If you’ll forgive me, I’m not going to hang around for long. That wasn’t even a contest from about... well minute one. Clermont were literally better at every single thing in that match and it showed a big gap between the English sides and those with loads of money to spend on amazing players. The salary cap debate is one for another day, but suffice to say that Clermont side would make a decent fist of the World Cup.
Thanks for reading. Don’t show this to your kids before bed – they’ll have nightmares. Night.
Full-time: Clermont 37-5 Northampton
For the first time tonight I’ve heard the Northampton fans. Stephenson makes a break down the right, but offloads to Nalaga, who can’t quite get clear down the left. That’s the final act of the game too as he spills it.
79 min Northampton get a scrum on halfway as the throw into the lineout wasn’t straight. Right they go, but there’s nothing doing. Only a few more seconds of this...
78 min If you’re a neutral or a Clermont fan you would weep with joy at some of the rugby on show today, in the first half especially. The downpour in the second half has spoiled the spectacle a little, but it’s not detracted from the home side’s performance. If you’re a Northampton fan, you’ll just weep.
76 min The Clermont pack walk Northampton’s back 20m and gets a penalty. Clermont are as happy as Larry, Northampton are as happy as Larry David.
75 min It’s another penalty to Northampton for not rolling away and another kick to the corner by Myler. Day takes it in and Northampton maul towards the sodden line. It’s held up in the maul though and Clermont have a scrum.
73 min It’s nabbed by Fisher on the floor on the 22, but Northampton only make 10m or so upfield before coughing it up themselves. My apologies, James appears to still be on. Not sure who went off in that case. Holding on on the floor and it’s a penalty to Northampton. Myler finds touch on the home side’s 10m line.
71 min Delany and Lacrampe on for James and Rado. James kicks a penalty up to touch on the 22, on the left.
70 min Davies loses it forwards in contact though. It’s got silly now, both sides just slinging it about in the rain and going nowhere. In fairness to both sides, they’ll both be knackered.
69 min Clermont regain possession from the kick-off, but then Manoa intercepts an offload and they look to put Ken Pisi away. On it goes, but then it’s lost forward by Clark and the counter is on...
68 min The Clermont fans are not happy at all with that decision and rightly so. Myler misses the conversion right.
Try (Waller 67) Clermont 37-5 Northampton
Remarkably, it’s a try and nothing more.
Waller grounded the ball fine, but immediately punched Ulugia in the face. That’s as stupid as you’ll see; Ulugia did nothing wrong bar try and slide under the scorer.
67 min From the lineout, Day has a drive but he’s stopped. Myler takes it on and Fotuali’i has a dart. He’s short, but then it’s recycled to Waller who crosses, but I’m not sure he’s grounded it properly...
66 min That was a great tackle by Abendanon on Day, but Rougerie gives away a penalty for handling it on the floor. Bardy is on for Fritz Lee.
65 min A chance here as Elliott fields a kick in space and looks to arch round the left. He’s cut down, but Jon Fisher takes it on. The ball is recycled and flung wide, where Northampton have an overlap but it’s the lock Day and he’s stopped.
64 min Penalty to Northampton at the scrum. Clermont actually stuck Nalaga in the pack there in order to try and push Northampton off their own ball. Kayser, Zirakashvili and Cudmore are off, Ulugia, Ric and Pierre on.
63 min It’s a Northampton scrum 5m from their own line. Pierre and Bardy are warming up for the Saints.
62 min Fofana off, Rougerie on. James sticks the ball into the corner as Haywood replaces Hartley. Rougerie is going to score, isn’t he? Lee wins the lineout and drives up to the line. They shift towards the corner, but knock on on the floor. Stpehenson on for George Pisi for Northampton.
60 min The lineout is overthrown and Lee secures the ball. Left it goes and Abendanon bursts through, but it goes forward off Fofana when he offloads. Northampton turn it over again on their own 10m line and after two phases someone goes off their feet. Penalty Clermont.
59 min Clermont come away, up to the 22 before James clears to touch on the right. Clermont have certainly lowered the intensity levels, but they barely see Northampton as a threat now. Tuala replaces Wilson.
