Bristol out-gunned by Clermont on return to top tier of European rugby
Bristol were given a masterclass by Clermont Auvergne on their return to top-flight European rugby as the French heavyweights powered home 51-38 at Ashton Gate.
Clermont’s bonus-point success confirmed them among this season’s Heineken Champions Cup favourites, with Bristol conceding seven tries.
It was Bristol’s first game in the blue riband European tournament for 12 years, and Clermont served an immediate reminder of the standard required.
Clermont’s Japanese star Kotaro Matsushima scored a hat-trick, and there was a double for wing Damian Penaud, while centre Apisai Naqalevu and number eight Fritz Lee also touched down, with captain Camille Lopez kicking 16 points.
Bristol, to their immense credit, claimed five tries and a losing bonus point, with Max Malins, Harry Randall, Bryan Byrne, Ioan Lloyd and Siale Piutau all breaching Clermont’s defence, while Callum Sheedy added three conversions and a penalty, while Malins converted late efforts by Lloyd and Piutau.
The west country club now have a mountain to climb in terms of quarter-final ambitions, but Clermont – runners-up in the competition three times – are off and running in breathtaking fashion.
Bristol were without star centre Semi Radradra, who suffered a leg injury during Fiji’s Autumn Nations Cup victory over Georgia last weekend, but Wales newcomer Sheedy and England back-row forward Ben Earl were among those who returned from international duty.
Clermont, who were forced into a late change when flanker Peceli Yato pulled out, produced a blistering opening and rocked Bristol with a fourth-minute try.
Bristol had barely touched the ball before Clermont scored after Penaud freed his fellow wing Alivereti Raka, and his strong run ended with Matsushima touching down.
Lopez converted, and matters immediately deteriorated for the home side when Sheedy’s speculative midfield pass went straight to Naqalevu, who sprinted clear from inside his own half, and Lopez’s conversion opened up a 14-point lead after just eight minutes.
Bristol were inevitably rattled by such an onslaught, and such was Clermont’s dominance that it came as no surprise when they added a third try.
An imposing scrum platform inside Bristol’s 22 was all their star-studded back division required, and slick passing saw Penaud cut back inside to score, before another Lopez conversion made it 21-0.
There had been little that Bristol could do in the face of such brilliance, yet they responded impressively from their first attack, reducing the arrears when Malins touched down after collecting Sheedy’s pass, with the fly-half converting.
But normal service was quickly resumed as Clermont again shredded Bristol’s defence, allowing Matsushima to jink over for his second try, securing a bonus point just 27 minutes into the contest.
Matsushima, who scored a hat-trick of tries in Japan’s World Cup opener against Russia last year, was at the heart of Clermont’s stunning attacking game, although Bristol refused to throw in the towel.
They drove a short-range lineout, and Byrne emerged from under his fellow forwards to claim Bristol’s second try – again converted by Sheedy – before a Lopez penalty took Clermont 15 points clear at the interval.
Sheedy and Lopez exchanged penalties early in the second half, before Bristol collected a third try that was created by wing Henry Purdy’s pace and power.
A surging run towards the Clermont line saw him bundle Matsushima out of the way, and a supporting Randall finished off and Sheedy’s conversion cut the deficit to eight points.
But just when Clermont looked as though they might be under serious pressure for the first time, scrum-half Morgan Parra conjured a try from nothing, rifling out a long floated pass to Penaud, who claimed his second try.
Clermont were home and dry, and surged even further out of sight through tries by Lee and Matsushima.
ineken European Champions Cup – Pool B – Ashton Gate” />
Comments on RugbyPass
Blues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
5 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
1 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
5 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to commentsOne tough SOB!
16 Go to commentsI’ve put on 4/5 kilos since the beginning of the season too. Not good kilos. Bad kilos.
5 Go to commentsSurely there’s a ‘no knobheads’ policy ?
2 Go to commentsWallaroos have no chance of beating the Black Ferns unless Canada upsets them in Christchurch tomorrow but I doubt that as well!
1 Go to commentsWhat a joke. Could the victim do a course to reverse the long term CTE damage from the cheapshot?
2 Go to commentsTruely great player. In social media and opinion pieces he was held up and flogged for the results. People wanted someone to crucify, and he was the captain. He was still an immense presence respected by his peers. His battles with Siya Kolisi belong up with with Collins vs Burger in my opinion. Unlucky to be carded in the final, but I don’t agree that his red card was the defining moment. Not when you look at the dominant performances of the Springboks (PSDT in particular.) I think Cane should be remembered for the spirit and physicality that is special to test rugby.
16 Go to commentsSam was the man until he got injured .
16 Go to comments_Crusaders versus Leinster _at the moment might be a rout! But I would like to see the Blues play Toulouse, the Hurricanes front up against Stade Francais, and the Chiefs go against Toulon.
157 Go to commentsLove it when we overlap! Promise it was not forethought.
19 Go to commentsjfc can this guy plz stay out of the news for one week
2 Go to commentsIf stormers aren’t available. Based on form and likely availability at the time of the wales Test, you’d think Masuku would be a no-brainer to start. But starting Jordan also makes sense having Masuku come off the bench to close out the game.
2 Go to commentsGlad Tom Curry not playing needs time to recover such a great player also his brother Ben how well is he playing now .
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