THE MACHINE WELL OILED, AND STARTING TO PURRRR..

 

Under brilliant blue skies and a temperature reminding everyone of summer, plus the largest crowd of the season so far, the Stade Yves du Manoir had a very respectable 13,205, everything was set for a thrilling encounter Montpellier v Clermont, all the World Cup players back in their respective teams and all raring to go, an afternoon of fast running rugby?

Within minutes of the ko. Montpellier had their noses in front with 2 Benoit Paillaugue penalties, the forwards were playing  a commanding game upfront and advanced more than they retreated, but Clermont being Clermont got themselves level by the 25 min.  with 2 Skrela penalties.

Montpellier had not crossed the try line but it was not without trying, they hammered at the Clermont defence like men possessed and then a moment of Trinh-Duc magic, hold the ball, go inside then outside and then the rabbit came out of the hat with a millimetre precise grubber kick for Timmy Nagusa to pounce like a leopard on hunting duty, a dive on the bouncing ball and 5 points for Montpellier, Benoit Paillaugue added the extras, Montpellier 13 Clermont 6.

Just before the break for lemons Paillaugue added another penalty and Montpellier purred into half time 16-6 to the good.

The second half saw Clermont with a renewed lease of life and they were soon back on the score board, the ball came quick from a ruck and Bardy squeezed between players to go into the hallowed ground, Skrela transformed and Clermont were back in the game 16-13. 

In the 56 min. Paillaugue hit a mammoth penalty from 50mts out to edge Montpellier 6 points the better, then defending  on their own 10mts. line, the Mighty Mamuka stole a ball gave a pass to Lucas Amorosino who drew his opposite no. and gave the ball to Timmy TGV Nagusa who only had only 85 mts to get to the line, never in any doubt, he rounded the first, then accelerated past the second defending Clermont player and  went from 2nd gear into 5th and left everybody watching the high spirited Fijian pull into the Twickenham station, not only on time but in advance, plant the ball over the line and he had to wait for the accolades from his team mates as no one could catch him!!! Paillaugue added the 2 points for the conversion 29-13 the match well and truly sewn up?

With 8 mins. left on the clock Clermont attacked, and Parra dived over in the corner he converted his own try and Clermont were only 9 points in arrears.

A silly quick touch found Montpellier struggling 25 mts from their own line and a penalty was awarded, Parra made no mistake and pumped over the 3 points to get Clermont in defensive point territory. A very nerve racking last 2 mins but Montpellier held onto the ball till the siren and Trinh-Duc smashed the ball high into the stand to finish the game, a well fought and deserved victory for the home side.

 A victory which was based on the front five who never ceased to put pressure on their opposite pack in the loose or the tight, the backs threw the ball about sometimes with hearts in their hands but no disasters and the defence excellent, line outs need work but all in all a very good showing and much appreciated by the huge crowd. Montpellier has finally created a platform and now they must move on!!! Lyon on Wed. night and Biarritz the following Sun. 8 points up for grabs we need those points and we must go to these 2 away games with the mental attitude that success is the only formula available. 

 

Steve Whittell.

 

 

Pitch side interview with Clermont’s Welsh fullback Lee Bryne.

 

SW. Difficult afternoon for Clermont?

 

LB. Yes very much so, disappointed really as there was a possible victory this afternoon, but we could not quite make up the arrears. We have come away with the bonus point so it’s not all doom and gloom but we felt a victory was possible.

 

SW. Clermont scored 2 good tries and probably just about deserved the bonus point in the end.

 

LB.  As I said we don’t travel for defending bonus points we came here expecting a victory but it is always difficult to win in places like Montpellier, we did struggle at times, their front 5 did a lot of damage and we were often on the back foot in the scrums plus Montpellier have worked on their defensive and it was never going to be easy.

 

SW How are you enjoying France?

 

LB. It’s going well but very different to what I am used to, the rugby is also excellent an enormous experience for me. We have a great bunch of guys at Clermont the weather is good and I am practising my French so everything is great hopefully an injury free season and an enjoyable couple of seasons in France.

 

SW. Cheers Lee and good luck for the rest of the season.

 

Interview with Timmy Nagusa.

 

SW  Timmy 2 tries this afternoon not a bad days work.

 

TN. Excellent, I have been working very hard on my speed with the coaches, got rid of a bit of excess weight 6 kgs. and slowly getting back to my form of last season. I have also been working on my defence, and kicking in our own 22 the more I work the better I will become, at the moment I am very happy but it would not hurt to be happier. We have an excellent group of guys and the atmosphere is fantastic so if we carry on working hard the results will come our way, we have a tough 8 days in front of us but with the right mental attitude we can be very successful..

 

SW. Why is it that every time you get the ball in hand everyone looks worried?

 

TN It’s my nature and what I am paid for, you always try and think logically but as soon as the ball is in hand that goes out of the window, and if I see a possible gap or the slightest chance of moving forward that’s what I do!! I think it’s in the blood of the Fijians and there is an enormous amount of 7’s rugby played so we do not kick the ball very much and when it works everybody enjoys!!!

Today 2 tries and nearly a 3rd that would have put the icing on the cake!!!.

 

SW. Timmy you score tries but every game you always have an injury.

 

TN You noticed, you know sometimes I need a bit of a rest so to the trainer comes on with water and the other guys need a bit of a breather  it’s a pretty fast pace out on the park these days. I am also practising for when I retire and go into the movies, you can’t be camera shy if you are a movie star, (only joking).

 

SW. Thanks Timmy go join the rest of the boys and thank you.

 

Interviews by Steve Whittell.