Clermont's home run continues
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ASM Clermont Auvergne extended their unbeaten run at home in European matches to 22 games as they avenged their first round defeat at Saracens to clinch a home quarterfinal with an 18-6 victory.
Results earlier in the day meant that both teams went into the game knowing they were in the quarterfinals. The only way Saracens could have missed the cut was if they were beaten by more than 35 points.
That was never likely to happen and so the fight was for the right to host a game in the last eight in April.
Clermont's aggression, and two tries, carried the day and earned them a home game against Northampton Saints, while Saracens now have to visit top seeds Racing Metro in April.
The home side got the scoreboard rolling with penalty from their new French flyhalf Camille Lopez before one of the forgotten men of English rugby, fullback Nick Abendanon, picked a line between Sarries skipper Alastair Hargreaves and Richard Wigglesworth to cross for a try at the posts.
Lopez added the conversion and things were looking grim for the visitors. But Charlie Hodgson managed to cut the gap to four points with two penalties either side of the break and things began to look up.
Clermont lost their giant French lock Sebastien Vahaamahina to the sin-bin at the start of the second half for what looked like a punch on Jacques Burger, but not even that to halt Clermont's relentless drive to victory.
Saracens scored three points with their one man advantage, but when Dave Strettle was sent to the bin for flooring Abendanon with an illegal shoulder charge it took a minute for the home side to snatch their second try.
Lopez kicked to the corner, Bardy won the line-out and five drives later the replacement prop Vincent Debaty claimed the try. Brock James completed the victory with a late penalty.
Scorers:
For Clermont:
Tries: Abendanon, Debaty
Con: Lopez
Pens: Lopez, Delany
For Saracens:
Pens: Hodgson 2
Teams:
Clermont Auvergne: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Noa Nakaitaci, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Napolioni Nalaga, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Julien Bardy, 6 Damien Chouly (captain), 5 Sébastien Vahaamahina, 4 Julien Pierre, 3 Davit Zirakashvili, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Thomas Domingo.
Replacements: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Clément Ric, 19 Loic Jacquet, 20 Julien Bonnaire, 21 Ludovic Radoslavjevic, 22 Mike Delany, 23 Zac Guildford.
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Chris Wyles, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 David Strettle, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Jacques Burger, 6 Kelly Brown, 5 Alistair Hargreaves (captain), 4 Jim Hamilton, 3 Petrus du Plessis, 2 Jamie George, 1 Mako Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Brett Sharman, 17 Richard Barrington, 18 James Johnston, 19 Maro Itoje, 20 Ernst Joubert, 21 Neil de Kock, 22 Charlie Hodgson, 23 Marcelo Bosch.
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Leo Colgan (Ireland), Mark Patton (Ireland)
TMO: Jude Quinn (Ireland)
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