Dominant: Clermont
Clermont took a stranglehold on Pool 5 as they defeated Leinster 28-21 at Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday.
It was unpleasant viewing for the home fans, who were hoping for a response from the holders following last week's defeat at Marcel Michelin.
However, a late try from Fergus McFadden did offer some hope of making the knockout stages as they await games against the Scarlets and Exeter knowing that only two victories will do.
Leinster lost hooker Richardt Strauss to a knee injury on eleven minutes which meant Sean Cronin emerged much earlier than home head coach Joe Schmidt would have liked against the physical Clermont pack, a pack he used to lead.
That injury came in between a penalty apiece from Morgan Parra and Jonathan Sexton in a balanced opening seventeen minutes at the Dublin venue.
However, it was to be Parra who would further trouble the scorers before the end of the first quarter as Jamie Heaslip was pinged for entering a ruck from the side. It was a simple three points for Clermont, who knew that an away win would all but seal top spot in Pool 5.
Leinster managed to level matters with fifteen minutes remaining until the half-time break when Clermont were offside after a good bust from Heaslip took the Irish to within five metres. Sexton made no mistake with the ensuing penalty in a nip and tuck opening.
Clermont then turned on the style in the final ten minutes of the half when - after Parra's third penalty - Sitiveni Sivivatu skipped down the left before handing to Lee Byrne who passed to Naipolioni Nalaga. The wing's carry took them to within five metres before recycled ball from Parra saw Wesley Fofana hit the ideal scoring line. Parra's conversion made it 16-6 which was how it stayed until the break as Leinster's Heineken Cup title defence was waning.
Leinster will host the Scarlets before travelling to Exeter in their Pool run-in, but they would not have been looking any further than the here and now and when Parra extended the lead three minutes after the interval, it was becoming worrying as Clermont's class was clear.
Sexton did reduce the deficit back down to ten minutes on 46 minutes although the home cheers were muted when blindside Sean O'Brien was shown yellow for an off-the-ball tackle on Sivivatu. It wasn't quite the final nail in the coffin but it was mighty close to being curtains for the champions, who were being outmuscled in several, if not all, facets of the action.
Parra's resulting three points off the tee from that O'Brien offence made it 22-9 as the match continued to grow into a one-sided affair. The second-choice France scrum-half was at it again ten minutes later as this time Mike Ross was being given a torrid time at the scrum. That was the prop's last act as boss Schmidt knew he could not risk another yellow card.
They did rally when O'Brien returned to the fray and his back-row colleague Shane Jennings gave the home fans hope with a try from a well-worked line-out with quarter of an hour left. Clermont were not to be denied though and another Parra penalty kept the score ticking over as the French never really looked like relinquishing their vice-like grip on the match.
A late yellow card for Julien Bardy gave Leinster a sniff of a losing bonus-point though and that was all the reigning champions needed as they capped a disappointing afternoon with a stunning counter-attack from inside their own half. That passage was finished with Sexton feeding McFadden to score in the corner and the single point could yet prove to be critical.
The scorers:
For Leinster:
Tries: Jennings, McFadden
Con: Sexton
Pen: Sexton 3
Yellow card: Sean O'Brien (50 mins)
For Clermont:
Try: Fofana
Con: Parra
Pen: Parra 7
Yellow card: Julien Bardy (74 mins)
Leinster: 15 Ian Madigan, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Gordon D'Arcy, 12 Andrew Goodman, 11 Isa Nacewa, 10 Jonathan Sexton, 9 Eoin Reddan, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Sean O'Brien, 5 Damien Browne, 4 Leo Cullen (capt), 3 Mike Ross, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Heinke Van Der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Sean Cronin, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Michael Bent, 19 Devin Toner, 20 Kevin McLaughlin, 21 Issac Boss, 22 Andrew Conway, 23 David Kearney.
Clermont: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 13 Aurélien Rougerie (c), 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Naipolioni Nalaga, 10 Brock James, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Damien Chouly, 7 Julien Bardy, 6 Julien Bonnaire, 5 Nathan Hines, 4 Jamie Cudmore, 3 Davit Zirakashvili, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Raphael Chaume.
Replacements: 16 Ti'i Paulo, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Daniel Kotze, 19 Loïc Jacquet, 20 Alexandre Lapandry, 21 Ludo Radosavljevic, 22 David Skrela, 23 Regan King.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Martin Fox (England), Paul Dix (England)
Television match official: Geoff Warren (England)
Comments
makemehappy says...
@3in4 - none of my comments were trolling ones, unlike yours mate. You weren't the better team and were dominated for most of the match, despite appauling refereeing bias that day. Dont think I read a paper that didn't acknowledge that (I didn't read your Leinster local paper mind you). Just to prove how much of a troll I am, I do think they are a fantastic team. So what do you have to say to that LOL - "sorry" maybe?
Posted 09:20 22nd December 2012
3in4 says...
