Clermont Auvergne vs Northampton - 4th April, 17:45BST

ASM Clermont Auvergne

15 Nick Abendanon; 14 Noa Nakaitaci, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Naipolioni Nalaga; 10 Brock James, 9 Ludovic Radoslavjevic
1 Vincent Debaty, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 3 Davit Zirakashvili; 4 Jamie Cudmore, 5Sébastien Vahaamahina; 6 Damien Chouly (capt),7 Julien Bonnaire, 8 Fritz Lee
16 John Ulugia, 17 Thomas Domingo, 18 Clément Ric, 19 Julien Pierre, 20 Julien Bardy, 21 Thierry Lacrampe, 22 Mike Delany, 23 Aurélien Rougerie


Northampton Saints

15 James Wilson; 14 Ken Pisi, 13 George Pisi, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 Jamie Elliott; 10 Steve Myler, 9 Lee Dickson
1 Alex Corbisiero, 2 Dylan Hartley (capt), 3 Salesi Ma'afu; 4 Samu Manoa, 5 Courtney Lawes; 6 Tom Wood, 7 Calum Clark, 8 Sam Dickinson
16 Mikey Haywood, 17 Alex Waller, 18 Gareth Denman, 19 Christian Day, 20 Jonathan Fisher, 21 Kahn Fotuali'i, 22 Tom Stephenson, 23 Ah See Tuala



Referee John Lacey (Ireland)
Touch Judge 1 Leighton Hodges (Wales)
Touch Judge 2 David Wilkinson (Ireland)
Fourth Official Simon McDowell (Ireland)
TMO Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Citing Commissioner John Charles (Wales)

Two very big and very physical sides. Saints often come unstuck when unable to bully a team into submission, and that Clermont team will not be bullied. If Saints are to have any chance, much will depend on whether they can run the legs off a Clermont pack that may not be the most mobile, and whether they can capitalise on the absence of Lopez and Parra.

Unfortunately cannot agree that the Clermont pack aint mobile. Remember Debaty's try against England after 60 minutes? Vahaamahina has turned from a gut bucket at Perpingan into a machine at Clermont. Lee at 8 is reasonably nippy and Chuly is one of the most underatted players in the french national team.
Definitely not first choice at 9 and 10 but outside that is pretty devastating.

Not sure Burrell will do well defensively against Fofana if Clermont get quick ball.
Without North dont know how much firepower Northampton have as i dont watch them very often. Still to be convinced that Myler produces the goods when he's predominantly on the back foot. Really looking forward to this one.

Going to be tough for Saints: Their two best attacking threats from the backs are out, Foden and North. The team has really missed the attacking threat Ben Foden brings for most of this season. North being out brings Jamie Elliott into the squad, which I like. He is smart and dynamic. Unfortunately Ken Pisi is on the other wing, and he can't catch a cold. Hoping for the best.

A bit surprised Rougerie has been moved to the bench he was one of the few bright lights in the humping Clermont took last weekend. Davies was poor in the six nations and can be exploited defensively. He tends to gravitate towards the big ball carrier. Run Burrell on an outline between the two centres and then spread it wide behind him on a flat ball and they'll be space.

Clermont played some very attacking rugby as they self destructed against Stade. This should be a cracking game.

Davies exploited defensively by Wilson.

This is a demolition job....

Saints are going to need a Leinsteresque turn around in the second half.

Considering their personnel, Saints get demolished a bit too often.

The way Clermont are handling the ball I doubt any team would do much better at that stadium.

Ici, ici c'est Montferrand !!! Nothing against Northampton, but I really really hope this can be ASM's year. Been following them since The Count (Stephen Jones) moved there in 2004. Was devastated when they lost in Dublin 2 years ago

Lovely tries so far... Saints completely outclassed.

Clermont as excellent as to be expected. At what point do Saints accept they're going backwards now. I think Mallinder and co have reached as high as they can with them. If they can't beat a team in an arm wrestle, they're in trouble.

The Saint wrote:Considering their personnel, Saints get demolished a bit too often.

There form has been pretty poor for the last month.

The Saint wrote:Considering their personnel, Saints get demolished a bit too often.

Agreed. When they come up against the best they suddenly become much less than the sum of their parts. They have very little pace and creativity in that backline and almost no penetration when North is absent. The pack is quite big but horribly immobile. Ma'afu is useless and Hartley punches well below his weight. Even Corbisiero seems to have gone backwards. I think they need a fresh start.

Saints look utterly hopeless.

nathan wrote:

The Saint wrote:Considering their personnel, Saints get demolished a bit too often.

There form has been pretty poor for the last month.

4 months.

Hood83 wrote:

The Saint wrote:Considering their personnel, Saints get demolished a bit too often.

Agreed. When they come up against the best they suddenly become much less than the sum of their parts. They have very little pace and creativity in that backline and almost no penetration when North is absent. The pack is quite big but horribly immobile. Ma'afu is useless and Hartley punches well below his weight. Even Corbisiero seems to have gone backwards. I think they need a fresh start.

Overreaction? Still 14 points clear in the Prem. Won the premiership final even though Sarries had been the better team, and the semi from behind. I don't think not performing in the big games is an accusation you can really level at the moment.

Bonnaire gets a yellow..!


This is saints big chance to stand up...

Scottrf wrote:

Hood83 wrote:

The Saint wrote:Considering their personnel, Saints get demolished a bit too often.

Agreed. When they come up against the best they suddenly become much less than the sum of their parts. They have very little pace and creativity in that backline and almost no penetration when North is absent. The pack is quite big but horribly immobile. Ma'afu is useless and Hartley punches well below his weight. Even Corbisiero seems to have gone backwards. I think they need a fresh start.

