European Rugby Champions Cup: Clermont take the spoils but Munster keep their hopes alive
Last Updated: 14/12/14 6:41pm
Clermont showed their power and pace to beat Munster 26-19 in their European Rugby Champions Cup clash on Sunday.
The win means Clermont top Pool 1 – a point ahead of Saracens – however Munster kept their qualification hopes alive by grabbing an all-important losing bonus point with a last minute Ian Keatley penalty.
It was the first time that Munster have lost the back-to-back rounds three and four but Clermont became the first to do that double over the former champions following their historic 16-9 win at Thomond Park a week earlier and look in formidable form.
Munster started strongly and went six points clear with two Ian Keatley penalties but Clermont stepped up a gear to show their class with some wonderful tries. Wesley Fofana weaved his way through the Munster defence to set-up skipper Damien Chouly to finish off a magnificent team try.
Then, just before the break, a scintillating solo effort from wing Noa Nakaitaci produced another contender for try of the tournament and Camille Lopez's conversion made it 15-6 at the break.
Munster had contested every scrap of possession with great intensity – Paul O'Connell always in the thick of things – but a yellow card for full-back Felix Jones for a trip on outside half Lopez, who ended up with 11 points from the boot, left them a man short and facing an even higher mountain to climb.
Pace and power
Clermont had the upper hand in the scrums while Munster had their best moments at the breakdown but, when it came to posing threats with the ball in hand, it was Clermont who led the way. Lopez highlighted this by sending a pinpoint cross-field kick for Chouly to collect unopposed and cross for his second and Clermont's third
Hooker Duncan Casey finally found the way to the Clermont line late on and Keatley converted for that losing bonus point but Clermont had already done the damage.
