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ASM: good intentions that ended up paying off
The Auvergnats are experiencing a very complicated start to the year. With only two wins in seven days, they were at the bottom of the standings before heading to Montpellier. But ASM, during its last outings, had shown a clear revival in its offensive intentions. And it paid off at GGL Stadium on Saturday. Even if they sometimes lacked realism, like this test logically refused to O'Connor (69th), the Clermontois never gave up, they even accelerated in the second half and ended up making the difference . This first success of the season away will allow Jono Gibbes, the new manager of the club, to breathe a little. Clermont plays rather well, tries shots and, this time, it was a winner in the Hérault. The Jaunards temporarily climb to 10th place.A click ? To be confirmed next Saturday, at the Michelin, against the Section Paloise.
A pleasant and unbridled game
If the meeting between Brive and La Rochelle (6-8) was a long pensum, very poor technically, the match between the MHR and the ASM was itself very removed, the two teams did not not hesitating to send play. To attempt blows.
At half-time, Jean-Pascal Barraque regretted at the microphone of Canal + that his team, led 14-10, is playing a little too much in his own camp, rather than going to occupy half of the field of Montpellier.
Back from the locker room, ASM clearly gained momentum and took on the most dangerous opportunities.
To sign a logical victory.
FLOPS
Fall two for Montpellier
After its short setback last week on the lawn of Union Bordeaux-Bègles (27-23), the MHR wanted to revive this Saturday against Clermont. It missed. A short setback at home (20-22) which prevents Philippe Saint-André's team from entering the top 6. Before a complicated trip next week to Paris La Défense Arena to challenge Racing 92. If the setbacks of the last season seem far away, this defeat will put the MHR under pressure. The Hérault club clearly marked time in the second half. Lack of control and crippling edge. However, the opener of the Springboks world champions, André Pollard, entered late in the game, had in the last moments the penalty of the win for the MHR but he missed it. Frustrating.
The tile for Bézy
The scrum half of Clermont Sébastien Bézy, who started against MHR, should be absent for some time.
In the 46th minute of the match, he waited for a ball behind a retreating grouping and his overhanging knee instantly twisted.
The former number 9 at Stade Toulousain writhed in pain and gave way to Morgan Parra.
Another blow for ASM, not spared from injuries this season.
A shared indiscipline
In this unbridled match, ASM was very much at fault at GGL Stadium at the start of the match. A particularly glaring indiscipline in the first half. During the first ten minutes of the match, Camille Lopez and his teammates were penalized 4 times. Faults on which the Montpellier people were able to capitalize. Another sign of these repeated faults, the yellow card inflicted on Damian Penaud (32nd). After several matches at the center, the international tricolor regained his wing and he committed a voluntary forward, which logically led referee Sébastien Minery to exclude him for 10 minutes. Another recurring concern: the scrum of the Jaunards has been penalized four times. Opposite, the MHR lost the thread of its match in the second half,multiplying the faults and allowing Camille Lopez to collect points. The two teams have conceded five penalties, but in the end, it is the successful transformation by the opener from Auvergne that makes the difference.