Overreaction? Still 14 points clear in the Prem. Won the premiership final even though Sarries had been the better team, and the semi from behind. I don't think not performing in the big games is an accusation you can really level at the moment.

Last year.. Not this year

Scottrf wrote:

Hood83 wrote:

The Saint wrote:Considering their personnel, Saints get demolished a bit too often.

Agreed. When they come up against the best they suddenly become much less than the sum of their parts. They have very little pace and creativity in that backline and almost no penetration when North is absent. The pack is quite big but horribly immobile. Ma'afu is useless and Hartley punches well below his weight. Even Corbisiero seems to have gone backwards. I think they need a fresh start.

Overreaction? Still 14 points clear in the Prem. Won the premiership final even though Sarries had been the better team, and the semi from behind. I don't think not performing in the big games is an accusation you can really level at the moment.

Maybe. It's perhaps just my perception from the games I've seen then. I think they are extremely one dimensional. They don't have the intensity of Sarries or the Backline or bulk of Bath. I'd make a sportsman's wager they'll not win the Prem.

This ref is rubbish at the breakdown! I mean in general, not against either team

maestegmafia wrote:Last year.. Not this year

Same team. Beat Bath twice, Sarries away, so yeah arguably doing it in the biggest games this year too. Just the French teams are too big and Saints are off form. Nothing at all to do with mentality.

How the flip did the Saints butcher that. There were only 13 men for Clermont..

Few punches their by Waller?

Rory_Gallagher wrote:How the flip did the Saints butcher that. There were only 13 men for Clermont..

Their attack is woeful if they are up against a physical team

maestegmafia wrote:Few punches their by Waller?

A few punches? You watching a different game?

Good try from Saints, but how there is no sanction against Waller ?

nathan wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Few punches their by Waller?

A few punches? You watching a different game?

Are you? He clipped him round the face for attempting a tackle.

Blydi hell Foxy !!!

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

nathan wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Few punches their by Waller?

A few punches? You watching a different game?

Are you? He clipped him round the face for attempting a tackle.

Yes I am, it clearly wasn't a few punches, it was a forearm to his head.

nathan wrote:
Yes I am, it clearly wasn't a few punches, it was a forearm to his head.

Ah, thats ok then

I think Mr Waller may be hearing from Mr Charles the Citing Commissioner in the next 48 hours

LondonTiger wrote:

nathan wrote:
Yes I am, it clearly wasn't a few punches, it was a forearm to his head.

Ah, thats ok then

LondonTiger wrote:

nathan wrote:
Yes I am, it clearly wasn't a few punches, it was a forearm to his head.

Ah, thats ok then

Not sure where I said it was ok?

Congrats to Nick Abendanon - outstanding

Well that's that...probably more of the same tomorrow...at least bath put up a fight

Saints were completely outplayed, congrats clermont

Ici, ici c'est Montferrand !!

PenfroPete wrote:Congrats to Nick Abendanon  - outstanding

Yeah he had a great game, always been a class player

Crushed. Saints looked about two levels below the required class tonight.

Certainly men against boys today. Saints could not do anything right, every thing they tried to do got smashed.

Well played Clermont. Certainly the better team by a long shot.

Hood83 wrote:Clermont as excellent as to be expected. At what point do Saints accept they're going backwards now. I think Mallinder and co have reached as high as they can with them. If they can't beat a team in an arm wrestle, they're in trouble.

Are saints going backwards? A couple of key injuries and meeting European rugby aristocracy on form. its no disgrace ( unless they gave up - I didn't see the game)

TJ wrote:

Hood83 wrote:Clermont as excellent as to be expected. At what point do Saints accept they're going backwards now. I think Mallinder and co have reached as high as they can with them. If they can't beat a team in an arm wrestle, they're in trouble.

Are saints going backwards?  A couple of key injuries and meeting European rugby aristocracy on form.  its no disgrace ( unless they gave up - I didn't see the game)

Clermont were excellent (and really up for it). Saints played poorly and haven't been on top form for a while. I think sometimes you get these mis-match games, like when Sarries smashed Clermont last season. Agree that Saints can struggle when a team gets on top of them.

TJ wrote:

Hood83 wrote:Clermont as excellent as to be expected. At what point do Saints accept they're going backwards now. I think Mallinder and co have reached as high as they can with them. If they can't beat a team in an arm wrestle, they're in trouble.

Are saints going backwards?  A couple of key injuries and meeting European rugby aristocracy on form.  its no disgrace ( unless they gave up - I didn't see the game)

Feels like it to me. They're a million miles away from where they were when they reached the final. If a team has a pack as big, I'd back them against Saints, which is most of the best French clubs. I think they're now behind far more teams than they were a couple of years ago.

But i agree it's no disgrace being beaten by Clermont at home.

Hood - Only 8 teams got as far in Europe.

Anyone who has seen Saints play in the last few weeks know that they have been in poor form. Going to one of the most difficult venues of Europe was always going to be a tall order regardless!

Saints do need to rediscover their form if they are going to retain the AP title that they won in fortunate circumstances. They are certainly capable of this though.

Hood83 wrote:But i agree it's no disgrace being beaten by Clermont at home.

Indeed and it's very different over there compared to over here.
Witnessed Cardiff get destroyed in the QFs by Toulouse in Toulouse. 35k packed house. Incredible experience. Their lap of honour lasted at least 20 mins.

Saints big players looked knackered. Burrell wasn't at the races at all. The decision to leave Day on the bench backfired as the Saints line out fell apart. I'm sure they'll be glad to see Ma'afu leave as well as he was a liability.

Clermont were excellent and roared on by that crowd were just up for it. If they can deliver that intensity up to the final and keep their discipline then they've got a great chance.

Whole saints team didn't turn up, pack couldn't generate any good ball and the half backs while good on the front foot can't create anything themselves when not given an arm chair ride.