How could they? The Clermont, who led 28-9 in the 26th minute, mortgaged their chances of qualifying for the quarter-finals by losing at home to the Irish from Munster (31-39), who took advantage of their lack of discipline. ASM is now 4th in Pool B where Munster, undefeated this season in eight games, climbs to 3rd place (8 pts) two lengths behind the leaders, Lyon and Toulouse.
Franck Azéma’s team, which has lost only for the third time on its own ground since 2007 in the first phase of the European Cup, will hardly be consoled for the offensive bonus point it took very quickly with Etienne’s fourth try. Fourcade (23).
Previously, Alivereti Raka (1), a penalty try (6) and Damian Penaud (14) had validated the good start of the game of the ASM who then scored only three points in the second period during which the Jaunards were totally dominated.
“Too unruly”
“It’s obviously very hard to lose at home in this competition in which there are only four group matches. It’s a stoppage. It will be complicated later but you have to switch to the Top 14 “, admitted opener Camille Lopez. “We started to make too many mistakes already at the end of the first period. We were too undisciplined. In such matches against opponents, top European Cup players, we cannot afford to make so many mistakes . We gave them the opportunity to come to us, to score points and in the end they stayed in the race even though we had given a good start by scoring four tries, “he continued.
Because the relaxation was total, just like the indiscipline. An Irish try from Mike Haley (29) then the boot from JJ Hanrahan started the Munster’s reaction even before half-time. In the second half, the ASM even evolved twice to 14 against 15 after the cards of Judicaël Cancoriet (58) and Thibaud Lanen (70) allowing the Irish to take the advantage after a test by CJ Stander (32-31 , 69). The Munstermen then did not loosen their grip to conclude with a try from Kevin O’Byrne ensuring the victory (77).
CLERMONT 31 – MUNSTER 39
MT: 28-16; behind closed doors ; referee: M. Carley (England)
Defeated: 4E Raka (1), penalty (6), Penaud (14), Fourcade (23); 3T, 1P (60) Lopez
Winners: 3E Haley (28), Stander (69), O’Byrne (77) ; 3T, 6P (4, 8, 19, 43, 52, 57) Hanrahan
Score evolution: 7-0, 7-3, 14-3, 14-6, 21-6, 21-9, 28-9, 28-16/28-19, 28-22, 28-25, 31-25, 31-32, 31-39
Clermont : Matsushima; Penaud, Barraque, Moala, Raka (o) Lopez, (m) S. Bézy (Parra, 72) – C. Lanen (T. Lanen, 49), Lee, Cancoriet (Veredamu, 78); Yato, Jedrasiak (Annandale, 78); Slimani (Falatea, 54), Fourcade (A. Pélissié, 72), Ravai (Falgoux, 54). Excl. time. : Cancoriet (56, tackle without the ball), T. Lanen (68, dangerous play)
Munster : Haley ; Earls, C. Farrell, de Allende, Daly (o) Hanrahan (Scannell, 80), (m) Murray (Casey, 63) ; O’Mahony (Holland, 72), Stander, Coombes (O’Donoghue, 63) ; Beirne, Kleyn (F. Wycherley, 55) ; Archer (J. Ryan, 53), Marshall (O’Byrne, 72), J. Wycherley (O’Connor, 76). Excl. time. : Daly (6, forward voluntary)
–
