Top 14 – “Clermont was conqueror”: the chronicle of Xavier Garbajosa

“Before this match against UBB, Clermont was the most prolific team in the Top 14 at home, with 19 points taken out of a possible 20 but had not yet managed to win away. a little doubt and annoyance after what happened during the week around the club and the heavy defeat in Paris the previous weekend And opposite, there was still the UBB, a. team that only needs a little bit to come and win at your place! A very dangerous team, very effective and even deprived of most of its internationals and its leaders, it still has a quality group. , it has been a very long time since Clermont last beat UBB in the Michelin.

The Clermontois were therefore lulled by doubt but also by the desire to overthrow this team. In this respect, the start of the Jaunards match was very interesting. They attacked “with their feet on the floor” by managing to score a try in the first minute by Joris Jurand: Benjamin Urdapilleta's kick-off and Bautista Delguy catches the ball at the drop point by jumping higher than everyone else. The Clermontois continue five periods of play in the direction of the forwards to reach the other lane; Baptiste Jauneau plays Lanen who takes an offensive tackle from Bordeaux pillar Sadie. Jauneau then returns to the closed area to find Sowakula passing his arms to Joris Jurand. Both tactically, strategically and in construction, it was very well played and Clermont could not have started the match better. This already showed that the Auvergnats entered the meeting with a conquering state of mind, this desire to do well, to impose the fight and the rhythm, to not be the expiatory victims of the Bordelais.

The next step? Win outside

Clermont’s merit after this test? He hasn't stopped playing. In the 15th minute, they took off thanks to Pierre Fouyssac on a throw-in action. The Clermontois initiate a carried ball, Léon Darricarrère arrives with a sharp run, which has the consequence of “attracting” Rohan Janse Van Rensburg who will come to “squeeze” near the carried ball; except that Lee plays it in the back for Jauneau who, with space, can attack the line and serve Fouyssac who can score. It is a “blackboard” essay, well brought out and magnificently executed. At the start of the match, we really felt the desire and appetite of the Clermontois. Behind them they scored yet another third try after another ball carried. In the 25th minute, there was already 17-6 and numerical superiority (yellow card from Van Rensburg) for Clermont. The Jaunards had been able to put themselves in the best conditions but the Bordelais were not going to capitulate. They were able to capitalize on the numerous penalties whistled against Clermont (20) and immediately after half-time, coming back much better and scoring a try quickly via Swinton to come back to 17-13, only four points difference. Then comes the first turning point of the meeting: the try of Léon Darricarrère, the fourth of Clermontois, which “breaks” the dynamic of the UBB and brings the score to 24-13 while one could think that the Bordelais' test would have put a blow behind the heads of Clermontois.

Second turning point, definitive this one, the test refused (rightly) to Lamothe for a screen by Guido Petti. At a time when the people of Bordeaux were much more present and creative. From this situation where the UBB could return to contact, the Clermontois will go into touch twice and will end up causing a foul and a yellow card for Temo Matiu followed by a new try bringing the score to 32-13. UBB's great strength was to score two tries at the end of the match to gain a defensive bonus and deprive Clermont of the offensive. But this victory bodes well for the future and for the construction of the Clermont project, but also in the awareness of their collective and individual capacities.

From now on, the next step for the Clermontois will be to be able to export and win an away match to move up the British rankings. Clermont is in the top 6 and deserves to be there.”