Nick Abendanon rues costly errors that saw Clermont lose to Stade Francais in the Top 14 Final
Saturday 13 June 2015 23:48, UK
Clermont Auvergne's Nick Abendanon believes his side made too many costly errors which allowed Stade Francais to kick their way to a 12-6 Top 14 final victory.
It was yet another heart breaking lost for Clermont after losing this season's European Cup final to Toulon and reinforced their tag as perennial bridesmaids, having now been losing Top 14 finalists on no fewer than 11 occasions despite oozing class and danger from one to 15.
“After the Champions Cup defeat to Toulon we said that we have to learn from our mistakes because in finals like this you only get one shot,” a disappointed Abendanon told Sky Sports.
“Unfortunately again tonight I felt like we let them off the hook too easily. We had them pinned down a couple of times but gave away easy penalties.
“We seem to say that too many times this season – it should have been us in the Champions Cup, it should have been us today.
“We got ourselves into a position to go and win this game but once again we were not clinical enough. There is only one team we can blame and that is ourselves. It is a matter of learning, but we just have not learned.”
The European Champions Cup player of the tournament also defended Clermont’s mental edge and said sometimes in these big finals it comes down to luck.
“Everyone is going to say that it is down to our mental side of the game and I really do have to disagree with that,” added Abendanon.
“This team is mentally strong it is just under pressure situations we just don’t help ourselves. It is those small little things that lose you the game. Fair play to Stade Francais who were really clinical and came and won it tonight.
“We have worked really hard and have got to two finals so credit has to go to the coaching staff and the players for doing that. But sometimes in this game you need a little bit of luck – during the week Wesley Fofana pulls out and we lost some other key individuals. Sometimes you need those game breaking players in finals like this and you could see how disappointed the likes of Wesley were after the game.
“I hear the words next season too often – everyone keeps on saying next season but when you make two finals you have got to convert at least one of them.”
