Toulouse scrum half Antoine Dupont scores a try during the European Cup group match in Ulster, Belfast, December 11, 2020 / AFP
Five French clubs, Toulouse and Clermont in the lead, struck hard from the start by winning against British formations for the 1st day of the European Cup which did not succeed for English clubs, with the exception of Wasps .
. Toulouse and Clermont, the box
A finding is obvious in view of the first results. As in the Top 14, the absence of spectators – or only a few thousand, as in Belfast – favors travel: 7 away wins in the first 8 matches!
Among these happy visitors, 4 took the bonus, a guarantee of success to reach the quarter-finals in a formula with two pools of 12 which promises to be uncompromising. Including Leinster, who outclassed Montpellier 35-14, the only French club beaten. And Toulouse and Clermont, ready to apply for the succession of Exeter after benchmark successes in Ulster (29-22) and Bristol (51-38).
In a usually impregnable Ravenhill, the Toulouse first suffered to find themselves behind 12-0 after 20 minutes. But they came back to height thanks to their X factors Cheslin Kolbe and Antoine Dupont, before emerging victorious in the crossover, bonus as a bonus, on a second try of the South African tightrope walker.
If Toulouse’s performance is strong, what about Clermont’s? Bristol was certainly deprived of Semi Radradra and its spectators, but the Bears did not go to win the European Challenge against Toulon, in Aix-en-Provence, only thanks to their Fijian star. In view of its 7 tries, Camille Lopez’s team, in its finest tradition of European offensive festivals, seems to be back at its best.
. La Rochelle, UBB, Toulon, it’s all good
Clermont’s Japanese full-back Kotaro Matsushima exults after his try in the European Cup group match in Bristol, December 12, 2020 / AFP
Sublimated by his three-quarters, including the Japanese Kotaro Matsushima author of a hat-trick for his first European match, Clermont therefore provided the spectacle, including defensively (5 tries conceded). Quite the opposite of UBB, lackluster in Northampton before breaking through the safe on a nice robbery (16-12).
Buried under his cap, Saints coach Chris Boyd has not finished ruminating on this penalty from Matthieu Jalibert which came crashing into the left upright of the posts (74th). His players watched him come down and Bordeaux winger Santiago Cordero emerged to pick up the bet in the middle of 5 arrested defenders.
In Toulon, it was another small winger, Gabin Villière, who launched the success of the RCT against Sale (26-14) after a small kick over the defense of Louis Carbonel. The Toulonnais, the only winners at home, took off on the hour (26-0) but stalled when it came time to get the precious bonus. The following weekend, they will go to Llanelli to challenge the Scarlets, narrowly winners in Bath (23-19).
. A new Brexit?
Bristol, Northampton, Sale, Bath … A week after the correction grazed by XV de la Rose against reservists of the XV of France (22-19 after extra time), the English, orphans of the Saracens administratively relegated, were vaccinated at the defeat and already find themselves in an awkward position. Except the Wasps, winners with the bonus from the Welsh Dragons (24-8), pending the entry into the running on Sunday of the defending champion Exeter against Glasgow.
At Gerland, Lyon will want to confirm this English regression against Gloucester (2:00 p.m.). At La Défense, Racing 92, opposed to Connacht (4:15 p.m.), will once again set out to conquer Europe, two months after its frustrating defeat in the final against the Chiefs.
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