Clermont hammer Harlequins
CHAMPIONS CUP REPORT: Clermont fired out a warning to the rest of their Champions Cup rivals as they overpowered Harlequins 53-21 in Pool Three at Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin.
Fijian duo Peceli Yato and Alivereti Yaka were too hot to handle with a brace of tries apiece as their powerhouse running cut through the visitors’ defence time after time.
Yaka struck as early as the 11th minute when he scooped up a loose pass from Quins centre Francis Saili to charge through unchallenged for the opening try.
Returning Harlequins fullback Mike Brown was then hammered in a tackle and Clermont were clinical with the finish as Camille Lopez chipped ahead for Raka and Yato was on hand to provide a stunning finish.
Raka then went on the rampage again for his fellow countryman to again provide another powerhouse finish for his second try.
Yato was denied a brilliant hat-trick due to a knock-on in the build-up and although Harlequins finally got on the scoreboard when Tom Lawday went in from Danny Care’s pass, Morgan Parra’s penalty saw Clermont go in at the break with a 25-7 advantage.
Clermont again showed their running power on the re-start as Isaia Toeava finished off a break from fellow centre George Moala and despite a brave response from Quins with tries from Elia Elia and a stunner from James Lang after a brilliant run from winger Gabriel Ibitoye there was no stopping the home side.
Lopez was again the architect as his precision kicks first set up a second for Raka and then a deserved effort for Moala with Mike Tadjer adding their seventh touchdown five minutes from time.
Harlequins will attempt to get back on track when they meet English rivals Bath at the Twickenham Stoop next Saturday while Clermont face a mouth-watering challenge at Ulster.
The scorers:
For Clermont:
Tries: Raka 2, Yato 2, Toeava, Moala, Tadjer
Cons: Parra 4, Laidlaw 2
Pens: Parra 2
For Harlequins:
Tries: Lawday, Elia, Lang
Cons: Smith 3
Teams:
Clermont: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Peter Betham, 13 Isaiah Toeava, 12 George Moala, 11 Alivereti Raka, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Morgan Parra (captain), 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Alexandre Fischer, 6 Peceli Yato, 5 Sitaleki Timani, 4 Paul Jedrasiak, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 John Ulugia, 1 Etienne Falgoux
Replacements: 16 Mike Tadjer, 17 Loni Uhila, 18 Davit Zirakashvili, 19 Thibault Lanen, 20 Clement Lanen, 21 Greig Laidlaw, 22 Jake McIntyre, 23 Apisai Naqalevu
Harlequins: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Cadan Murley, 13 James Lang, 12 Francis Saili, 11 Gabriel Ibitoye, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Danny Care, 8 Tom Lawday, 7 Will Evans, 6 Chris Robshaw (captain), 5 Matt Symons, 4 Glen Young, 3 Simon Kerrod, 2 Scott Baldwin, 1 Santiago Garcia Botta
Replacements: 16 Elia Elia, 17 Mark Lambert, 18 Phil Swainston, 19 Tex Cavubati, 20 Renaldo Bothma, 21 Martin Landajo, 22 Michele Campagnaro, 23 Ross Chisholm
Referee: Dan Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Mike English (Wales), Richard Brace (Wales)
TMO: Sean Brickell (Wales)
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