#Goodbye #players #Europe #ASMRugby
The Clermonteños fulfilled their part of the market by prevailing with authority against a great team from Montpellier at the end of a highly intense match. Miracles were not to be expected from the Toulouse side, which largely prevailed against Biarritz, making it impossible to qualify for the final phase. However, the victory is precious because it offers a place in the Champions Cup. Morgan Parra, Camille López and the starters contributed greatly to this success before receiving the well-deserved tribute of a Michelin full of emotions.
Clermont (Marcel-Michelin Stadium) mild climate, excellent pitch, 18,546 spectators. Clermont beats Montpellier 20-15 (break: 7-3) Arbitration by M. Poite
Clermont: 2 attempts by Beria (8me) and Barracks (53me), 2 penalties from Parra (42me) and Lopez (74me) and 2 Parra transforms
Montpelier : x Rattez Trials (51me) and Aparsidze (67me), a penalty (51me) from Paillaugue and a Garbisi transformation
A clash of big arms
Faced with a platoon from the Hérault that was always difficult to maneuver, the Clermontois did what was necessary to take over the territory, putting a constant commitment in the contact zones. After a pack of dominant strikers, the Michelin began to bubble up and multiplied the force of the Auvergnats besieging the 22-meter Hérault. Behind a Morgan Parra mackerel as he likes to be and an incisive Camille López, movements follow one another and Giorgi Beria crosses the MHR line from 8the minutes of the meeting. Some inaccuracies on both sides will lose the intensity of the initial fire desired by Jono Gibbes’s men, but they remain in the MHR field thanks to a sparkling Fritz Lee and a whole pack up front. Despite all his determination in the image of Morgan Parra, painful for his MHR counterpart since behind this scrum where he prevents the exit of a ball and puts a lot of pressure on Montpelliers, the championship leader’s defense holds on and will no longer take front. the slightest point and will not offer more ammunition to Clermont’s scorers who even see Benoit Paillaugue lower the mark a few minutes before the break (7-3).
Goodbye from the bottom of my heart…
Returning from the locker room, the Montpellier team will show a completely different face, although Morgan Parra adds 3 points at the start of the period. Dominators at the level of possession of the ball, the greats of the MHR take revenge and multiply the penal touches. If the forwards are countered, the three-quarters take over and find the solution on the small side where Vincent Rattez sneaks in, forgotten by the Auvergne defenders. Montpellier becomes threatening, but the danger will be repelled almost immediately by the Clermont attackers who respond eye for an eye in the wake of a Damian Penaud of the great nights, dangerous with each of his ball shots, which he finds after a huge gap Jean Pascal Barraque entered a few minutes earlier for an unstoppable attempt at the end of the line. Morgan Parra transformed from the touchline and gave his team a small margin before leaving the Michelin in a moment of pure emotion that suspended the Michelin for a few moments. It is a strong moment for the yellows and blues who are pressing more and more on the MHR line. Two tries will be denied to Sébastien Vahaamahina and Morgan Parra, regardless of Clermont holding the lead and even if Garbisi rushes into an interval to make Aprasidze shine (67me), Camille López fired a last penalty that allowed Héraultais to be kept at a distance, thus avoiding an end to the match that could be diverted to a penalty. The whole team will finish the job to hold this last ball that Sébastien Bezy will send to the stands handing out a Michelin full of pleasure at the idea of maintaining his place in the European Elite and ready to celebrate the players who have dreamed of it so much.
Clermont did not shake and probably delivered one of his best performances in physical density and consistency during 80 minutes. A great way to pay tribute to his historic hinge and to the players who will leave the club in the coming days. The victory also secures a place in the Champions Cup for the next season. A great way to say “goodbye”.
The Clermont team: 1.Beria, 2.Fourcade, 3.Falatea, 4.Jedrasiak, 5.Vahaamahina (cap), 6.Cancoriet, 7.Van Tonder, 8.Lee, 9.Parra, 10.Lopez, 11 Pourailly, 12. Vili, 13. Penaud, 14. O’Connor, 15. Tiberghien
Substitutes: 16.Pelissié, 17.Bibi Biziwu, 18.T.Lanen, 19.Dessaigne, 20.Bézy, 21.Hanrahan, 22.Barraque, 23.Slimani.
The Montpellier team: 1.Lamositele, 2.Amosa, 3.Haouas, 4.Verhaeghe, 5.Chalureau, 6.Van Rensburg, 7.Camara (cap), 8.Mercer, 9.Paillaugue, 10.Gabrisi, 11 N. Gandebe, 12. Serfontein, 13. Doumayrou, 14. Rattez, 15. Bouthier
Substitutes: 16.Guirado, 17.Rodgers, 18.Capelli, 19.Becognée, 20.Aprasidze, 21.Pollard, 22.Vincent, 23.Thomas.