Top 14: Clermont edge plucky Brive
TOP 14 REPORT: Clermont leapfrogged three arch-rivals to go atop the Top 14 after a hard-fought 26-21 victory over Brive on Sunday, the latter club's first home loss since September 2014.
The two-tries-to-nil result left Clermont on 33 points from 10 games, one ahead of Toulon and Toulouse, with Racing Metro now in fourth (30). Brive snatched a last-gasp defensive bonus point thanks to the unerring boot of fullback Gaetan Germain to move ahead of Bordeaux-Begles into fifth spot.
After a second-minute yellow card for Clermont's Portugal flanker Julien Bardy for a late hit on flyhalf Matthieu Ugalde, Germain stepped up to kick his first penalty.
The fullback saw a second effort moments late drift just wide. But Morgan Parra made no such mistakes in drawing Clermont level with a touchline effort.
Germain restored the home side's lead with his second penalty and was unlucky not to be played in for a sure try as flank Said Hireche's pass was intercepted by a covering Argentinian flyhalf Patricio Fernandez, making his first appearance for Clermont.
The fullback kicked a third penalty as Brive dominated possession.
Scott Spedding's long-range penalty attempt fell short and wide for Clermont, Fijian wing Malakai Radikedike stretchered off after a serious-looking leg injury in resulting play.
Parra notched up a second penalty before Nick Abendanon and Spedding combined on the half-hour mark for Aurelien Rougerie to cross for Clermont's first try in three games, converted by the France scrum-half.
Germain hit a fourth penalty for Brive and a fifth early in the second period, Parra striking back with two quick-fire three-pointers of his own to hand the visitors a 19-15 lead.
Germain cut the deficit with his sixth penalty, but a tiring defence was shown up with 20 minutes to play as replacement wing Albert Vulivuli stepped through some weak tackling to score Clermont's second try, Parra hitting the extras.
Germain handed his club an invaluable losing bonus point with a seventh penalty as the referee brandished two yellow cards for Clermont's Ludovic Radosavljevic and Brive's Arnaud Mela after an all-in fracas at the whistle.
In Saturday's action, All Black centre Ma'a Nonu enjoyed a winning Top 14 debut for Toulon with a crushing 53-16 win over Agen.
Toulouse matched Toulon on points with a 27-3 win over rock-bottom Oyonnax on the day that inspirational skipper Thierry Dusautoir announced his international retirement.
While Nonu enjoyed a winning start to his new life in France, it was a different story for Australian scrum-half Will Genia as champions Stade Francais slumped to a last-minute 24-21 loss to Bordeaux-Begles in Paris.
Castres claimed a third successive win with a 34-19, bonus-point triumph over Montpellier with backrow forward Alex Tulou scoring a hat-trick against his former club.
French Top 14 results:
Brive 21 Clermont 26
Castres 34 Montpellier 19
La Rochelle 33 Grenoble 16
Stade Francais 21 Bordeaux-Begles 24
Toulon 53 Agen 23
Toulouse 27 Oyonnax 3
Pau 15 Racing 15
French Top 14 table (played, won, drawn, lost, points for, points against, bonus points, total points):
Clermont 10 6 1 3 276 179 7 33
Toulon 10 6 0 4 352 193 8 32
Toulouse 10 7 0 3 261 147 4 32
Racing 92 10 7 1 2 201 188 0 30
Brive 10 6 0 4 197 164 4 28
Bordeaux 10 6 1 3 223 192 2 28
Montpellier 10 6 0 4 250 264 2 26
Castres 10 5 0 5 231 231 4 24
La Rochelle 10 4 0 6 222 237 5 21
Grenoble 10 4 0 6 229 274 3 19
Stade Francais 10 4 0 6 199 220 2 18
Pau 10 3 1 6 172 284 1 15
Agence France-Presse
