Clermont teaches Stormers a Euro lesson
MATCH REPORT: The Stormers were taught a lesson in the realities of the European competition when Clermont beat them 24-14 in the Champions Cup Round One outing at Stade Marcel-Michelin, in Clermont-Ferrand, on Saturday.
The Stormers, after an impressive first half, held a 14-3 lead at the break.
However, a clever change in tactics exposed the Stormers’ defence and saw the home tea score two second-half tries and two more penalties for a win that was more impressive than the final margin suggests.
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💛 @ASMOfficiel are back in the game!
There was no stopping @AlexNewsome_11 once he spotted a gap!
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— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) December 10, 2022
The opening exchanges were tense and things were made even more difficult for the Stormers when replacement Ben-Jason Dixon was shown a yellow card after just eight minutes.
Dixon was on for Ernst van Rhyn, who was off for a Head Impact Assessment and was sent to the bin for 10 minutes for a high tackle.
The teams traded penalties and were level at 3-all when the Stormers went back to 15.
They dominated the rest of the first half, with two more penalties and a maul try from Deon Fourie – who was imperious at the breakdown.
The hosts started the second half with confidence and had a try in the corner from fullback Alex Newsome and they followed that up with a penalty to bring themselves back within a point.
The French side had all the momentum in the second half and they took the lead for the first time when wing Alivereti Raka scored with 15 minutes left.
A drop-goal and a penalty from Plisson were enough to seal the 10-point win for the home side.
The scorers
For Clermont Auvergne
Tries: Newsome, Raka
Con: Plisson
Pens: Plisson 3
DG: Plisson
For the Stormers
Try: Fourie
Pens: Libbok 2, Blommetjies
Yellow card: Ben-Jason Dixon (Stormers, 9 – foul play, high tackle)
Teams:
Clermont: 15 Alex Newsome, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Samuel Ezeala, 12 Apisai Naqalevu, 11 Alivereti Raka, 10 Jules Plisson, 9 Sebastien Bezy, 8 Jacobus van Tonder, Alexandre Fischer, 6 Arthur Iturria (c), 5 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 4 Tomas Lavanini, 3 Cristian Ojovan, Yohan Beheregaray, 1 Eitienne Falgoux.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Boudou, 17 Giorgi Beria, 18 Davit Kubriashvili, 19 Thibaud Lenen, 20 Killian Tixeront, 21 Baptiste Jauneau, 22 Anthony Belleau, 23 Chiekh Tiberghien.
Stormers: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Alapati Leuia, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Neethling Fouche, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain).
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Junior Pokomela, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Clayton Blommetjies.
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)
bWayne Falla (England), Alex Thomas (England)
TMO: Thomas Foley (England)