58 min Myler goes into the corner and Northampton set themselves again from the lineout. They knock on though.
Top of the league, boys. Still top of the league.
Bonnaire sin bin (57)
57 min On they drive but the ball goes loose as Cudmore makes a strong tackle on Waller. James clears, but only on the 22. It’s eventually won and Fotuali’i goes on a sniping run, but he’s sniping sideways. Penalty given 35m out as Bonnaire plays it on the ground and the flanker goes to the sin bin.
56 min Domingo is on for Debaty. Anyway, the ball goes loose at the restart and Northampton get a lineout on the left, 20m from the Clermont line.
Converted try! (Abendanon 55) Clermont 37-0 Northampton
The ball goes loose, Myler leaves it alone and Abendanon strips George Pisi of the ball. He sprints 95m unchallenged and goes under the posts.
54 min A really good kick to the corner by Myler and we’ll see if Hartley can hit his man this time. Aye, he does and Clark then Day carry up to the 5m line. Dickinson takes it on, then Clark before Burrell charges through a tiny gap to within a metre...
53 min Bonnaire rises and claims the ball unchallenged. Fotuali’i is on for Dickson. It’s cleared long and Northampton run at the defence again, but now from 60m. Lee comes in at the side and gives away another penalty.
52 min After several phases, Clermont come in at the side and give away a penalty. Myler goes to the left-hand corner.
51 min Ground gained! Ground gained for Northampton and it’s Wilson who is slipped around the corner by Clark. Northampton’s two best players linking nicely there, but the rest of the team are pushed back from the 22 again. Northampton are not Arnold Schwarzenegger it turns out.
50 min Northampton win the ball and Burrell takes it up on the crash ball, but is driven back. Northampton are punching away at the Clermont line now but it’s like getting into a fist fight with Predator.
49 min So it’s a Clermont lineout on the Saints 10m line and they win that easily enough. It’s worked inside, but Cudmore is penalised for a side-entry. Myler kicks to touch on the left, 30m out.
48 min Wilson now goes long and Davies takes wonderfully. James sends it long to Wilson again, but the Saints full-back puts his kick inches out on the full. One of those days, isn’t it?
47 min Myler restarts, Davies clears to Ken Pisi.
Penalty (James 47) Clermont 30-0 Northampton
Wood receives a round of applause as he gets to his feet. James slots the penalty from under the sticks.
Tom Wood is down having treatment after being hammered by Cudmore at a ruck, with the latter looking to clear out a ruck. Wood got a head right in the, er, head.
46 min Myler is caught in the middle, inside his 22 and holds on. Penalty Clermont. That was dreadful from Northampton.
45 min Clermont have possession on halfway and Rado sends it high. Pisi takes and is flattened by Fofana. Saints keep it though and go left, then right along the line without finding any space to exploit.
44 min Dickinson picks up at the back of the scrum, but it’s slow ball. Myler goes short side and Ken Pisi chips ahead from halfway, but the ball goes out on the full.
43 min Clermont win the lineout, but it’s a good counter maul from Northampton and they get they get the put-in to the scrum. We’re told Lawes going off was a tactical change, but he’s being strapped up.
42 min Bonnaire wins the lineout and Lee carries up to the 10m line. Lee too was outstanding in that first half. Oh hell, they all were. James kicks long to Wilson, who calls the mark in his 22 and finds a good touch down the right. The Kiwi full-back was one of the bright points for Northampton but even he was outshone by his opposite number.
41 min The boss says I have to do the second half of this, too. He’s mean. Christian Day is on for Lawes as Clermont get the game back underway and Myler kicks to Abendanon, who returns to Wilson then takes his opposite number into touch. Abendanon has been magnificent.
@DanLucas86 so I take it we're not going to holiday in Clermont anytime soon?
— Elizabeth Evans (@aubreywriting) April 4, 2015
No dear.
The problem for Northampton is that there’s absolutely nothing they could do there. They’ve done well in the lineout, I suppose, but the scrum has been battered, they’ve lost every restart and Clermont’s forwards are too strong in the loose. It means they home side’s backs can cut loose and there will only every be one winner there, no matter who the opponents are.
