A 16 to 13 victory against Toulouse for a fanfare start to the year
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.
observing the course of the meeting from the bench, I told myself that we had to try this kind of gesture to find 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 decrease, which gives the advantage to the senses. Anything but a flash of genius from elsewhere for the Jaunards’ opening half. As I watched the game unfold from the bench, I told myself that we had to try this kind of gesture to detect the very good work of our forwards. and it worked for us. “
A drop that gives 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 5 minutes of play. But in a very balanced first act, the ASM was able to come back to the game thanks to a man in the form of a moment, Yohan Beheregaray, author of his 5th try of the season.
The bench clérmontois has the image Lopez, also has its stone in the edifice, taking advantage of an opposing drop in pace to compete among others in the sector of the scrum. The match undoubtedly turned to 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 finally, at no time did Jono Gibbes’ men fail 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.
ASM must now rely on this state of mind and a certain form of consistency, 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 at the end of the season.