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| Clermont Auvergne v Northampton: European Champions Cup – live! | Clermont Auvergne v Northampton: European Champions Cup – live! |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 6.13pm BST18:13 | |
| 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. | |
| 6.12pm BST18:12 | |
| 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. | |
| 6.11pm BST18:11 | |
| 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. | |
| 6.09pm BST18:09 | |
| 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. | |
| 6.08pm BST18:08 | |
| 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. | |
| 6.07pm BST18:07 | |
| 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 at 6.07pm BST | |
| 6.06pm BST18:06 | |
| 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. | |
| 6.05pm BST18:05 | |
| 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. | |
| 6.04pm BST18:04 | |
| 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. | |
| 6.03pm BST18:03 | |
| 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. | |
| 6.02pm BST18:02 | |
| 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. | |
| 6.01pm BST18:01 | |
| 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. | |
| 6.00pm BST18:00 | |
| ...it was not held up... | |
| 5.59pm BST17:59 | |
| 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... | |
| 5.58pm BST17:58 | |
| 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. | |
| 5.57pm BST17:57 | |
| 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. | |
| 5.56pm BST17:56 | |
| 10 min Better from Northampton as Zirakhashvili collapses the scrum. One for Corbisiero. Myler clears to touch down the right, finding it near halfway. | |
| 5.55pm BST17:55 | |
| 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. | |
| 5.54pm BST17:54 | |
| 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. | |
| 5.53pm BST17:53 | |
| 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. | |
| 5.52pm BST17:52 | |
| 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. | |
| 5.51pm BST17:51 | |
| 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. | |
| 5.50pm BST17:50 | |
| 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. | |
| 5.49pm BST17:49 | |
| 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. | |
| 5.48pm BST17:48 | |
| 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. | |
| 5.46pm BST17:46 | |
| 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. | |
| 5.45pm BST17:45 | |
| 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. | |
| 5.42pm BST17:42 | |
| 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. | |
| 5.41pm BST17:41 | |
| 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 at 5.46pm BST | |
| 5.34pm BST17:34 | 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. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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). |