, Van der Walt, Dean.
Image source, SNSScotland international Matt Scott starts at inside centre for Edinburgh
Montpellier v Edinburgh (15:15)
Edinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill says the lack of expectations on his side means it is a "win-win" for them whatever happens this afternoon.
He did warn, though, that Edinburgh are not travelling to France merely to perform the role of gallant losers.
"The Champions Cup is a different level and different experience, but there's no expectation on us, no pressure," Cockerill said.
"We're going there with a positive mindset, we're going there to play and going to try and win the game. It's not about keeping the score down or keeping it respectable, it's about playing as well as we can and trying to go there and win."
Image source, SNSEdinburgh number eight Viliame Mata has made more ball-carries than any other player in the Pro14 this season
Montpellier v Edinburgh (15:15)
If Edinburgh were looking for a gentle reintroduction to the sharp end of European club rugby, this probably wasn't the location or opposition they would have chosen.
It's the Scottish side's first appearance in the Champions Cup for five years. The improvement since Richard Cockerill took charge in the summer of 2017 has been impressive, but today represents the acid test as to just how far Edinburgh have come.
Montpellier boast an array of stars and one of the world's top coaches in Vern Cotter, who Scottish fans will know well after his successful spell in charge of the national team.
Image source, SNSEdinburgh head coach Richard Cockerill (right) says he will enjoy his battles with Montpellier counterpart Vern Cotter (left)