Clermont set sights on play offs after Bordeaux win

Last season’s European Rugby Champions Cup runners up Clermont remained on course for a place in the play offs by beating Bordeaux-Begles 28-10 in a tough physical encounter at Stade Chaban-Delmas.

The result from the match that was postponed from November after the Paris terror attacks moves Clermont to the top of Pool 2.

The losing side Bordeaux remain in last place in the pool behind Exeter and Ospreys and have lost three out of four matches.

Bordeaux’s cause was not helped when replacement lock Julien Le Devedec was red-carded for head-butting Paul Jedrasiak just five minutes into the second period when they were already trailing 23-10.

They also then played 10 minutes with 13 men when replacement prop Francisco Gomez Kodela was yellow-carded for a crude shoulder charge which sent Clermont scrum-half Morgan Parra careering off the pitch.

Bordeaux had been in front 3-0 thanks to an early penalty from veteran fly-half Lionel Beauxis, but that was the only time they held the advantage.

English full-back Nick Abendanon grabbed Clermont’s first try of the evening after 17 minutes from 20 metres out, cleverly feinting to the right before setting off on his left foot, squeezing between three defenders to score.

Parra added the extras and a penalty for 10-3 before Bordeaux clawed their way back to 10-10 when hooker Clement Maynadier barrelled over for a try, converted by Beauxis.

By half-time, however, Clermont were 17-10 to the good when fly-half Camille Lopez danced through an inviting gap for the converted try.

Parra popped over two more penalties early in the second half for 23-10 which was the cue for Bordeaux to lose their discipline and Le Devedec and Kodela.

Welsh centre Jonathan Davies then sweetly set winger Noa Nakaitaci on his way for a 70th minute try for 28-10 which left Clermont on top of the group, two points ahead of Ospreys.

Final Score Bordeaux-Begles 10 (10) Clermont Auvergne 28 (17)

Scorers

Bordeaux-Begles
Tries – Maynadier
Pen – Beauxis
Con – Beauxis
Drop –

Clermont Auvergne
Tries – Abendanon, Lopez, Nakaitaci
Pen – Parra (3)
Con – Parra (2)
Drop –

Match Officials
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland),
Assistant ref: Leo Colgan (Ireland),
Assistant ref: Paul Haycock (Ireland),
TMO: Seamus Flannery (Ireland),
Citing Commissioner: Eddie Walsh (Ireland)

Teams

Bordeaux-Bègles: Darly Domvo; Metuisela Talebulamaijaina, Felix Le Bourhis, Romain Lonca, Jean-Baptiste Dubie; Lionel Beauxis, Heini Adams; Jefferson Poirot, Clement Maynadier, Sekope Kepu, Berend Botha, Adam Jaulhac, Louis Madaule, Luke Braid, Matthew Clarkin

Replacements: Ronan Chambord, Jean-Baptiste Poux, Francisco Gomez Kodela, Julien Le Devedec, Marco Tauleigne, Yann Lesgourgues, Pierre Bernard, Nans Ducuing

ASM Clermont Auvergne: Nick Abendanon; David Strettle, Jonathan Davies, Wesley Fofana, Noa Nakaitaci; Camille Lopez, Morgan Parra; Thomas Domingo, John Ulugia, Daniel Kotze, Paul Jedrasiak, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Vito Kolelishvili, Alexandre Lapandry, Damien Chouly (c)

Replacements: Benjamin Kayser, Raphael Chaume, Vincent Debaty, Loic Jacquet, Fritz Lee, Ludovic Radoslavjevic , Pato Fernandez, Aurelien Rougerie