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| Clermont Auvergne v Northampton: European Champions Cup – live! | Clermont Auvergne v Northampton: European Champions Cup – live! |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 5.34pm BST17:34 | |
| 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. | |
| 5.27pm BST17:27 | |
| 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. | |
| 4.45pm BST16:45 | 4.45pm BST16:45 |
| 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. | 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 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. | 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! | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | Replacements: Mike Haywood, Alex Waller, Gareth Denman, Christian Day, Jon Fisher, Kahn Fotuali’i, Tom Stephenson, Ahsee Tuala. |
| Referee: John Lacey (Ireland). | Referee: John Lacey (Ireland). |