TOPS
Facing his former team and Christophe Urios, the coach who did not want to keep him at ASM, Cheik Tiberghien had ants in his legs. He asserted himself confidently in the air and missed nothing on the basics from the fullback position. But above all he was decisive on both sides of the field. On Martocq’s try, it was he who made the difference with an overflowing shot on Raka and a well-negotiated number (46′). A few minutes later, facing the same Raka, it was he who saved his team from the Clermont response by pushing the international winger into touch. A performance which must have given regret to Clermont supporters.
Like his Italian partner, Federico Mori, the 24-year-old center has never stopped winning his duels and pushing his partners forward. At the conclusion of the movement initiated by Tiberghien on the second Bayonne try, he did not touch a lot of balls but managed to beat 4 defenders and gained 54 meters with the ball in hand. Clean in defense, he has really established himself since the start of 2024.
Tevita Tatafu, Facundo Bosch and Swan Cormenier. Grégory Patat had planned to finish the match strong and the scenario proved him right. The Samoan right pillar, tracked by the XV of France, transformed the Bayonne scrum and martyred his direct opponent at the end of the match. Facundo Bosch also stood out at the best of times. While Clermont pushed to go ahead, the Argentinian hooker scored two hot balls to relieve his teammates and allow Rowing to breathe. Author of 7 tackles in 28 minutes, he struggled in defense.
FLOPS
The international winger alternates between the good and the very bad this season. Author of two doubles in the last three matches, Alivereti Raka had a complicated evening like that experienced against UBB and Madosh Tambwe last December. Surprised and overtaken by Tiberghien’s excessive framing, he once again showed off his defensive shortcomings (4 missed tackles out of 9 attempted). And if offensively he often manages to compensate, Raka this time did not succeed in making the difference. He had the opportunity but couldn’t resist the return of the Bayonne rear when he was very close to relaunching ASM (54′).
The Urios recipe is known and announced. The players must wear their jerseys, give everything and show that they want to. But when this energy is not channeled, the consequences can hurt. And despite his experience, Urdapilleta was the first to leave his match by being too vehement towards the referee. Result, an avoidable penalty (31′). But it was especially at the end of the meeting that the ASM faltered in its behavior. A yellow card for too aggressive clearance by Bibi Biziwu (74′) and a series of penalties which allowed Camille Lopez and Bayonne to get away. An overwhelming desire which also generated numerous technical errors and wasted ammunition for the Clermontois, unable to score a point after the 54th minute, despite unchallenged domination.
