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French hero Parra earns win for Clermont to prevent Sale sealing last-16 place
Morgan Parra came off the bench to kick Sale Sharks to defeat and earn Clermont Auvergne a 25-19 win in the Heineken Champions Cup.
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Introduced with the scores level and 20 minutes to go at Stade Marcel Michelin, France half-back Parra landed two penalties to break the deadlock.
Sale were able to take away a losing bonus point but will still have to pick up more points in their final pool game against Ospreys at home next weekend to be certain of a place in the top eight in Pool A and secure a place in the last 16.
Sharks boss Alex Sanderson, already without an unnamed England international who was suspended by the club due to an ongoing police investigation, lost chief playmaker AJ MacGinty late on meaning he had to put his faith in 21-year-old Kieran Wilkinson at number 10.
After an error-strewn opening, the English Premiership side took the lead after five minutes when home scrum-half Sebastien Bezy knocked on at the base of a scrum in his 22 and the Sharks picked up a penalty turnover. They kicked to the corner and Jean-Luc du Preez drove over for the first of six first-half tries.
His brother Rob hit the post with the conversion but it was a statement of intent from Sale – but Clermont were quick to respond and veteran number eight Fritz Lee crossed at the posts.
Outside half Camille Lopez added the extras and then threw the long cut-out pass in midfield to dangerman Damien Penaud after Clermont had stolen a Sale scrum ball just inside the home half. Penaud had enough space to get on the outside of his marker and send Alivereti Raka racing clear.
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Lopez converted and the Covid-restricted home crowd of 5,000 were much happier. Not for long, however.
Three minutes later Sale fashioned their second try as Rob du Preez kicked through and Tom Roebuck outstripped the home cover to dive in. Rob du Preez’s conversion levelled things up and then England prop Bevan Rodd grabbed a pick-and-go try that was also improved by Du Preez.
Just as it looked as though Sale would go into the interval with their tails up, a long kick through by flanker Judicael Concoriet forced Will Cliff to race back and try to clear.
He managed to kick the ball dead to gave Clermont a final play of the half from a five-metre scrum but a kick through to the posts by Lopez earned a try for Penaud and the conversion levelled things up at 19-19.
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Worse still for Sale, they lost full-back Luke James to a yellow card for a deliberate knock-on prior to the try which meant they had to play the opening stages of the second half a man short.
Sale successfully negotiated the 10-minute sin-bin period and almost regained the lead just after the hour mark when Cliff dived in at the left corner, only to be denied a try by an arm in touch.
Clermont, though, went back in front in the 67th minute when replacement scrum-half Parra knocked over a 45-metre penalty, and with five minutes to go he added another to give his side some breathing space.
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
30 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
27 Go to comments