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ASM Clermont Auvergne wing Remi Grosso
Two-time Challenge Cup winners ASM Clermont Auvergne will be hoping to continue their excellent European form when they travel to face Timisoara Saracens in Romania.
- This will be the second time the sides have met, with Clermont easing to a 70-12 win in Round 2 of this season’s competition.
- Clermont have won 17 of their last 19 Challenge Cup matches, with both defeats coming in the knockout rounds (2005 & 2011).
- Timisoara are yet to win a match in the Challenge Cup, but they have already scored more points this season (29) than they managed in their previous campaign (28).
- Clermont’s Peceli Yato is the top try scorer after two rounds this season, crossing four times in total, including two against Timisoara in Round 2.
#FanASM les gagnants du concours Fan ASM avec les joueurs de l @ASMOfficiel au départ ✈️ pour #Timisoara 🇷🇴👌🏻 pic.twitter.com/ZujsF1OVAS
— ASM Rugby (@ASMOfficiel) December 7, 2018
Clermont's Fijian winger Alivereti Raka.
ASM Clermont Auvergne maintained their 100 per cent record in Pool 1 of the European Rugby Challenge Cup thanks to a rampaging second-half display.
Fijian winger Alivereti Raka scored a try in either half to earn the man of the match award and was a constant threat with his powerful charges.
Clermont had taken charge early on with tries by hooker Yohan Beheregaray and the first of Raka’s touchdowns but their Romanian opponents hit back when winger Daniel Zaharia intercepted and crossed for scrum half Gabriel Conache to convert.
The French side grabbed a crucial score a minute from the break when Tongan prop Loni Uhila plunged over to give the visitors a 19-7 advantage.
Timisoara, who have now lost all three pool games, had no real answer in the second period and there only consolation was a try from replacement forward Ionut Muresan converted by Gabriel Rupanu.
#TIMASM @raka_alivereti #ManOfTheMatch de la rencontre grâce à son doublé face à Timisoara pic.twitter.com/fBvNwUMMis
— ASM Rugby (@ASMOfficiel) December 8, 2018
Clermont turned up the heat as the second half progressed with Raka adding his second touchdown followed by efforts from flanker Judicael Cancoriet, centre George Moala and replacement forward Jacobus Van Tonder.
Samoan full-back Tim Nanai-Williams landed six conversions.
Next Saturday Timisoara play hosts to Northampton Saints while Clermont take on Dragons in France.
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