Unflappable Parra helps Clermont end recent final hoodoo
Clermont Auvergne banished the demons of their recent failures in finals by prevailing 22-16 against Toulon in a pulsating Top 14 showpiece.
Beaten two years ago by Stade Francais, Clermont also tasted the desperation of defeat in three of the past five European Cup finals – including three weeks ago against Saracens at Murrayfield.
But on Sunday at Stade de France it was their turn to step up from the role of perennial bridesmaids and instead it is Toulon who are left to lament a final curse of their own, having been on the wrong end of four of the last six in the Top 14, although that record is mitigated by their 2014 triumph.
In a clash punctuated by physicality and precise skill in equal measure, Morgan Parra proved the difference, the France scrum-half knocking over six out of six from the tee to finish with 17 points to add to Alivereti Raka’s scintillating first-half score.
Josua Tuisova was the sole try-scorer for Toulon who, in the absence of Leigh Halfpenny on British and Irish Lions duty, turned to 21-year-old fly-half Anthony Belleau for kicking duties.
Allez les gars ?????? @RCTofficiel pic.twitter.com/eHXqhPU7CD
— Leigh Halfpenny (@LeighHalfpenny1) June 4, 2017
Belleau was unfortunate to twice see penalties strike the upright as he attempted to bring Toulon back to within three points in the second half, Parra showing him how it was done at the other end before Clermont staved off a stoppage-time surge from Toulon deep inside their own 22 to spark ecstatic celebrations at full-time.
clermont CHAMPION DE FRANCE 2017 !!! #YellowArmy pic.twitter.com/rU8JaBPOX4
— ASM Rugby (@ASMOfficiel) June 4, 2017
It looked initially as though the contest could become one-sided as Clermont made a fierce start, rewarded by Parra’s sixth-minute penalty, before a stunning try started by Nick Abendanon’s steal close to his own line.
Damian Penaud raced clear down the left and slipped the ball to Raka, who produced a devastating step off his left to leave Tuisova on his backside as he finished off a remarkable score.
Parra further extended the lead with another penalty midway through the half before Toulon eventually managed to stem the yellow tide and got themselves on the board courtesy of Belleau.
Clermont were reduced to 14 soon afterwards when Fritz Lee caught James O’Connor with a high shot that prompted tempers to flare between the two sets of players.
And Toulon took advantage swiftly, working the ball wide for Tuivosa who returned the favour in dumping Raka on his rear end en route to touching down on the right despite the attentions of two further defenders.
Parra’s penalty in injury time gave Clermont a measure of breathing space heading into the interval and he and Belleau traded further kicks early in the second period before the Toulon man twice struck the right-hand post with chances to bring it back to 19-16.
Belleau was replaced by Francois Trinh-Duc, who took over kicking duties and brought Toulon back to within three with 10 minutes remaining, but from the restart Parra won a crucial turnover and as Toulon transgressed he exacted punishment by splitting the posts once more.
As the clock ticked beyond 80 minutes, Toulon kicked for touch close to the line but they were unable to breach the yellow wall before them as Clermont’s battling at the breakdown earned them a penalty and secured a famous victory.
https://twitter.com/top14rugby/status/871471466004586496
Comments on RugbyPass
Wasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
3 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
3 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
3 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
30 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to commentslate hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
3 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusaders , you can keep going.
3 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
5 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
30 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
30 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
30 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
30 Go to comments