Latest
Overview
Season so far
Tournament record
It is almost exactly three years to the day since Racing-Metro 92 announced themselves on the Heineken Cup stage by beating ASM Clermont-Auvergne. - 08/10/2013 11:03
It is almost exactly three years to the day since Racing-Metro 92 announced themselves on the Heineken Cup stage by beating ASM Clermont-Auvergne.
The 16-9 victory in Paris was the club's first home Heineken Cup tie and showed they could mix-it with the best in Europe. However in the three campaigns since then, they have failed to progress out of the pool stage.
In contrast, Clermont have been edging closer and closer to the elusive prize, never more so than in May when they let the lead slip in the Heineken Cup Final in Dublin by Toulon. It was heartbreaking for a side who thought their time had finally come having previously lost in quarter-finals and semi-finals.
Captain Aurelien Rougerie said: “We had a big disappointment last season but that it behind us now, we must turn the page and look forward to this season. This is a wonderful tournament, we have prepared for it and the atmosphere has been building towards the start of the pool stage.
“But we know we are in a very difficult group that starts with Racing-Metro. They have recruited very well during the summer with some big players arriving in Paris, so it will be very hard for us to reach the quarter-finals.”
Welsh British Lions pair Dan Lydiate and Jamie Roberts arrived in the summer and have helped make Stade Yves du Manoir a formidable place to visit this season.
Racing won their first four home games of the Top 14 before they were narrowly beaten 22-20 last week by Grenoble. That loss will have sharpened their focus and in fellow Lion Jonathan Sexton, have a player who knows what it takes to win the Heineken Cup having lifted the trophy three times with Leinster. Two-time winner Ronan O'Gara is also now part of the back-room staff.
Clermont have had a miserable time on the road so far this season, losing their last four away games in the Top 14 since victory on the opening weekend at Biarritz. However the giants from the Massif Central know what it takes to win in the Heineken Cup.
Première opposition entre les deux outsiders de cette poule 4
A breakaway try from his own 22 by wing Marc Andreu turned the game on its head and steered Racing Metro 92 to a famous home win in Pool 4 over last season’s Heineken Cup runners-up ASM Clermont Auvergne.
Clermont played all the rugby, made all the line-breaks, but once again came up short. They now face Harlequins at home in round two in a must win game on Sunday.
For Racing it was a complete turn-around from their grim home defeat by Grenoble in the Top 14 the previous weekend and they defended as if their lives depended on it. They had to weather a huge opening storm from their visitors and were thankful to be a mere 9-3 behind at the break.
Clermont had first use of a big wind and dominated possession and territory in the first half, yet only had three Morgan Parra penalties to show for their efforts. Johnny Sexton kicked one in reply to keep the game in the balance.
Racing grew in stature as the game went on and their defensive efforts got stronger and stronger, with full back Benjamin Lapeyre and scrum half Maxime Machenaud leading by example. Time after time the former All Blacks wing Sitivini Sivivatu broke through, yet he was always hauled down in the end.
One of his line busts looked as though it was going to lead to a try for Napolini Nalaga, but somehow Lapeyre not only brought him down, but ripped the ball away in the tackle. The ball went clear and Andreu picked it up and raced up the right touchline for the decisive score of the game.
Sexton converted and then added a penalty to put daylight between the two teams. Parra pushed a penalty just wide shortly after, there were three yellow cards and the final one against Francois van der Merwe for a trip on Sivivatu gave Clermont one last chance.
Brock James kicked to the corner, Julien Bonnaire won the line-out and the late charge was on. There was 90 seconds of open assault on the Racing line, but the home side held their line firm and took all four points.
LIVE - TEST - Commentary