A dilemma: My parents and grandparents are out for dinner right now, for my granddad’s birthday (happy birthday, Alan Patridge!). They don’t want to know the score as they’re recording the game and will watch it later. Should I warn them not to bother?
I don’t think I can be any more eloquent than this.
@DanLucas86 pic.twitter.com/wWnlvgCvZd
— Thomas Lydon (@thomaslydon) April 4, 2015
Clermont have been nye-on perfect in every aspect, simply beating Northampton up – not something the Franklins Gardens faithful are used to seeing – and then slicing their bloodied cadavers apart with the slickest handling you’ll see. The All Blacks play like this, it’s that good.
Half-time: Clermont 27-0 Northampton
I need a drink.
40 min Manoa goes for the restart but can’t cling on and knocks it out for a throw. This has been utterly magnificent from Clermont.
Brilliant converted try! (Fofana 38) Clermont 27-0 Northampton
Davies smashes up over the 10m line; the quality of Clermont’s passing is stunning. Over the gainline they go, left, then right. Abendanon pops it inside to Fofana after some slick handling and neat stepping to go past Wood. The centre flies over for try number three.
37 min Dickson is caught by Lee at the back of the scrum, holds on and gives away a penalty. This has been a bloodbath. Northampton are kicking too much ball away and literally playing into Clermont’s hands. The French side have been great, mind.
35 min Wilson brilliantly fields Abendanon’s stab through and Northampton look to counter. They go right, then left and Elliott is nearly put away down the touchline by Wilson, but a Clermont hand gets in there and knocks it on.
34 min That was great work by Manoa, but his side aren’t in the game.
33 min The ball bounces loose in the 22 from the kick-off and Manoa grabs it and charges for the line. Hartley recycles it, but then Saints are smothered at the breakdown, hold on and James clears to touch over halfway.
Converted try! (Nakaitaci 31) Clermont 20-0 Northampton
Dickinson pinches the lineout, but it’s kicked away and Rado fields. He passes to Fofana, who bursts through the middle. He’s dragged down short, but Clermont drive on through Nalaga. Right goes the ball, there’s a massive overlap and Nakaitaci is off his wing to score in the corner. James converts from the touchline because it’s one of those days.
Updated
30 min James kicks to touch on the left, 5m outside the Saints’ 22. Can we stop this liveblog now, on humanitarian grounds?
29 min Turned over and James kicks down the middle to Wilson. He gives it to Elliott, who goes up over the home 10m line. Dickinson drives on, but holds on to it on the floor and is penalised.
28 min Myler finds touch on the left, a metre inside the 22. Wood takes it at the front and Northampton go for the maul. Dickson pops a cute inside ball to Elliott, but the door remains shut. Saints are pinned on the 22 here and are going backwards.
27 min Manoa claims the restart on halfway, but the ball slips from his grasp into that of Nakaitaci. The winger races clear of Dickson, up to halfway, but then Clermont go off their feet at the ruck.
Penalty (James 27) Clermont 13-0 Northampton
From 38m out and 13m infield, James is going to go for a tough kick. Through it goes though as the rain starts to come down.
25 min The scrum goes down and John Lacey awards Clermont a penalty. “You need to improve your standards,” he warns Salesi Ma’afu, ominously.
24 min That should have been a penalty against Chouly for obstructing the tackler, but Northampton are getting thumped here and they’ve lost the ball on their own scrum. Luckily for them it came straight out the tunnel, so we’ll reset. The pitch, incidentally, is a terrible mess.
22 min Saints scrum 30m from their own line and Burrell takes it up on the crash ball, before Myler kicks straight to Nakaitaci. He goes left to Nalaga, who speeds down the left only to offload forward. Scrum Northampton wide on the right, on their own 10m line.
21 min Northampton win the turnover and go right. George Pisi chips ahead into space, but Abendanon spins brilliantly out of two tackles. Right it goes and Clermont have the numbers to counter attack. Fofana uses his dancing feet to go straight through the centre; he’s almost away until Wilson makes an outstanding last-gasp tackle to save his side.
