Parra moves on from headbutt

Editor

France scrum-half Morgan Parra insists last season's disciplinary issues are behind him as he prepares to face Montpellier on Friday.

France scrum-half Morgan Parra insists last season's disciplinary issues are behind him as he prepares to take on Montpellier on Friday.

The experienced Clermont player was sent off for a headbutt on Rene Ranger last season which saw him suspended for the end of the Six Nations, and he will go up against the former All Black this weekend.

Parra, 25, admits he can sometimes react badly, but believes the incident is history as Clermont look to make it three wins from three to start the Top 14 season.

“I've always been quite a nervy, impulsive player, but I shouldn't have done what I did… even if I don't think I touched him. But it's over,” Parra told Rugbyrama.

Clermont won their second game in as many weeks away at Brive last weekend, having opened up the campaign against Grenoble, but Parra admits there is still work to be done.

“We played well in the first half against Grenoble, the second was more difficult but we won and that's the most important thing,” he added.

“Away at Brive it was a good performance in terms of aggressivity, combat and defence. Our physical and mental freshness enabled us to go and get a result like that away from home.

“We started well by stopping their big number eight [Koyamaibole], who caused us a lot of problems last year. Now [against Montpellier] we have to play a bit more and to manage the game better.”

Against Brive Parra formed a half-back partnership with Camille Lopez, a new signing from Perpignan who has impressed so far this season.

And after years of playing alongside Brock James, who had started the previous week, Parra admits Lopez offers a slightly different style of playmaker.

“I'm very lucky to play with two very good fly-halves,” he explained.

“The difference between the two is that one speaks French a little better than the other! They have two very different games. Camille attacks the line a little more, whereas Brock tends to bring those around him into play.

“But Camille has just arrived so he needs to get to know and understand the players around him and then he'll be able to play more like Brock.”