Fri 16 Nov 2012 | 04:18
Clermont snatch dramatic 50th consecutive Stade Marcel Michelin victory

25
Comments

Jonny Wilkinson kicked a dramatic late drop goal to equalise with thirty seconds left but it wasn't enough as Brock James slotted a penalty on full time as Clermont snatched a memorable 24-21 victory over Toulon last weekend.

Much of the focus this week has been on the Autumn Internationals but there was a full round of Top 14 action taking place, and this game was just another classic in a highly entertaining league.

It started with a bang as straight from the kick off Clermont almost scored what would have been one of the tries of the season, as former All Black wing Sitiveni Sivivatu broke down field before getting a return ball that was snuffed out.

In the end the game came down to two well taken kicks. The first of which tied things up as Wilkinson, who scored all of Toulon's points, did what he does best to salvage the draw.

It wasn't enough though and former Wallaby Matt Giteau made an error in judgement, and was perhaps harsly penalised as he got a bad bounce while going for a loose ball, which he then knocked into touch. it was deemed to be deliberate and it handed Clermont a kick for the win.

Brock James stepped up and did the rest, providing the home side with an unbelievable 50th consecutive win at their home fortress, the Stade Marcel Michelin.

The win brings Clermont to within two points of Toulon at the top of the Top 14 table.

25 Comments

  • browner
    5:30 PM 23/11/2012

    Wales Leading when George North does a more obvious flap into touch

    Nothing given ...................... Game time 77.10s .....watch

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34Bc2OTe_xo


  • browner
    4:52 PM 23/11/2012

    Can't believe no one has mentioned the 5m forward pass !

    Rougerie definately took one for the team .... deliberate slowing the ball down & he knew exactly what he was doing. YC justified, ........ however

    I would have reversed the penalty - for scrum half dangerous play, stamping on arms/hands

    Law 10.4.L (l) Retaliation. .......... Even if an opponent is infringing the Laws, a player must not do anything that is dangerous to the opponent.

    thoughts?

  • browner
    4:51 PM 23/11/2012

    Macmurchin has it spot on

  • stroudos
    11:01 PM 18/11/2012

    Ha ha, good spot!

  • stroudos
    10:58 PM 18/11/2012

    Yep. I think the rule should be if you wave an imaginary card at the ref you automatically get shown one yourself.

    However, and call me a hypocrite, I do have some sympathy for Tillous-Borde here! Rougerie, the cheating bastard! I think T-B was quite restrained not to have done an Adam Thompson on him - Rougerie was asking for a boot in the head, if you ask me. But yeah, he should leave it to the ref, who'd already awarded a penalty against 7 anyway!

    Have always been a big fan of Rougerie but he seems to be getting through his fair share of cheating over the last year or so.

    Can't believe the ref and touchies completely missed his outrageous block on The Bastard around the 3:00 point...

  • stroudos
    10:43 PM 18/11/2012

    I'd say that's actually a good spot by Reality, although I too wouldn't go as far as taking pleasure in him getting hurt. I remember thinking it was an odd position to find himself in, ie if he were joining the ruck legitimately, (or even make a tackle if you don't agree a ruck was yet formed), but didn't think much of it, just thought it was unfortunate. Watching again the replay at 4:14 I just can't find any other explanation than he's putting in a dirty cheap shot knee to the Clermont player's ribs.

    From what I'd seen lately I had the impression Delon had got this sort of bullshit out of his system, but it does look as though this leopard hasn't changed his spots.

  • disco
    3:19 PM 18/11/2012

    Watched this begrudgingly as nowhere in France seemed to be showing the England Fiji game. Turned out to be an amazing game. Giteau was excellent but quite quiet. Wilkinson was outstanding.

    Armitage is maturing fast in Toulon and I think the guy deserves a chance. Agreed that taking pleasure in another player being injured is in contrast to the values of the game of rugby that start pretty much with "respect everybody involved".

