RACING 92, with Teddy Iribaren in killer form with the boot, were too quick out of the blocks against Clermont and never lost their grip of this encounter with their win booking a semifinal against Saracens.
Clermont, who had been given permission to allow 5,000 fans into Stade Michelin, stirred themselves in the second half and indeed outscored Racing four tries to two overall – with some trademark moments of brilliance in attack – but they had given themselves too much to do. Ill-discipline cost them dear.
Playing catch-up rugby, they continued to concede penalties and Clermont continued to pick them off with Maxime Machenaud also on target when he came on to replace Iribaren.
Racing are many pundits’ favourites for the tournament and, after two impressive wins in their opening T14 games, made a flying start, rather mimicking Saracens in Dublin against Leinster.
Louis Dupichot sprinted over for their first try inside two minutes after Racing suddenly went wide after a well-engineered forward rumble from a lineout with Finn Russell and Simon Zebo both timing their passes to perfection.
A brace of penalties from the reliable Iribaren built on that nicely but midway through the half Clermont did ramp up a little pressure as they took advantage of Racing going down to 14 men for ten minutes after Dom Bird was binned for preventing release as Clermont looked for quick bal
l. A serious looking leg injury to Dupichot also disrupted them for a while and Clermont took advantage with prop Etienne Falgoux powering over for a try from a rolling maul.
The relief was short lived though with Iribaren adding another brace of penalties as Clermont continued to offend before the game started to spiral seriously out of control for them when they restarted after that fourth Iribaren penalty. First Pumas speedster Juan Imhoff sprinted over after Virimi Vakatawa latched on to what appeared to be sloppy knock back from Damien Penaud. The TMO wanted another look and Bernard Le Roux was adjudged to have got a finger on the ball knocking it forward before Penaud knocked back.
It was a hairline decision and seemed like a reprieve but right on half-time Racing got their just rewards for an excellent first half. Francois Trinhduc – who came on when Racing reshuffled their backs following Dupichot’s departure – rolled back the years and chipped forward expertly from 40m out before winning the race for the ball. A classy moment from the former France fly-half.
After the break Clermont needed to hit the ground running but Racing went for the jugular, camping down in the Clermont half and forcing more penalties. Iribaren – surely the best modern day French scrumhalf never to play Test rugby – obliged with two more penalties and the match was effectively all over at 30-8 approaching the hour mark.
Belatedly Clermont hit top gear with Wesley Fofana finishing off a fine try down the left touchline although he twisted his ankle badly in the act of scoring and had to depart.
Machenaud replied with Racing’s seventh penalty but Clermont weren’t finished and Japan’s World Cup star Kotaro Matsushima, playing only his second game for the club, unleashed his fast feet to score a fine try next to the post with 11 minutes to go.
Racing were sufficiently alarmed for Machenaud to pop over an eighth penalty when the opportunity presented itself which put victory beyond all doubt although Penaud did swoop for a fine individual try right at the end which showcased his remarkable strength and athleticism
So Saracens it is. The two sides shared the honours with a win apiece when they met in the pool stages and you fancy another close – and possibly epic – encounter awaits on Saturday.
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