Clermont grind down the Ospreys
Star flyhalf Brock James scored 17 points for Clermont Auvergne on Saturday evening as they recorded a hard-fought, but impressive, 27-7 victory over the Ospreys in their crucial Heineken Cup, Pool Three, clash.
An entertaining encounter, Clermont were the better side on the night but were forced to work for everything they got against a determined Ospreys outfit.
The Welsh region started the match fantastically and were rewarded for their attacking intent with a try after just seven minutes, Lions flyer Tommy Bowe the man to go over for the visitors. A successful conversion from Dan Biggar gave the Magners League side a 7-0 lead.
Springbok Ricky Januarie and Wales fullback Lee Byrne were both looking strong for the visitors with the scrumhalf almost getting his sides second try just 10 minutes into the match. The Stormers star put great pressure on Anthony Floch after a kick forward, stealing the ball before trying to dive over the line. Only a great cover tackle from centre Seremaïa Bai knocked the ball out of his hands and saved Clermont from going further behind.
The home side slowly came into the match with a quarter of an hour gone, winning a very kickable penalty after some sustained pressure in the Ospreys half. James, unsurprisingly, made no mistake.
That score, it seemed, sparked the home side, and their fans, into life. Swinging the ball around, with Aurélien Rougerie and Julien Malzieu particularly promineng, the home team were putting the Ospreys under increasing pressure.
Credit must go to Ryan Jones and his men for their defensive work but the momentum was certainly with the home side.
James added his second penalty of the game with 24 minutes gone, narrowing the gap to just one point.
Clermont continued to dominate the territory and possession but just could not find the killer blow.
Ospreys star Jerry Collins was penalised for a high tackle with 32 minutes gone but Clermont’s Australian No.10 could only hit the upright with his long range attempt.
The continued pressure they were putting on the visitors though was always going to result in another chance presenting itself. A record points scorer, James got the strike right this time around.
Having started the match so well the Ospreys were suddenly willing the whistle to sound for the break. Their defence had been resolute but the pressure from Clermont was now unrelenting.
Extending his teams lead, James added a cheeky drop goal a minute before the break, ensuring the hosts went in 12-7 up.
With so much on the line both teams emerged from half time looking a little tense. Their performances seemed to echo that. Clermont remained the more aggressive of the two teams but still they could not put anything of real consequence in place.
Both kickers missed opportunities to add to their respective sides’ totals during the third quarter, meaning, with an hour gone, the score remained locked at 12-7 in favour of the home team.
Suddenly then, just past the hour mark, Clermont made the most of an Ospreys error and scored a crucial try. Lions star Byrne was the man at fault. Losing control of a high ball, Byrne could only watch as the ball bounced up into Clermont hands and was shuffled out to Malzieu on the left.
The speedster had no one in front of him and made no mistake, scoring in the corner to give the Top 14 side a 17-7 lead.
After a couple missed kicks at goal, including a second one for the night hitting the upright, James finally extended his personal tally, notching up 15 points from the match with a penalty 10 minutes from time.
Having been kept quiet for most of the evening, lethal wing Napolioni Nalaga finally got a chance to put his name on the scoresheet just a couple of minutes from time. The master finisher made no mistake, took his chance, and wrapped up the win for the Top 14 table-toppers.
Clermont thoroughly deserved their victory on the night but the Welsh region will still head into Round Six’s clash with Leicester, at the Liberty Stadium, with everything to play for.
For Clermont
Try: Malzieu
Pen: James
DG: James
For Ospreys
Try: Bowe
Cons: Biggar
The teams:
Clermont: 15 Anthony Floch, 14 Napolioni Nalaga, 13 Aurélien Rougerie, 12 Seremaïa Bai, 11 Julien Malzieu, 10 Brock James, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Elvis Vermeulen, 7 Alexandre Lapandry, 6 Julien Bonnaire, 5 Thibaut Privat, 4 Jamie Cudmore, 3 Davit Zirakashvili, 2 Mario Ledesma, 1 Thomas Domingo.
Replacements: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Martin Scelzo, 19 Julien Pierre, 20 Alexandre Audebert, 21 Kevin Senio, 22 Brent Russell, 23 Gonzalo Canale.
Ospreys: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Sonny Parker, 12 Andrew Bishop, 11 Nikki Walker, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Ryan Jones (capt), 7 Marty Holah, 6 Jerry Collins, 5 Jonathan Thomas, 4 Alun-Wyn Jones, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Paul James.
Replacements: 16 Huw Bennett, 17 Ryan Bevington, 18 Cai Griffiths, 19 Ian Gough, 20 Filo Tiatia, 21 Jamie Nutbrown, 22 James Hook, 23 Shane Williams.
Venue: Stade Marcel Michelin
Referee: David Pearson (England)
TMO: Brian Stirling (Ireland)