  • redyeti
    1:38 PM 18/11/2012

    http://www.irblaws.com/EN/laws/3/10/93/during-the-match/foul-play/unfair-play/#clause_93

    No problem with kicking the ball out, but throwing or hitting it is illegal

  • redyeti
    1:37 PM 18/11/2012

    Just checked the IRB Laws site:

    10.2 UNFAIR PLAY

    (c) Throwing into touch. A player must not intentionally knock, place, push or throw the ball with his arm or hand into touch, touch-in-goal, or over the dead ball line.
    Sanction: Penalty kick on the 15-metre line if the offence is between the 15-metre line and the touchline...

    http://www.irblaws.com/EN/laws/3/10/93/during-the-match/foul-play/unfair-play/#clause_93

  • colombes
    4:08 PM 17/11/2012

    Great match between the 2 best top14 sides of the moment!
    Seemed Wilko had the last usual word, but Giteau didn't bet on the best choice by throwing the ball in touch.

    On Armitage ko, i'm not a big fan of the player (who often behave as a moron) but i will never feel happy to see a player injured.
    grow up people

  • basab
    12:32 PM 17/11/2012

    If the ball is thrown out on purpose between the 15m and touchline, the mark will be on the 15m.

  • macmurchu
    12:13 PM 17/11/2012

    Nah man that was harsh, he dived to where he thought he could catch the ball and the bounce took it behind him, he couldn't even see the ball when he got to touching it. Scrum clermont would have been more like it

  • guy
    9:20 AM 17/11/2012

    Even if so, it is not allright to enjoy someone getting injured. Fortunately, the majority of people on this site seem to agree on that. Your remarks show your personality, you know. Frankly that's quite disturbing.

  • ando
    7:13 AM 17/11/2012

    I wondered about that as well, thought the penalty would be at the 5m line, not the 15m.

  • reality
    1:07 AM 17/11/2012

    What do you mean that's not what happened? Did you watch the video? Do you see him trying to tackle the guy with his arms, or do you see him dive into the guy's side with his knee? If he had tried to actually tackle him and not just knee him, then he wouldn't have been so upright and his head wouldn't have been so exposed, and he probably wouldn't have gotten hurt like that.

    And it's not like this is an isolated incident. He has a history of foul-play.

  • reality
    12:35 AM 17/11/2012

    If being happy about seeing an absolute scumbag get injured in the process of trying to injure another player makes me a bad person, then I'm glad to say that I'm a bad person.

  • gonzoman
    10:48 PM 16/11/2012

    True! Just because he was right doesn't give him the right to be a dick!

  • gonzoman
    10:46 PM 16/11/2012

    I agree...looks like a cracker of a game! I think Giteau was a bit unfortunate, but fair call to the ref to make a big call like that based on what he saw!

    I thought it was hilarious to see the grin on the winger's face after looking like he was going to quick tap...I reckon he was having a lark!

  • guy
    9:35 PM 16/11/2012

    That looked like a spectacular match. Feel sorry for Giteau. It looked on purpose at the first glance but replays made me change my mind. And that Clermont winger looks the bussiness: strong runner and good finisher imho.

  • guy
    9:33 PM 16/11/2012

    Couldn't agree more. Crappy behaviour that does not belong on the rugby pitch. I wouldn't have mind at all if the ref had shown that scrumhalf a card instead. Rougerie had the last laugh though.

  • guy
    9:29 PM 16/11/2012

    Your comment makes me hope karma whoops your ass this weekend (I admit: not proud of myself).

  • facepalm
    8:34 PM 16/11/2012

    You really have to question what kind of rugby fan you are when you're happy to see a player get injured.

  • darabman
    8:17 PM 16/11/2012

    Great game, but it makes me sick to see behaviour like at 4:45 when the Toulon scrum-half starts gesturing for a card when Aurelie was penalised at the ruck.
    If he knows how to adjudicate a game so bloody well, maybe he should give up his player's salary and start reffing instead. In the mean time he needs to put a sock in it and trust the decision of the officials!

  • reality
    7:52 PM 16/11/2012

    God that looked like a great match. Can't believe Giteau though; what was he at? And I was so happy to see Delon Armitage get injured. If you look at it closely, he just dives into the Clermont defender knees first, so it's great to see him get smashed in the face like that.

  • ando
    7:50 PM 16/11/2012

    Fantastic rugby to watch that Top 14... Wish I lived over that way to see a match live!

    Brock James and Gits both playing good rugby at the moment - give those guys a Wallabies jersey tomorrow!!