After eight trips this season (seven in the Top 14 and one in the European Cup), ASM have won just one away win, it was in October in Montpellier. An average performance far from the Marcel Michelin stadium which does not allow the Clermont residents to hope for better than the current seventh place. They must do better to settle in the top six and qualify for the finals.
This will imperatively pass by some successes outside by the end of the regular phases. Starting by going to win in Pau would be an excellent idea. Even if Jono Gibbes remained in Auvergne, positive for Covid19, the ASM players know the mission set by their coach.
First tenure for Michet at the opening
In the first leg, the ASM players had trouble overcoming a catchy Section Paloise (42-20). The Clermontois had been disturbed by the exit after three minutes of Camille Lopez and the entry as a young person of Gabin Michet. The young opener from Beaumont had only two minutes of Top 14 in his legs, he was discovering the highest level for the first time.
And Pau succeeds well since it is at the Hameau stadium that he must know his first tenure in yellow and blue. He will form the hinge with Morgan Parra who will be responsible for cornering him. A reward for Michet but also the confirmation that the staff no longer have confidence in JJ Hanrahan and are already thinking about next season. For the rest, no big surprise in the team announced this Saturday, with the returns of Naqalevu and Matsushima among the three quarters. Note that the two players left available by the XV of France, Daniel Bibi Biziwu and Tani Vili, are not in the group for this trip.
Pau – ASM, it’s obviously a meeting to live this Sunday at 6 p.m. on France Bleu Pays d’Auvergne. Comments by Julien Oury.