HEC QF: Clermont vs Montpellier, Sat 6 April 3:40pm (Irish Time)

thomond2006

Clermont:
15 Lee Byrne, 14 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 13 Aurélien Rougerie, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Napolioni Nalaga, 10 Ludovic Radoslavjevic , 9 Morgan Parra,
8 Julien Bonnaire, 7 Julien Bardy, 6 Gerhard Vosloo, 5 Nathan Hines, 4 Jamie Cudmore, 3 Davit Zirakashvili, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Thomas Domingo.

Replacements: 16 Ti'i Paulo, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Daniel Kotze, 19 Julien Pierre, 20 Alexandre Lapandry, 21 David Skrela, 22 Regan King, 23 Jean-Marcel Buttin,

Montpellier:
15 Lucas Amorosino, 14 Timoci Nagusa, 13 Thomas Combezou, 12 Santiago Fernandez, 11 Yohann Artru, 10 Francois Trinh-Duc, 9 Benoit Paillaugue,
8 Alex Tulou, 7 Alexandre Bias, 6 Fulgence Ouedraogo, 5 Thibaut Privat, 4 Mamuka Gorgodze, 3 Maximiliano Bustos, 2 Agustin Creevy, 1 Yvan Watremez.

Replacements: 16 Rassie van Vuuren, 17 Nahuel Lobo, 18 Barry Fa'amausili, 19 Mickael Demarco, 20 Johnnie Beattie, 21 Eric Escande, 22 Paul Bosch, 23 Pierre Bérard,

Clermont haven't lost in SMM for god knows how long, so they are big favourites for this. Montpellier were extremely impressive when they beat a strong Toulon side in Round 6 of the Pool Stages, they will need a similar level of performance in this game.

Brock James is out and David Skrela is just back from injury, so scrum-half Ludovic Radoslavjevic will play at 10. "Rado" played at 10 last week as Clermont stuffed Agen but this is a much bigger challenge.

This is probably the easiest of the quarter-finals to call, but I don't think Clermont will run away with this. Clermont by less than 10 for me.

Taco Corp

really hoping Clermont reach the final. would be a hell of a weekend in Dublin with their fans around

.ak

Yep, clermont scarf is out! Allez allez montferrand!

Liveforrugby

Montpellier for me on account of them having inhumanly physical forwards, if their backs hold out againts the x-factor of the clermont backs then it's theirs.

thomond2006

Liveforrugby wrote: »

Montpellier for me on account of them having inhumanly physical forwards, if their backs hold out againts the x-factor of the clermont backs then it's theirs.

Clermont's pack isn't half bad either! Plus Debaty to come off the bench.

Liveforrugby

thomond2006 wrote: »

Clermont's pack isn't half bad either! Plus Debaty to come off the bench.

Debaty is an absolute viking, can't understand why he doesn't start

thomond2006

Liveforrugby wrote: »

Debaty is an absolute viking, can't understand why he doesn't start

Fitness perhaps? He seems to be built as an impact player. Domingo is a great player in his own right anyway.

[Jackass]

Allez Les Jaunards!

Really hope Clermont win this. Would love to see a Clermont v Ulster final - both pretty much the teams I'd root for outside if Leinster. (Sorry Munster!)

Their team is as scary is ever, surprised they didn't start Skrela though.

Montpellier are a serious side too, should be a cracking game.

Liveforrugby

thomond2006 wrote: »

Fitness perhaps? He seems to be built as an impact player. Domingo is a great player in his own right anyway.

Yea was thinking that, seems a little too big to be able to move about efficiently for 80

.ak

Yeah massive game for Ludovic

decisions

This is going to be one hell of a game!

jamiedav2011

This will be brutal!

thomond2006

SMM is a bit lively today.

.ak

Allez allez allez!!!

Pudsy33

Is that the Exeter chant they've adopted?

decisions

Allez le Jaune et Bleu!

thomond2006

That was less than subtle from Kayser.

thomond2006

Great kick from Paillague: 0-3

ongarite

Very strong start from Montpellier.

decisions

Monty look very up for this.

thomond2006

All Monty at the moment: 0-6

decisions

Brilliant from Monty.

thomond2006

Clermont not in the match at all, amazing stuff.

decisions

Still all Monty, but Trinh Duc looks broken.

thomond2006

3-9 now

Trinh-Duc struggling with an injury

LEIN

What's the score?

thomond2006

DD9090 wrote: »

What's the score?

3-9

TD gone off, that's a blow.

decisions

Trinh-Ducs leg ended up in an awful position in that ruck. I'm amazed he could walk.

decisions

Fofana! He did a bloody good job to keep hold of that.

thomond2006

super try from Clermont, that was a gorgeous kick from Parra.

Swiwi

WF scores. Life is full of surprises.

thomond2006

Superb from Sivivatu! Clermont have woken up.

decisions

It took them a while to get going, but now Clermont are at full flight.

decisions

Monty need the first score.

JustinDee

One of the Inbetweeners is kicking for Montpellier.
Hopefully last half hour is better stuff

Swiwi

Montpellier don't look remotely like scoring a try, despite a glut of possession...

...and Sivivatu's 2nd makes it game over.

Rene Ranger will help Montpellier's attack no end.

decisions

What a run!

Stunning try.

thomond2006

Sivivatu. Wow.

Burgo

what a break from sivivatu.

CatFromHue

Lovely from Fofana to create the gap for Sivivatu

Anatidaephobia

Clermont are amazing when they get going.

Swiwi

So Thomond, would u fancy Munster at the ASM in a semi?

Rightwing

Swiwi wrote: »

So Thomond, would u fancy Munster at the ASM in a semi?

Why not. Seems like no one else can beat them there so let's give Penney a shot at it.

Swiwi

Rightwing wrote: »

Why not. Seems like no one else can beat them there so let's give Penney a shot at it.

I like your optimism! There would be nothing to lose, and worth a whirl. Would be a great victory. I guess the small matter of Quins first...

For Paws

Last chance saloon for Montpelier here.

Rightwing

Swiwi wrote: »

I like your optimism! There would be nothing to lose, and worth a whirl. Would be a great victory. I guess the small matter of Quins first...

Munster of 08 would probably carve out a win there, but this team has little to zero chance. Quins would have about 10% chance of winning there

Anatidaephobia

There's another. Montpellier aren't even playing that badly, Clermont are just too good.

Burgo

4th try for Clermont.

Swiwi

All endeavour and nothing to show for it for MP, Cl-Fr like a coiled snake just strike at the right time. Turning into a bit of a thrashing. The tournament has to be Cl-Fr to lose.

thomond2006

Monty's dominance ended when Trinh-Duc went off.

decisions

It will take something special to beat Clermont this year. Do Munster or Quinn's have what it takes? Probably not, Sarries, Ulster, Tigers or Toulon?