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Munster Rugby have decided not to risk skipper Peter O'Mahony in their opening Heineken Cup game in Pool 6 following his head knock in the win over arch-rivals Leinster last weekend - 08/10/2013 10:53
In-form Munster can chalk up a century of victories in Europe if they get past Clermont Auvergne at Thomond Park.
A win would be their 100th in European competition and the form book is certainly in their favour. Munster have won all 23 home games against French opposition in Europe, with the last five coming by an average winning margin of 24 points.
In contrast Clermont have won just once on Irish soil, beating Leinster in round four of the 2011-12 edition of the Heineken Cup. The home side has won all four previous meetings between the two giants of European rugby and Munster captain Peter O’Mahony admits it’s vital they keep that record going.
O’Mahony said: “It’s non-negotiable, you’ve just go to win your home games. That's what drives you on. Fear drives you on in European rugby; you have the first two games, you think you're doing alright and then, all of a sudden, it’s back-to-back Clermont.
“It’s the beautiful thing about this competition, how competitive it is and how it’s turned out now. It’s more competitive than it ever was so you have to be on your game.
“I can’t remember what we’ve done over the last few years, it’s in the past. It doesn’t worry me what we've done over the last number of years in back-to-back games. All I know it’s the pivotal period.
“It’s ironic that we say that about the first two games as well. But you’ll be able to tell by the next two games what way the pools are going. That's how important they are.”
Clermont are the top points scorers (58) and try scorers (six) after two rounds and they have also beaten the most defenders and made the most clean breaks of any other side. England full back Nick Abendanon, recruited from Bath in the summer, has been the pick of the bunch with his broken field running.
Match Facts
- ASM Clermont Auvergne are one of just four clubs in Champions Cup and Heineken Cup history to have a winning record over Munster (W3, L2)
- Munster could record their 100th victory in Europe’s top if they win on Saturday.
- This fixture has been won by the home club on all four occasions, with Clermont also winning the 2013 semi-final meeting at Stade de la Mosson in Montpellier.
- Clermont’s Nick Abendanon has gained more metres (222) and beaten more defenders (11) than any other player in the competition this season.
Pour la première fois de l'histoire de la Coupe d'Europe
Munster will have to wait for their 100th top flight European victory after ASM Clermont Auvergne stormed the Thomond Park fortress in a thunderous encounter.
The win swept Clermont to top spot in Pool 1 and with home clashes with Munster and Saracens to come they are slight favourites for automatic quarter-final qualification.
Clermont are one of just four clubs in Champions Cup and Heineken Cup history to have a winning record over Munster and that is now stretched to four wins and two defeats.
Leicester Tigers and Ulster Rugby were the only previous elite tournament winners at Thomond Park and Clermont joined them in some style as the first of the French.
Because there are dream starts and there are dream starts – and Clermont made a dream start right out of the top draw on their way to a 16-9 triumph.
There was just 58 seconds on the clock when Munster found themselves behind on the scoreboard and Clermont were celebrating.
A kick to the corner set up the perfect line-out platform and there was no stopping Kiwi No 8 Fritz Lee as he was powered over by his fellow forwards – Lee crowned Heineken man-of-the-match some 79 minutes later.
Outside half Camille Lopez failed with the conversion attempt but they kept Munster on the ropes as they applied nearly all the early pressure in a blistering start by the 2013 finalists.
Ian Keatley did respond with a 15th minute penalty for the former double champions but six minutes later Clermont struck with their second unconverted try.
A strong run by Aurellien Rougerie but the key contribution came from that man Lee as he drew the defenders before a clever pass put Wesley Fofana in the clear for a well worked try.
Keatley did land a second penalty goal, via the right upright, but Lopez started and finished their next score.
He took a quick line-out and when he was back in possession he hammered over a massive long range drop goal to open up a 10-points advantage.
No-one troubled the scoreboard for the opening 20 minutes of the second half until Keatley fired over his third penalty to cut the deficit to seven points.
There was a scare when Clermont full back Nick Abendanon was forced off after being clattered by Felix Jones.
Munster threw everything at Clermont in an effort to take more than a losing bonus point from the contest but the French defence held firm for a famous win, Damien Chouly stealing Munster line-out ball at the death to wrap matters up.
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