After three defeats in a row, the Auvergnats won this Saturday at the Michelin, against the European champions from Bordeaux (34-19).
In the fog, the ASM breathes a little. Clermont indeed won, this Saturday at the Michelin stadium, against Bordeaux-Bègles (34-19), on the occasion of Boxing Day of the 13th day of the Top 14. The Auvergnats first scored two tries, the first on a penalty try after a collapsed penetrating group (21st) and another by Moala (22nd), who was making his return to the competition. UBB, for its part, remained in the game until the hour mark thanks to Barlot (30th) and Falatea (53rd). But Loaloa (64th) and Plummer (68th) then sealed the victory for the Jaunards, who remain intractable at home (only one defeat). Retière’s try (72nd) did not change the course of the match for Bordeaux.
The black point of the evening for Clermont: the injury exit of international scrum half Baptiste Jauneau, injured in the hamstrings. After three defeats in a row in all competitions (and only one victory in five matches), Christophe Urios’ team, which was under pressure, gave itself a little breathing room and got closer to the top 6. After their big victory over Toulon, the Girondins – who had made the trip to Auvergne without Jalibert and Penaud – conceded a third defeat in four Top 14 matches but remained provisionally third in the standings.
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This period at ASM raised questions about the players’ investment and the sporting project of manager Christophe Urios, who has been in office for almost three years and whose effects are slow to be felt. With this success, ASM remains concerned by qualification for the final phases despite its modest ranking: 11th, three lengths from 6th (Toulon). This defeat is a setback for the UBB which remained on three successes including two in the European Cup against the Blue Bulls (46-33) and the Scarlets (50-21) and in the championship against Toulon (46-7).
The Bordelais are still fourth (34 points) eight lengths behind the first two, Toulouse and Pau. With eight changes compared to the defeat in Perpignan, Clermont delivered an ideal start to the match by leading 17-0 from the 23rd minute thanks to a penalty passed by Harry Plummer, a penalty try then another signed George Moala, in strength and numerical superiority. The UBB, lacking energy, however managed to reduce the gap in numerical inferiority on a try from Gaëtan Barlot on a carried ball (31st).
But at half-time the Auvergnats led 20-7 after a new penalty passed by Plummer (35th). Six simultaneous changes for the UBB and the temporary exclusion of Clermontois Barnabé Massa changed the appearance of the game which became more difficult for the ASM also handicapped by the exit for an injury behind a thigh of their scrum half Baptiste Jauneau.
At fifteen against fourteen, the Bordelais took control of the game and restarted with a try from Silipi Falatea transformed by Maxime Lucu (20-14, 54th). But again at fifteen, ASM loosened the grip and regained a margin with a third try signed Giorgi Dzmanashvili after good work from the forward pack, transformed by Plummer (27-14, 66th) before he confirmed Clermont’s good end to the match by himself bringing the score to 35-14 with a fourth try (69th). With a 100% score, the New Zealander scored seventeen points. Arthur Retière’s try for UBB in the final minutes (34-19, 34th) prevented Clermontois from hoping to take the offensive bonus.
