The Clermontois drank a few beers on the bus on their way back from Montpellier last Saturday. They celebrated their major success at GGL Stadium, in moderation. There is no question of falling asleep on the laurels of this first success away from home for seven months, there are still three games to whip before the November break. ASM will play twice at home, Pau this Saturday and Toulon on November 7, for a trip to Bordeaux next weekend.
Naqalevu – Shack in the center
ASM players resumed smoothly at the start of the week, to recover from the Montpellier fight. Before preparing for the coming of Pau this weekend: a “very concentrated group since Monday”, according to Jono Gibbes. Deprived of Sébastien Bézy for eight weeks (sprained knee), the ASM coach who with pleasure sees the infirmary empty. George Moala, Jacobus Van Tonder and Apisai Naqalevu are fit. Victim of a broken arm at the end of last season, the Fijian received the green light from the medical staff. He will be associated with Jean-Pascal Barraque at the center.
First for Bibi Biziwu
Alivereti Raka and Etienne Falgoux took the compulsory week of vacation. The first will start with Penaud, the second is not in the group. The ASM, which plays the youth card, has also. With a big first for the young international pillar U20 Daniel Bibi Biziwu who will be titular alongside Adrien Pélissié and Rabah Slimani. Kévin Viallard, Gabin Michet and Cheikh Tiberghien will be on the Michelin bench.
Start a series
Above all, the Clermontois seem to be in progress for a few matches. There was the failure of the Stade Français, but it was quickly corrected by a full and intense match in Montpellier. ASM appears to be on an upward slope. Nothing transcendent but ua serious and more solid team, what is more is not so far in the ranking. Despite tenth place in the Top 14, the yellows and blues are three points behind sixth place and apart from Toulouse, no team seems out of reach.
This is even more true in the case of a good series. The Clermont have not yet chained two consecutive victories since the start of the season, it is high time to start. And above all, do not believe that it is folded in advance in front of the Section. The supporters are used to large victories (50-29 last season), it is true that ASM has often beaten Pau but we must not forget the surprise of 2019, when the Greens won 28 – 37 in Michelin.
ASM – Pau, it’s a meeting to live live on France Bleu Pays d’Auvergne. The Rugby Club will be hosted by Matthieu Moebs from 2:45 p.m. Kick-off at 3 p.m. with comments from Emmanuel Moreau and Fabrice Ribeyrolles.