Clermont had the possibility of joining Bayonne this Saturday, December 28, on the occasion of the 13th day of Top 14, but the Auvergnats, the best team at the start of the season at home, fell to the Marcel-Michelin against Montpellier (22-18) .
In a rugby match without much momentum, Montpellier relied on the boot of the Scotsman Stuart Hogg (17 points) to punish Clermont's approximations. On one of his rare moments of confusion, which allowed Bautista Delguy to score a try after recovering a high ball, he was saved by the video, which canceled the try for a forward several times front game.
“A big pie in our face,” comments Christophe Urios, the Clermont coach, at the microphone of Canal + We must show humility, congratulate the opponent because they played the match we expected and return to the work Monday morning. » Before adding at a press conference: “I felt it coming. We lacked everything and the only action where we did what we wanted was the last one. Montpellier didn't show much, but played its game.”
Montpellier has a fifth consecutive victory, the third in the Top 14, which allows it to move up to 7th place and aim for the play-off places in 2025. Joan Caudullo, its coach, is pleased: “We were able to demonstrate mastery and we made few mistakes, fewer than usual. Stuart Hogg is an exceptional player who brings us on and off the pitch but everyone is to be congratulated.”
