Clermont, already beaten by the Tigers in the first leg, lost again (44-29), moreover heavily but with the defensive bonus at stake, Friday evening against Leicester in Auvergne during the 3rd day of Champions Cup. In the European Challenge, Pau, who had won in Wales, also lost, at home against the Dragons (21-15).
Leicester has given a layer, Clermont on the edge of the abyss. Already winners in the first leg (23-16), on December 17, on their lawn for the 2nd day, the Tigers won again (44-29), Friday evening this time in Auvergne during the reunion between the two teams on the occasion of the 3rd day of the Champions Cup. On arrival, Clermont, who nevertheless gave the feeling of getting better after having put an end against Perpignan last weekend to a series of three defeats in all competitions (against Leicester therefore, Brive and Toulouse), therefore curve again the back and sees the qualification for the round of 16 move away after this 2nd defeat in three games, while his opponent of the evening settles at the top of the classification in group B. And it is not the offensive bonus , pocketed by the ASM as by its executioner, which will give a smile to the Clermontois, no more than the completely crazy scenario of this match which was just as much. Thus, while the Tigers had quickly led 10-0 thanks in particular to a try from Scott after only five minutes of play then 24-7 shortly before half-time (27-14 at the break), the Jaunards had the merit to never give up. It resulted in a splendid tussle and two teams going blow for blow (Tries by Delguy, Fourcade, Belleau and Jedrasiak for Clermont, by Simmons, Kelly and Scott again for Leicester) until Leicester n inflicted the blow too many to Clermont on a fifth try, signed Cronin while the players of Jono Gibbes, who constantly ran behind the score, had returned to five points from the British, on a penalty from Belleau. A feat at the Stormers is now needed for ASM.
Pau also beaten
After having quickly opened the scoring, in Béarn against the Dragons, on a try from Ikpefan (7th), Pau, like Leicester, also thought he could score a full card after his success on February 17 against this same team in the country. of Wales in the European Challenge. The Welsh obviously did not see things the same way. And it didn’t take long for them to completely reverse the situation, on two tries from Hewitt and Clark and a penalty from Reed. Pinto’s try for the Section as soon as the locker room returned completely revived Pau before two new penalties, signed Reed and Hanrahan, definitively put an end to Pau’s hopes of beating the Dragons again. In the Group B standings, the Welsh are in 3rd place. Paul is 5th.
