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Montpellier rally to beat Clermont, Brive off the bottom
By Peter Thompson
Nemani Nadolo and Francois Steyn scored two tries apiece as Montpellier fought back to beat Clermont Auvergne 28-24 and Brive moved off the bottom of the Top 14 table with a victory over fellow strugglers Stade Francais.
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? @fsteyn12 en force ? offre le 2ème essai au @MHR_officiel ? pic.twitter.com/Sjy65GacTo
— avec le XV (@avecleXV) November 5, 2017
Montpellier were in danger of slipping to a fourth defeat in five matches in all competitions when they trailed by 10 points in the second half, but Vern Cotter’s men came storming back to reduce Lyon’s advantage at the summit to just a point.
Clermont arrived at the Altrad Stadium on the back of three successive wins and struck the first blow on Sunday when Patricio Fernandez nipped through a gap for a try which he converted only three minutes in.
Prolific wing Nadolo powered his way over to get big-spending Montpellier on the board, but Fritz Lee added a second for Clermont as the visitors went in at the break with a 17-14 advantage, Steyn reducing the deficit with his first try.
Peter Betham’s converted score put Clermont 24-14 to the good with Montpellier a man down after Henry Immelman was sent to the sin-bin late in the first half.
Nadolo and Steyn completed doubles in quick succession, Benoit Paillaugue converting both tries, to make it advantage Montpellier. They were able to hold on despite Nadolo seeing yellow 15 minutes from time.
Oyonnax prop up the table after Brive edged a 20-19 win over Stade.
Matthieu Ugalde and Thomas Laranjeira went over and Gaetan Germain scored 10 points from the tee as Brive sealed a second Top 14 win of the season to move just five points behind lowly Clermont.
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Latest Comments
Wow, even suggesting that SA and Ireland will lead new world order is arrogant beyond, and disrespectful to say the least. The Boks know only to well how tough it is to just win by one point, and will never underestimate any side. Again, the ABs remain the benchmark, and once they understand the greater challenge in the north, will adapt. Razor will make sure. The pure athleticism of the NZ players, once they find they need a tough tight forwards, will again take them to near the top. The days of dominating like they did for decades is gone, but they will stay near the top. Even with one of their weaker sides they still made the final played away in NH. That should say enough.
Go to commentsDear Ben, since you are apparently lacking in any kind of understanding of the game, and are in denial to boot, I will gladly rank the 3 worst games of the season from the All Blacks for you. Ill try to be a little less whinging and a bit more objective. I think the reality is that the ABs and (to a lesser extend the Springboks) will never again dominate the game to the extent they have in the past. Close to 30 years of professionalism has closed the gap, and that is as it should be and is great for the game. There is very little to choose between the top four in world Rugby. It is often down to the day. The “luck” that is inevitably part of winning a knock out tourmament where no one side fully dominates accompanied the Boks this time. Next time it could be the French or Irish and could quite as easily have been either of them this time. I understand that on your tiny Island Nation there is little you posess that is culturally significant, other than the AB’s, and so this is very dear to you. Here’s hoping its France next time because if its the ABs your triumphalist gloating would be utterly insuffrable.
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