Clermont thrash La Rochelle as Toulon go down to Racing 92 in the Top 14
Last Updated: 22/08/15 3:47pm
David Strettle got his Top 14 chapter off to the perfect start with a try on debut as Clermont beat La Rochelle 44-6 at Stade Marcel Deflandre.
Strettle crossed early in the second half to capitalise on a 17-3 half-time score that was set up by tries from lock Paul Jedrasiak and England's Nick Abendanon.
Camille Lopez added 17 points with the boot as Clermont exercised the demons of losing both the Champions Cup and Top 14 final at the end of last season with a bonus-point win in their first run out of the new campaign.
There looked to be a glimmer of hope for La Rochelle when young Clermont scrum-half Enzo Sanga was shown a yellow card for a professional foul as the third period drew to a close. But two minutes later he was joined in the sin bin by replacement prop Jone Qovu Nailiko who was spotted stamping on an opponent in a ruck.
Further tries from Julien Bardy and Arthur Iturria five minutes from time then added to an emphatic win away from home for Clermont.
Racing 92 shock Toulon at home
Racing 92 got their Top 14 season off to the perfect start with a 27-22 win over European champions Toulon on Friday night.
Toulon scrum-half Jonathan Pelissie slotted two penalties against one from counterpart Maxime Machenaud before Pelissie added a try and conversion to make it 13-3 to Toulon after 35 minutes.
Machenaud added another penalty before centre Henry Chavancy added a try for the visitors on the stroke of half-time.
Two further Machenaud penalties gave Racing 92 a 17-16 lead before Pelissie snatched the lead once again with an effort from the tee.
Racing were able to kick on from there, as Chris Masoe crossed the whitewash against his former club which gave Racing 92 a five-point lead with 13 minutes remaining.
The two scrum-halves traded penalties one more time to give Racing a 27-22 win away from home against last year's losing semi-finalists.
