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ASM Clermont Auvergne will be aiming to ease the pain of last year's Heineken Cup semi-final exit when they get their new European campaign underway against the Scarlets. - 11/10/2012 15:54
ASM Clermont Auvergne will be aiming to ease the pain of last year’s Heineken Cup semi-final exit when they get their new European campaign underway against the Scarlets.
The French giants were knocked out by eventual winners Leinster in an emphatic encounter in Bordeaux last April.
They have hit the ground running this season and sit third in the Top 14 table having won six of their opening eight fixtures.
They also have a formidable European record at Stade Marcel Michelin where that have not lost in 11 Heineken Cup matches – since coming on the wrong end of a 32-15 defeat to Sale Sharks.
But they face a red-hot Scarlets outfit that lie second in the Pro12 table. They have scored more tries than any other team in the competition with George North claiming an impressive five tries in as many matches.
But the Welsh outfit have never beaten their Pool 5 rivals.
Match facts
Clermont wing Julien Malzieu made 16 clean breaks in this competition last season, four more than any other player. He also beat more defenders than anyone else (24).
Julien Bonnaire will be hoping to make it 50 Heineken Cup appearances this weekend.
Clermont have won eight and lost four of their 12 clashes against Welsh sides in this tournament.
Scarlets’ Jonathan Davies made 12 clean breaks in six Heineken Cup appearances last year.
Scarlets have faced opponents from France on 37 occasions, winning 19 and losing 18.
Clermont scored 215 points in the pool stages of the Heineken Cup last season, more than any other side in the competition.
Clermont have not lost a home pool match in Europe since 2008 (15-32 v Sale Sharks) and have an overall win rate of 79% in this competition at home.
Of Scarlets’ seven matches in Europe last season, only one was won by more than 10 points (Scarlets 17 – 29 Northampton).
Scarlets have a record of 21 wins and 32 losses away from home in the Heineken Cup, a win rate of 40%.
Scarlets were dumped out of the ACC quarter-finals by Brive last season despite scoring the only try of the match.
Grâce à un sixième succès dans cette poule qu'ils ont largement dominée
ASM Clermont Auvergne signaled their Heineken Cup intentions with a stylish performance against the Scarlets on Saturday afternoon.
Last season’s beaten semi-finalists ran out 49-16 winners against their Welsh opponents in an action-packed encounter at the Stade Marcel Michelin.
Clermont scored six tries to the Scarlets’ one but the scoreline could have been much closer had Morgan Stoddart not been sent off three minutes before half time.
The Scarlets wing, who was playing just his second game since returning from a 14-month injury lay off, saw red for a second yellow card after he failed to roll away having made a tackle a metre short of his own line.
The scores were level at 13 points apiece when Stoddart departed but Clermont were comfortable winners from that point onward.
The Scarlets had gone ahead through Jon Davies as early as the fifth minute but a converted effort from the in-form Sitiveni Sivivatu tied things up shortly after the half hour.
Rhys Priestland and Morgan Parra had kicked eight points each before Parra punished Stoddart’s second indiscretion to hand the hosts a 16-13 lead at the interval.
Clermont then increased that advantage just after the sides returned courtesy of a penalty try. Nathan Hines’ charge down of Priestland’s clearance provide the initial platform and the pack did the rest by forcing the Scarlets front row to buckle under pressure.
The French giants effectively put the game to bed after Priestland had kicked another penalty as Lee Byrne touched down against his old club on 48 minutes. Again, Sivivatu provided the telling contribution as his wrap-around pass saw the Wales and Lions full back race down the right touchline.
Parra’s fine form with the boot continued as he added the extras and Clermont were celebrating the bonus point with 25 minutes still left to play when No8 Damien Chouly powered over from close-range.
The Scarlets refused to lie down but further scores from Julien Bonnaire and Napolioni Nalaga added an even greater gloss to Clermont’s winning margin.
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