Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

Clermont seal Champions Cup quarter-final place with Ulster victory

By Online Editors
Alivereti Raka on the prowl

Clermont Auvergne secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Champions Cup with a 29-13 victory over Ulster at the Stade Marcel Michelin.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ulster host Bath next weekend where a win would see Dan McFarland’s side join Clermont in the last eight.

Tries from Alivereti Raka, George Moala and 16 points from the boots of Morgan Parra and Greig Laidlaw was enough to secure victory form the French side. John Cooney scored all Ulster’s point with a try, conversion and a penalty.

Ulster made a strong start when powerful inside centre Stuart McCloskey burst through the Clermont defence before offloading to Jacob Stockdale who raced up to the 22. The visitors went through the phases but had to settle for three points from Cooney’s boot.

Video Spacer

Clermont responded well with a well-taken drop goal from Camille Lopez. But Ulster had arrived with real intent and a lovely pop pass from Sean Reidy sent tight-head prop Marty Moore clear. Moore offloaded the ball to Cooney who slipped past two defenders for the opening try, which he converted.

Clermont scrum-half Morgan Parra was then sent to the sin-bin for blatantly infringing at the breakdown with Ulster inches from the opposition try line.

The 14 men of Clermont almost scored a sensational try with a searing break from Raka sending Damian Penaud racing down the touchline. The France wing offloaded to Moala who appeared to be clear but was thwarted by Robert Baloucoune.

ADVERTISEMENT

The hosts managed to cut Ulster’s lead to a mere point with two penalties from Parra to reduce the deficit to trail 10-9.

Clermont began to flex their muscles in the early stages of the second half with their scrum winning field position.

The pressure helped them take the lead for the first time in the contest when former All Blacks centre Moala charged into Ulster’s 22 to put his side on the front foot. The ball was recycled with Raka stretching to touch down in left corner, with Parra converting from the touchline.

Ulster managed to regain possession and went about building pressure in Clermont’s half with a series of driving line-outs. This allowed Cooney to narrow Clermont’s lead to two points with another successful penalty but it was cancelled out by Parra’s boot soon after.

ADVERTISEMENT

Clermont’s scrum possessed the upper hand and after shoving Ulster backwards, Scotland international Laidlaw pushed the hosts out to an eight-point lead.

The French side put the result beyond doubt when Moala smashed his way through the Ulster defence to run in from 35 metres out. Laidlaw improved Clermont’s lead from the touchline and there was to be no way back for the Northern Irish outfit.

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

T
Trevor 38 minutes ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 4 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
FEATURE
FEATURE Storm clouds gather over Biarritz with owner poised to bail out Storm clouds gather over Biarritz with owner poised to bail out
Search