Clermont-Ferrand (AFP)

Ten tries, all transformed by Camille Lopez, to zero: Clermont did not detail and crushed Bayonne 73 to 3, Saturday in its Marcel-Michelin stadium, at the end of a match of the 17th day of Top 14 without suspense.

With an 11/11, this is the tenth time this season that Lopez, in great shape, has displayed 100% success against the poles.

With this enhanced victory, the second in a row at home combined with the defeat of Bordeaux-Bègles in Brive (25-23), ASM takes 4th place in the standings.

For its part, Aviron Bayonnais remains 13th, in the fight to maintain five lengths of Pau (12th).

Despite a preparation disrupted by cases of Covid in their workforce and the postponement of the Agen-ASM match (day 16), the Clermontois continued after their success, in a late match, against Lyon on February 5 (26-18, delay of the 9th day).

But opener Camille Lopez was obviously not the only architect of this large victory.

Despite many missed opportunities in the first period, the Auvergnats quickly took the lead with tests from Apisaï Naqalevu (12th), Paul Jedrasiak (26th) and Peceli Yato (40th + 2), synonymous with offensive bonus.

After halftime, ASM unrolled and secured their 48th-minute bonus through Samuel Ezeala who signed a noticeable comeback after 15 months of absence due to a knee injury he had suffered. made in December 2019 against Bath in the European Cup.

Morgan Parra (64th), Yato (68th), Fritz Lee (71st), Jean-Pascal Barraque (73rd), Peter Betham (78th) and Kotaro Matsushima (80th) completed this great Clermont success that the Bayonnais, very quickly overtaken, were never able to challenge.

cor-fjt / dga

© 2021 AFP