Racing beat Clermont to book Munster date

Clermont Auvergne’s search for a first Champions Cup title goes on after they succumbed 28-17 to French rivals Racing 92 at the Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin.

It was a magnificent game and just one point separated the teams at the break. Morgan Parra kicked three early penalties before Peter Betham crossed the whitewash for the hosts, while an outstanding Leone Nakarawa try and successive Maxime Machenaud three-pointers provided the visitors’ response.

Parra and Machenaud traded efforts off the tee in the second period, but the Parisians took control of the encounter through Marc Andreu and Boris Palu tries.

Clermont had put all their efforts into this campaign following their domestic issues but, despite the team’s best efforts, they were unable to respond to that quick-fire burst.

Racing duly qualified for the semi-finals where they will look to reach their second Champions Cup showpiece event.

Franck Azema’s men have endured a terrible season in the Top 14, but back-to-back victories over Saracens in December displayed their quality and they were exceptional early on at the Marcel Michelin.

The hosts played with pace and physicality, while Parra directed operations superbly from half-back and Racing, who reside in second position domestically, struggled to cope.

Most of the game was taking place in the visiting 22 and the home side’s kicker took advantage of the Parisians’ ill-discipline. The France international scored two three-pointers for a 6-0 buffer before he added a third after Bernard le Roux was penalised for an off-the-ball incident on the scrum-half.

Racing were on the back foot but they responded in the best possible way with one of the tries of the season. Instigated by Andreu, the diminutive wing weaved his way past several would-be tacklers and passed to Camille Chat. The hooker combined with Wenceslas Lauret before the ball was shifted to Nakarawa and the lock did the rest.

It was a brilliant score and one which gave them momentum. Virimi Vakatawa was particularly fired up and his superb tackle on Nick Abendanon earned a penalty which Machenaud converted for a 10-9 lead.

Considering their form since Christmas, that could have been a significant blow for Auvergne but they hit back magnificently when Parra broke through and sent a long, looping pass to Betham, who touched down in the corner.

The match remained tight, however, and Machenaud reduced the arrears to 14-13 at the interval before he moved them in front minutes into the second half.

Clermont’s captain immediately responded by adding a penalty of his own as the lead changed hands once again.

The nerves then started to come into play and the free-flowing affair gave way to a slightly more attritional contest, but a piece of Dan Carter magic changed the course of the game.

Carter stepped off his left and produced an excellently weighted pass out to Andreu for the Frenchman to scamper over unopposed.

Les Jaunards’ supporters were unhappy, insisting that it was forward to the wing, but the try stood and, evidently affected by that score, Clermont conceded a minute later. It was once again brilliantly worked, with the All Blacks’ legend finding space in the opposition rearguard, and Palu was on hand to end the game as a contest.

Azema’s men had a try ruled out late on and Wesley Fofana came on to almost spark a revival, but the visitors were ultimately too good on the day as they effectively ended Clermont’s season.

The scorers:

For Clermont:
Try: Betham
Pens: Parra 4

For Racing:
Tries: Nakarawa, Andreu, Palu
Cons: Machenaud 2
Pens: Machenaud 3

Clermont: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Peter Betham, 13 Damian Penaud, 12 Rémi Lamerat, 11 Remi Grosso, 10 Pato Fernandez, 9 Morgan Parra (c), 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Alexandre Lapandry, 6 Peceli Yato, 5 Sébastien Vahaamahina, 4 Arthur Iturria, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Etienne Falgoux
Replacements: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Loni Uhila, 18 Davit Zirakashvili, 19 Sitaleki Timani, 20 Damien Chouly, 21 Greig Laidlaw, 22 Camille Lopez, 23 Wesley Fofana

Racing 92: 15 Louis Dupichot, 14 Teddy Thomas, 13 Virimi Vakatawa, 12 Henry Chavancy, 11 Marc Andreu, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Maxime Machenaud (c), 8 Yannick Nyanga, 7 Bernard le Roux, 6 Wenceslas Lauret, 5 Leone Nakarawa, 4 Donnacha Ryan, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Camille Chat, 1 Eddy Ben Arous
Replacements: 16 Ole Avei, 17 Vasil Kakovin, 18 Cedate Gomes Sa, 19 Boris Palu, 20 Baptiste Chouzenoux, 21 Dan Carter, 22 Xavier Chauveau, 23 Joe Rokocoko

Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
Assistant referees: Thomas Foley (England), Paul Dix (England)
TMO: Rowan Kitt (England)