20 min Northampton win the ball but kick it away again, having gained no territory at all. Abendanon goes on an arching run, then it’s recycled to Nakaitaci, who gets up to the 22.
19 min Early push by Northampton and that’s a free-kick. Incidentally you can run a pool on the number of different ways I’m going to spell Zirakashvili tonight. Clermont clear to touch down the right and the Saints get a lineout on their own 22.
Updated
18 min Or not. Zirikhashvili knocks on on the floor and Northampton have a scrum on the 22. The wind, incidentally, is a nightmare for the kickers out there.
17 min James restarts long to Myler. He puts it up and the ball comes back to Northampton; Wilson then stabs a nice grubber through to touch on the left, just inside the Clermont 22. It’s good territory but Clermont’s lineout is strong and they retain possession at this one.
16 min Myler will go for goal from 38m, around 10m to the left of the sticks. He’s pushed it wide to the right though.
15 min Lawes steals it but the ball bounces awkwardly and comes back into Clermont hands. Rado is caught on the floor by Clark though and Northampton win the penalty. Great work that from Clark, who has been so, so impressive at the breakdown this season.
14 min The strength of the winger there was phenomenal, bouncing off two tackles before crossing. James and Wilson exchange long kicks, with the latter finding touch up on the Clermont 10m line.
Converted try! (Nakaitaki 13) Clermont 10-0 Northampton
Nor was he held by Ma’afu in the tackle, so it’s not a double movement. Try under the posts.
...it was not held up...
13 min Lee takes it, then Fofana goes through a gap to within five metres! The ball is recycled and then Nakaitaki, off his wing, wriggles over the line. They’re checking for a double movement, although to me it looks like it was actually held up...
12 min Hartley throws long and Wood is in tune with his hooker. It goes back to Myler and he clears to touch, but isn’t happy with the distance as it only reaches the 22.
11 min Nalaga claims the high ball under pressure from Ken Pisi and works it left. Clermont’s two props carry it up over halfway, then James sends a brilliant, tumbling cross-field kick right into the corner. A big throw now for Hartley, 5m from his own line.
10 min Better from Northampton as Zirakhashvili collapses the scrum. One for Corbisiero. Myler clears to touch down the right, finding it near halfway.
9 min Northampton’s pack is a fair bit heavier, which is surprising. They have the scrum here 16m from their line, wide on the right.
8 min Left it goes and Nalaga takes it into the 22, but he spills it. Dickson’s box-kick is charged down, but we’ll go back for the scrum.
7 min Kayser, a metre inside his own half, finds Bonnaire at the front. Inside it goes and Rado finds Davies with a long, miss pass on the bounce. Clermont carry it up over halfway and they’re winning the gainline battle.
6 min Cudmore goes up and just about gets hold of the restart a metre outside his 22. Lee carries it forward, then James kicks long, down the middle and into the Saints 22. Wilson returns and finds touch on the right, up around halfway.
Penalty (James 5) Clermont 3-0 Northampton
From 30m, right in front, James has no problems. As you’d expect from a 10 at a club this size.
4 min The first scrum then, 30m from the Saints’ line. It’s magnificent from the home side and they get the penalty as Northampton’s much-vaunted pack is smashed.
3 min Radoslavjevic, whom we’ll be calling Rado from now on, kicks poorly, long and in-goal. Wilson goes long with the drop-out, James returns and then Wilson knocks on in the offload.
2 min Hartley’s throw is tapped back by Dickinson to Dickson and the Saints just about get possession. Dickson kicks high and Nakaitaci calls the mark in his 22. I was impressed with the Fijian-born winger during the Six Nations and Jamie Elliott will find him a handful. Again it’s cleared to touch on halfway, then Northampton turn it over in the middle of the field.
1 min Here goes then, Stephen Myler kicks off from right to left. It’s taken deep in the 22, close to the touchline by Nakaitaci. James clears with a splendid kick to touch on halfway from a tight angle.
The teams are coming out. Stuart Barnes reckons that the absence of Lopez and Parra gives Northampton a chance. I fear he’s overstating Brock James’ tendency to wobble.
Some statement, this:
For me, this atmosphere is already easily better than Thomond Park. The loudest pre-match I've heard in a European Cup game.
