TOPS
The new Clermont opener is now 37 years old but that did not prevent him from playing the entire 80 minutes of the match. And what a game again. After only two game sheets with ASM, the Argentinian opener already seemed to have the keys to the truck tonight. Without great offensive possibilities, he didn’t open up the game very much but played simple and didn’t make any mistakes. If against the poles he was not infallible (2/4) he managed the two penalties which gave victory to his team (40′, 71′). He also distinguished himself by his disproportionate behavior towards Ronan O’Gara when recovering a ball in the technical area of the La Rochelle coach. Sanctioned with a simple penalty, he could have received a yellow card. But tonight, it is especially in defense that he showed the example to his partners with no less than 13 successful tackles (13/14). Christophe Urios will be spoiled for choice this season in the position of number 10 with Plisson, Belleau and therefore the tireless Urdapilleta.
Not retained in the group of 33 for the World Cup, Brice Dulin does not drag his spleen on the lawns of the Top 14. On the strength of his excellent second part of last season, he continues to shine in the jersey of La Rochelle. Despite the defeat (11-10), he distinguished himself by the accuracy of his choices throughout the meeting. Always there under the high balls, as he is used to, he also allowed his team to keep the pressure on ASM with his kicking game, notably finding a nice 50-22 (46 ‘) . If the Rochelais did not take advantage of it, the international back will have allowed his team to advance with more than 160 meters covered with the ball and 6 crossings.
This success is not the best for ASM but it can be a foundation for the rest of the season for Christophe Urios and his men. Dominated by La Rochelle, the Clermontois were able to resist in defense with no less than 140 successful tackles (against 97 for the Rochelais) and unfailing solidity in important moments such as in the last quarter of an hour of the game. Like the penalty recovered on one of the last scrums of the match and the defense during the last action, the Marcel-Michelin stadium found a team that does not let go.
FLOPS
The ASM certainly leaves with the four points this evening but all is not positive in this victory. If the forwards pulled out of the game in a fierce duel against the Rochelais and if the whole team responded present in defense, it is on the attack that there seems to be work. With only one crossing over the entire game and six defenders beaten, the three-quarters of Clermont failed to make any difference. Despite a slippery ball, we would have liked to see more launches off and combinations but it was not on the evening program.
In the absence of Antoine Hastoy (with the Blues) and Hugo Reus (affected in the ankle), the Stade Rochelais appeared this evening in Clermont without an appointed scorer. Despite the presence of Ihaia West in the starting XV, it was Dillyn Leyds who was in charge of striking for the maritimes. And with two failures against the poles, Leyds is partly responsible for the defeat of his people but would Ihaia West have done better? No one knows. Luckily for La Rochelle, Hugo Reus should be back on track after the World Cup break before Antoine Hastoy returns. Two scorers who will give more certainty to Ronan O’Gara and his staff.