@makemehappy Nah mate, we weren't lucky that day, we were just better than Clermont. Note the score: 19-15. We scored a try and they didn't, and dominated them easily for 35 minutes of that second half. Fofana messed up his big chance and O'Brien won an entirely legal turnover. That was in spite of Barnes not bothering to punish Clermont for infringing every two seconds and especially Bardy for headbutting Leo Cullen then trying to twist his head off. Face it makemehappy, Leinster are a fantastic team with three Heineken Cups in four years. We might not win it this year but you should realise that next season Clermont will be in Tier 1 with us so we'll have an easier group and a home QF probably. So stupid trolls like yourself with an axe to grind had better get used to us. Leinster will be around winning trophies for a good while yet. Seeya
Posted 23:11 20th December 2012
makemehappy says...
@curates_egg - you note that Leinster were lucky to win the cup last year - why do you think that?
Posted 20:23 17th December 2012
makemehappy says...
@Irishzimbabwean - glad you agree!
Posted 17:18 17th December 2012
makemehappy says...
@curates_egg and @leinster_goy - shame you are confused between fact and trolling. I think your comments equate to trolling. Funny old world. Well done Clermont!! Perhaps that should be what we concentrate on most.
I'd also ask that you don't be such make sure racially abuse comments in future you pathetic excuse for a rugby fan (that is just to leinster_goy). If you have any decency you will apologise. By all means comment on my remarks. I don't agree with curates_egg, but we all have different opinions. Being a complete biggoted idiot isn't however reasonable. You can see why there's been so much unrest in Ireland if you are representative of its population.
Posted 13:38 17th December 2012
foxrock says...
While it made no difference to the outcome - Clermont played outstanding rugby - Barnes, yet again, demonstrated that he's a woeful referee and utterly out of his depth at this level.
If the IRB have a 'Refereeing 101' manual they might let Barnes have the sections on offside and scrummaging - actually better send him everything.
Posted 12:28 17th December 2012
Rosbif says...
@Irishzimbabwean, thanks:-)
Posted 10:51 17th December 2012
Rosbif says...
@RobinMasters. spot on!! no-one is going to fancy receiving Leinster at their home ground for a QF in April, certainly not a T14 side. There is already chatter on the Mayol fans website about RCT softening up Sale yesterday for the visit of Montpol next round, and then maybe going easy on Montpol in the last round if RCT is safe with a home QF. (2 wins for Montpol gets them 21points remember). Seems there is some solidarity on the Cote d'Azur after all. And it shows just how respected/feared Leinster (on April form) are in France. As some-one once said "if you are going to kill the king, make sure he is dead".....
Posted 10:48 17th December 2012
Irishzimbabwean says...
Rosbif - spot on analysis.
Leinster_goy - your response to make makemehappy where you decide to denigrate the whole welsh nation is in very poor taste.
Posted 07:19 17th December 2012
RobinMasters says...
Many posters here seem to have already eliminated Leinster, but they still can qualify, and then it's another story, knockout stages are what they want. Beware of the injured beast... Plus, Top14 is shattering for the French sides, they usually tend to fade down sometime in the spring... I hope I'm wrong, but I think we haven't seen the end of Leinster.
Posted 21:56 16th December 2012
TVaddict says...
-It was a fantastically entertaining game. Watching it was a neutral I was still off my seat at moments with some great play from both teams.
-Clermont won that game in every sense.
-It was refreshing to see Leinster not continue the Irish theme of offside players holding players back from joining the ruck. It let me actually enjoy watching you play, so thank you for that. I only hope Munster can join in with your good example otherwise we're in for another borefest.
-I thought Barnes, as always, was poor. However it was one of his personal best performances (still poor) and I thought he managed to be one of the most neutral refs I've seen perform in Ireland as the bad decisions went mostly 50-50.
-Best I've seen Parra play.
-O'Brien to be cited? I'd think a one-two week ban would be about right.
Posted 15:02 16th December 2012
carpelone says...
Clermont outplayed Leinster. It was a good game to watch, the stadium is fantastic. Leinster will need time to rebuild but some talents are definetely there. Good sportmanship from Rougerie when SOB was sent off. What a tool.
Posted 14:59 16th December 2012
Rosbif says...
@leinster_goy. No worries mon ami. Agree with you re Hines too. He was immense. And watching him embracing the Leinster players after the whistle was magical. That is the spirit of our great game! And seeing wave after wave of blue and yellow flags intermixed continues to be a highlight of the HCup calendar for me. Let's hope we see it again soon.
@RobinMasters and @curates_egg. Agreed, I think we are saying broadly the same things!! I also had a pit in my stomach seeing Cullen's and Sexton's' faces at the end. They have given so much pleasure to neutrals and fans alike these past few seasons. Re qualifying, I had forgotten about the lack of tries, so you're right, Leinster have a mountain to climb....
:-)
Posted 14:17 16th December 2012
leinster_goy says...
