Get Newsletter

Lopez boots Clermont into play-offs

It is the sixth time in eight seasons that Clermont have reached the last eight and they will host Exeter Chiefs in Round Six to try to ensure a home draw. Bordeaux's defeat means they are now unlikely to progress as a best runner-up with their best total being 15 points.

ADVERTISEMENT

The visitors had to come through a tricky start after going down to 13 men in the first half as Nigel Owens sent both fullback Isaiah Toeava and prop Viktor Kolelishvili went to the sin-bin in the ninth and 13th minutes.

But the home side weren't able to take advantage and a penalty apiece from Ian Madigan and Lopez meant it was 3-3 by the time both teams were back to a full quota. Having started brightly, Bordeaux came under increasing pressure as the half wore on, but it was 6-6 at the break after both outside halves added a second penalty.

Bordeaux came out looking to stamp their authority on proceedings as the rain poured down at the start of the second half and lock Tom Palmer got over the line, but was held up. Clermont did well to clear their lines after that and managed to grind out a few more penalty chances.

Lopez was wide with a drop-goal attempt but hit the mark with a 59th minute penalty to take the lead. He missed on the stroke of time, but by then it didn't matter – Clermont had ground out a victory to take four points.

The scorers:

For Bordeaux-Bègles:   Lopez boots Clermont into play-offs

Pens: Madigan 2

ADVERTISEMENT

For Clermont:

Pens: Lopez 3

Teams:

Yellow Cards: Isaia Toeava (Clermont), Viktor Kolelishvili (Clermont), Cyril  Cazeaux (Bordeaux-Bègles)

Bordeaux-Bègles: 15 Jean-Marcellin Buttin, 14 Nans Ducuing, 13 Jayden Spence, 12 Joe Wakacegu, 11 Jean-Baptiste Dubié, 10 Ian Madigan, 9 Baptiste Serin, 8 Marco Tauleigne, 7 Hugh Chalmers, 6 Loann Goujon, 5 Cyril Cazeaux, 4 Tom Palmer, 3 Vadim Cobilas, 2 Ole Avei, 1 Sébastien Taofifenua

Replacements: 16 Clément Maynadier, 17 Jean-Baptiste Poux, 18 Steven Kitshoff, 19 Berend Botha, 20 Luke Jones, 21 Yann Lesgourgues, 22 Blair Connor, 23 Geoffrey Cros

ADVERTISEMENT

Clermont: 15 Isaia Toeava, 14 Noa Nakaitaci, 13 Remi Lamerat, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Adrien Plante, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Viktor Kolelishvili, 6 Damien Chouly, 5 Sébastien Vahaamahina, 4 Paul Jedrasiak, 3 Davit Zirakashvili, 2 John Ulugia, 1 Raphael Chaume

Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Flip van der Merwe, 20 Alexandre Lapandry, 21 Ludovic Radosavljevic, 22 Benson Stanley, 23 Scott Spedding

Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

Assistant Referees: Dan Jones (Wales), Wayne Davies (Wales)

TMO: Neil Hennessy (Wales)

@ChampionsCup

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Write A Comment