Clermont-Ferrand (AFP)
ASM Clermont Auvergne has confirmed its return to form after having routed Castres Olympique 59 to 19, a victory enhanced with in particular seven tries including five in the second half, Saturday at the Marcel Michelin stadium in a match of the 19th day advanced to Top 14.
The Jaunards, who played in green, thus ended a series of three home defeats against Montpellier (15-21), Munster (31-39) in the European Cup and against Racing 92 in early January (22 -24).
It was necessary to go back to October 24 to find the trace of a victory of the ASM on its ground, against Pau (50-29).
After his victory on the lawn of the Palois (41-32) and its draw in Bordeaux (16-16), the ASM, who had already won in the first leg against the Castres (40-14), chained a third unbeaten match and climbed from 6th to 4th place in the standings.
Conversely, Castres, who remained on three consecutive wins and four wins and a draw away, remains in 9th place.
The Tarnais, who had left several executives at rest and composed an unprecedented hinge formed by Jérémy Fernandez and the opener Thomas Fortunel, resisted a long time before an "XXL" bench allowed the Clermontois to definitively take the ascendancy after mid -time, with a total of seven trials.
Despite the wet weather, the Auvergnats, who dominated unchallenged in conquest, managed to produce play led by Morgan Parra, decisive against the poles (20 points).
They also got off to a good start with Alivereti Raka's first try early in the game.
The international winger was the author of a double and his first attempts in Top 14 this season (13, 50) while the hooker Etienne Fourcade also scored two tries (60, 70).
Clermont has thus started this block of five matches during which ASM will receive three more times including Bordeaux-Bègles, on January 30 and Lyon on February 5.
© 2021 AFP