For this first meeting of the new year 2022 in its den of Marcel-Michelin, ASM-Clermont offered a victory at the end of the suspense against Stade Toulousain with a score of 16-13 (7-10 at the break ).
Pushed by his Yellow Army and the 18,735 spectators at the Marcel-Michelin Sports Park, who were still tense most of the match, the Auvergne forwards demonstrated unwavering solidarity to push back the opposing intentions of the game. With an exemplary level defense of the regroupings and a generosity at all times in the collective efforts, it is a whole team which touches the finger a reward amply and justly deserved.
– Julien Oury
As I watched the match unfold from the bench, I told myself that we had to try this kind of gesture to achieve the very good work of our forwards. When the opportunity arose, I didn’t question myself and it worked for us. – Camille Lopez
But all was not perfect in the eyes of coach Jono Gibbes, who wanted above all to retain the state of mind of his players: “We sometimes say that this team lacks a bit of character. Tonight, we showed that we can make an effort for each other and when we play together, we are able to do great things. not been perfect, it’s true, but we showed an irreproachable state of mind. “
The entry into play of Camille Lopez was decisive in the second half, with in particular a drop, which gave the advantage to his team. Anything but a flash of genius from elsewhere for the Jaunards’ opening half. “As I watched the game from the bench, I told myself that we had to try this kind of gesture to achieve the very good work of our forwards. When the opportunity arose, I didn’t have any questions. and it worked for us. “
A drop that restored the advantage to Clermontois, led at the start of the game after a try by the Argentinian Juan Mallia, on a superb breakthrough from the Toulouse attack after only 5 minutes of play. But in a very balanced first act, the ‘ASM was able to come back in the game thanks to his man in moment form, Yohan Beheregaray, author of his 5th try of the season.
The Clermont bench in the image of Lopez, also contributed to the edifice, taking advantage of a drop in the opposing pace to compete among others in the scrum sector. The match undoubtedly fell on a questionable choice of Haut-Garonnais, who took a scrum at the foot of the posts rather than the points at the foot, before breaking their teeth on the very solid defense of the premises. But in the end, at no time did Jono Gibbes’ men know how to take shelter from Toulouse’s fulgurance, which could have come with a final loss of the ball 20 seconds from the end of the meeting …
In the end and on suspense, the ASM still offers itself a prestigious victory to celebrate the new year. Clermont which provisionally passes to 6th place in the standings tied with 5th Castres (33 points), pending the other meetings of this Sunday.
The ASM must henceforth rely on this state of mind and a certain form of constancy finally seen for 80 minutes, to move serenely next Saturday (9:05 p.m.) on the synthetic turf of the Paris La Défense Arena in Nanterre, to face Racing 92, another rival in the race for the final stages of the season.