@curates_egg
the reasons for makemehappy's trolling are, i suspect, numerous. first, you have the fact that welsh teams (i hesitate to say "regions", because that implies that wales is a nation, which it isn't) have never won a single european cup - looks like this year will be no exception. then there is probably the frustration of coming from a "country" that never fought for its independence and is generally the laughing stock of the british isles. couple that perhaps with some physical "inadequacies", and you have yourself one angry, frustrated troll. i suppose it's to be expected. one thing is for sure: the next time i come across the sunken eyes of a dull, listless people, i'll know that makemehappy and his ilk are in town for a match
another thing: a few posters on this site have already suggested that makemehappy posts comments under many names and guises, and i have to say i'm starting to believe this. look at the comment on this thread by "Thirdpartyview". it has the familiar whingeing, humourless tone that you normally associate with makemehappy. also i did a quick google search and "Thirdpartyview" has no previous comments on this site. perhaps set up by this dedicated troll just for the sake of trolling a report on a Leinster defeat? i wouldn't be surprised
Posted 12:44 16th December 2012
leinster_goy says...
it is the sign of a truly great side when the sad frustrated internet trolls turn up to gloat whenever that side slips up or plays below its potential. thanks to our recent outstanding success (reminder: 3 european cups in 4 years; welsh teams have 0), Leinster have raised the bar, both for themselves and their rivals, to an extremely high level. its only natural that people (even their fans, me included) sometimes hold them to unreasonably high standards, considering what we've achieved. also predictable that some are delighted to see them lose. that's the thing about amazing success - when you have it, people resent you andwhen you eventually go down, take vicious pleasure in your misfortune (look at Man Utd, tiger woods, etc)
as other posters have already said, clermont were deserved winners on the day. Leinster just not at the races. no penetration in midfield. lack of quality in the second row - Hinesy ruthlessly reminded us of that, he had a fantastic game. Carths cant arrive soon enough. Devvers just not up to it - maybe a stint at connacht would do him good?
as for the officiating, some very very strange decisions went in clermont's favour (i actually didnt think it could get worse after last week, but i was wrong). isn't standing a metre offside at every ruck illegal (oddly praised by many as "rush defence")? benjamin kayser standing inside the 22 when he blocked Sexto's restart - not against the rules, wayne? oh well, never mind
@Roastbeef, thanks for your generous comments, unlike those of your fellow countrymen. and you are absolutely right that Leinster's campaign is far from over. 10 points is the last two rounds is far from impossible (even 9 might be enough). Drico, Robbo and Fitzy should be back, BOD willing. with a bit of luck, we could sneak into a QF against harlequins. not a terrible prospect, eh? i know, i'm an optimist
ALLEZ LES BLEUS
Posted 12:15 16th December 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
How will Leinster without BOD avoid following the path of Wasps without LOL...
Posted 12:07 16th December 2012
RobinMasters says...
@Rosbif ; don't get me wrong, I have nothing against Schmidt, but I just find it weird that his coaching should be regarded as superior while he lost twice in a week... Clemont also have an injury list (though shorter I admit). Leinster were as brave as they could have been, but you can't aim at a title with seven penalties conceded (almost one every ten minutes). They lacked discipline, compared to Cotter's men. I do feel sorry though for people such as Cullen, Sexton and the like, they are great players, pleasant to see, ambitious, but a little too undisciplined at this level of competition. What goes up must come down, etc.
Posted 12:01 16th December 2012
curates_egg says...
Well summed up @Rosbif. The only thing I would pull you up on is that the chances of Leinster making the quarter finals are so small as to not even be worth considering.
You can't stay on top for ever and if Leinster is honest, last year's cup was lucky. The gaps in the squad have been papered over since the start of this season. If Leinster want to get back to the top next year, the chequebook will have to be opened (two second rows for a start and a centre - am a big D'Arcy but he is seemingly done and cannot tackle). Unfortunately, we don't have the resources of the big French sides and we have stupid recruitment rules from the IRFU.
Posted 11:29 16th December 2012
Toulousain says...
now now froggy73, easy there.... he may be searching the pro12 fixture list to see what games he fancies watching for the rest of the season....
...and just think how much better rested the irish national team will be for the summer tours if munster and leinster both don't play the knock-outs....
only kidding :-)
he should be looking at montpellier (sale away, toulon home), toulouse (treviso home, leicester away), northampton (casters home, glasgow away) and maybe racing (saracens home, munster away) to figure out if scarlets home and exeter away are easier to bag 8-10 points. and the sarries munster game today takes on a whole different dimension too, especially if its a draw!!
bonne chance et bon courage a toutes et a tous.
Posted 10:24 16th December 2012
Saint_Andre91 says...
How Leinster did escape with a loosing bonus point is a mystery to me. Maybe this was a Christmas present from Mr Barnes.
The TMO did not allow Nalaga's try. Fine. I'd have liked to have the same TMO checking O'Brien's try. The yellow card to Bardy is utter crap. As Leinster could not win turnover ball by themselves, Barnes had to give them fake penalties for they could score two tries while being dominated by Clermont...
What epitomizes this are the ten replays asked by the TMO before ruling out Nalaga's try. His decision was maybe correct (he was just asked to decide on the try) buy everyone could see Cronin and Madigan clinically killing the ball to avoid the simplest of try for Clermont. Could have been a try plus a yellow card. Should have been at the very least a penalty and a yellow card. Barnes decided it was a 5m scrum. Enough said.
Posted 10:14 16th December 2012