— Tom Vickers (@WheresTommyV) April 4, 2015
The first email of the day comes from Neil Connolly in Dublin, who writes: “Hi Dan, I don’t get to see much Premier Rugby, so it’s difficult to say where Bath are. But that was a poor game and nobody will be scared by Leinster, I feel. Expect this to be higher quality, albeit less close. Still think this is England’s best semi final chance.Good luck to you lot. Live the Saints fans.”
Cheers Neil. I reckon Saracens in Paris tomorrow have England’s best chance of getting through, but then maybe I’m just a pessimist.
Updated
This would be Northampton’s biggest win since they actually won the whole thing, beating Munster back in 2000. In 2013 they did for Leinster away, they did for Ulster in 2012 and in 2007 the worst Saints team I’ve ever seen beat Biarritz away. There’s precedent for them getting big, unexpected results, but this is Clermont away.
We’ve just had a thriller in Dublin, but I fear this game won’t be so close. I’m going with Clermont by 20 unless the Northampton back row have the game of their lives.
If Tom Wood, Calum Clark and Sam Dickinson can play at their very, very best then Northampton do at least have the better kicker in Stephen Myler. The other area that’s going to be fascinating is the scrum: Debaty, Kayser and Zirakashvili will face few tests as stern as Corbisiero, Hartley and Ma’afu, but Clermont’s bench looks stronger.
Evening folks. And gulp. I think I’ve mentioned it before, but in the interests of full disclosure, your MBMer today is a lifelong Northampton fan. And he is scared. He went to Alton Towers yesterday, looked at the big roller coasters, chickened out and he’s a lot more scared today. The bastard offspring of Monty Burns and the xenomorph queen from Aliens would be a less frightening proposition than that which faces Northampton this evening: Clermont at Stade Marcel Michelin.
The hosts’ record at home is stunning: undefeated in Europe in 22 matches, they’re arguably club rugby’s equivalent of Steve Waugh’s Australia. What’s more, if Northampton’s coach Jim Mallinder is to be believed – and he’s one of the smarter coaches out there – they have no weak spots. Internationals pepper this team like swear words do a Malcolm Tucker monologue and, after years of failing to actually win this thing and last year’s semi-final thrashing by Saracens, they have something of a point to prove.
The Saints too have eyes on this trophy though. After all, it feels like the next step after donning the Premiership crown last May and earlier this season they looked like one of the favourites. However home and away defeats to Racing Metro in the pool stages mean they have the toughest of draws, against a side who already dispatched Saracens and Munster on their way here. Both sides have injuries, with Morgan Parra and Camille Lopez missing for Clermont and George North out for a month on the Saints side after picking up another concussion.
Jamie Elliott takes North’s place in the team, while Luther Burrell comes in for the impressive Tom Stephenson to make his first appearance since the Six Nations. Kick-off is at 5.45pm BST, or 6.45pm for you lucky folk in France. Expect one hell of a battle: fast, physical, furious and possibly brilliant, because JUST LOOK AT THOSE TEAMS!
Clermont: Nick Abendanon; Noa Nakaitaci, Jonathan Davies, Wesley Fofana; Napolioni Nalaga; Brock James, Ludovic Radoslavjevic; Vincent Debaty, Benjamin Kayser, Davit Zirakashvili, Jamie Cudmore, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Damien Chouly (c), Julien Bonnaire, Fritz Lee.
Replacements: John Ulugia, Tomas Domingo, Clement Ric, Julian Pierre, Julien Bardy, Thierry Lacrampe, Mike Delany, Aurelien Rougerie.
Northampton: James Wilson; Ken Pisi, George Pisi, Luther Burrell, Jamie Elliott; Stephen Myler, Lee Dickson; Alex Corbisiero, Dylan Hartley (c), Salesi Ma’afu, Samu Manoa, Courtney Lawes, Tom Wood, Calum Clark, Sam Dickinson.
Replacements: Mike Haywood, Alex Waller, Gareth Denman, Christian Day, Jon Fisher, Kahn Fotuali’i, Tom Stephenson, Ahsee Tuala.
Referee: John Lacey (Ireland).
