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Clermont down Stade in action-packed thriller
By Ben Spratt
Clermont Auvergne maintained their winning start to the Top 14 season by handing Stade Francais their first defeat in an eventful 42-20 bonus-point triumph.
Saturday's late game put the leading teams up against one another and an explosive clash delivered on its potential, with seven tries and a red card for Tony Ensor.
Although Stade's Gael Fickou cancelled out George Moala's opening try, Clermont were in control throughout, crossing again through Morgan Parra and Wesley Fofana.
The game burst into life again with 10 minutes remaining as Ensor was dismissed and Clermont scored twice more with Moala getting his second and Judicael Cancoriet capping the home scoring.
There was still time for Etienne Falgoux's 79th-minute sin-binning to even up the sides, before Stade scored a late consolation through Julien Delbouis in the dying seconds.
Racing 92 fared much better as they thrashed Agen 59-7, despite a second yellow card for Joe Rokocoko.
Rokocoko scored the sixth home try of a scintillating opening 30 minutes and Racing continued to dominate throughout, with Louis Dupichot crossing for his second and the hosts' ninth after seeing his Rokocoko dismissed.
Meanwhile, Toulouse held off a second-half fightback from La Rochelle to triumph 33-26.
Elliot Roudil and Arthur Retiere each crossed twice after the break for the visitors, but five Toulouse tries, capped by Thomas Ramos, proved to be enough for victory.
Jonathan Wisniewski's five penalties carried Lyon to a 22-16 win over Perpignan, while Johan Goosen's late three-pointer from the tee got Montpellier a 9-9 draw against Bordeaux-Begles.
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Latest Comments
Which people exactly?
Go to commentsWas anything but fine margins, the scoreline was flattering for that game. They were beat in every margin but most emphatically be effort of Argentina. They were slow and likely arrogant in their prep following the England series. You can see the effect on the selection and poor messaging all the playmakers started receiving from the coaching setup there after.
Otherwise though there was also a lot of really good stuff that can too easily be labelled as lucky by people intent on making a point. The team was far from certain and clinical though and the best that can be said of their losses was that they were largely due to some atrocious decisions with cards twice against SA and the neckroll last weekend (you can't take away the 14 point try, that is typical French rugby and to be expected).
This team is good enough to be able to cope with those sorts of difficulties if they could just execute a bit better (but only as well as they have traditionally mind you). Sound selections aside. Some good positivity in this article but we know it's not going to be easy as the ABs have just been trying to return to their DNA after Fosters control but countries like Aussie have a much bigger task in that respect and SA is even trying to change their DNA (again). Those two opponents (along with France obviously) are going to provide some tough competition in seeing who can lead into the 2027 RWC with the best prospects and form behind them.
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