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Clermont thoughts
Discussion started by Wilson Pickett , 18 October, 2017 18:59
Clermont thoughts
Wilson Pickett 18 October, 2017 18:59
Let’s try talking about this weeks rugby instead of all the other noise!

I actually think we have a sensible outside chance. We have been written off as 18 point underdogs but Clermont have been far from scintillating this season apart from the odd game.

They are 9th, repeat, 9th in the Top 14.

They only beat a really poor Ospreys by 5 last week.

They’re a team slightly in transition from the old guard of Rougerie, Parra and the like.

Apart from Saracens twice we’ve been good or very good every game. Assuming Horne is back I fancy us to score plenty of points. The last time we were given a pasting at home in this comp we then won in Dublin against similar odds.

We haven’t become a bad team overnight assuming we do not kick aimlessly to Abendanon, Raka etc


Thoughts?

Re: Clermont thoughts
tedge 18 October, 2017 19:09
Saints to lose by 30 points

Re: Clermont thoughts
Chris Hoddle 18 October, 2017 19:12
Team already selected as they fly out Friday. Expect a few changes Saints show suggest at 10 and maybe some in pack



http://chrishoddle.smugmug.com/photos/i-TsCHdzK/0/M/i-TsCHdzK-M.gif

Re: Clermont thoughts
Duckonstilts 18 October, 2017 19:19
I tend to agree with you HLTW. 2 bad games vs the same team. We need to solve that but not for a while. We have every chance with the right 10/12/13.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 18/10/2017 19:19 by Duckonstilts.

Re: Clermont thoughts
Wilson Pickett 18 October, 2017 19:20
Groome
Francis
Foden
Burrell
Horne
Collins
Tuala


Non negotiable IMHO.

Re: Clermont thoughts
Le marseillais 18 October, 2017 19:21
You've lost G North, but we lost today Peceli Yato (suspended for 3 weeks) and Greg Laidlaw (fracture of the fibula).
We have a lot of injuries, for main players (Chouly, Nakaitaci, Fofana etc )
But we never loose in Clermont..



ASM Clermont Auvergne supporter

Re: Clermont thoughts
Duckonstilts 18 October, 2017 19:25
Quote:
HungryLikeTheWolf
Groome
Francis
Foden
Burrell
Horne
Collins
Tuala


Non negotiable IMHO.

Mostly agrer but if foden went to 15 and Pisi or one of the million wingers we have come in I could accept that. The above is good though.

Re: Clermont thoughts
Wilson Pickett 18 October, 2017 19:31
Quote:
Le marseillais
You've lost G North, but we lost today Peceli Yato (suspended for 3 weeks) and Greg Laidlaw (fracture of the fibula).
We have a lot of injuries, for main players (Chouly, Nakaitaci, Fofana etc )
But we never loose in Clermont..


Good intel Phil. Never hey?

Re: Clermont thoughts
Le marseillais 18 October, 2017 19:36
Quote:
HungryLikeTheWolf
Quote:
Le marseillais
You've lost G North, but we lost today Peceli Yato (suspended for 3 weeks) and Greg Laidlaw (fracture of the fibula).
We have a lot of injuries, for main players (Chouly, Nakaitaci, Fofana etc )
But we never loose in Clermont..


Good intel Phil. Never hey?

Should I say: "it is very difficult to beat Clermont in Clermont" ? (Sm115)



ASM Clermont Auvergne supporter

Re: Clermont thoughts
Wilson Pickett 18 October, 2017 19:41
Understood ...

Re: Clermont thoughts
Deesaint 18 October, 2017 19:46
Harry at 15 for me
If we are going to offer an attacking game
Let’s go all out

Re: Clermont thoughts
Wilson Pickett 18 October, 2017 19:56
Not averse to that idea..... not much to lose.

Re: Clermont thoughts
Brackleysaint 18 October, 2017 20:05
If Harry at 15 then Tuala to wing in place of Foden.

Re: Clermont thoughts
Saint in Florida 18 October, 2017 20:23
This is the kind of post I want to read. Means I can put away the knife and recover my wrists.

We cannot change what is behind us and we can influence what is in front and can only say a loud hear hear to HLTW for his realistic take.

Re: Clermont thoughts
shendy 18 October, 2017 20:29
Quote:
Le marseillais
Quote:
HungryLikeTheWolf
Quote:
Le marseillais
You've lost G North, but we lost today Peceli Yato (suspended for 3 weeks) and Greg Laidlaw (fracture of the fibula).
We have a lot of injuries, for main players (Chouly, Nakaitaci, Fofana etc )
But we never loose in Clermont..


Good intel Phil. Never hey?

Should I say: "it is very difficult to beat Clermont in Clermont" ? (Sm115)

That's what Agen and Leicester said :-)
A while ago I will admit...

Re: Clermont thoughts
andysaint 18 October, 2017 20:31
A lot of talk about backs again but for me it will be the forwards where the biggest gain or loss will be.

Waller Hartley Ford-Robinson
Ribbans Day (if available)
Lawes Harrison
Dickinson

Not seen enough of Van Wyk and whilst I am not Waller’s biggest fan he is relatively consistent.

Brookes needs to be very much more involved off the ball. Ford-Robinson will give us more there. Brookes’ form has not improved sufficiently to be considered a first choice prop I think.

We need Day for some leadership and go forward. Patterson has had a good season but was quiet on Sunday. Api for all of his bulk does not get through enough work I think.

How back row needs to be more active which is why I’d have Harrison in who will bring more dynamism. Dickinson I still rate and is consistent.

Amongst the backs, I’d have Groom Francis Collins Burrell Horne Elliott Tuala

On the bench I’d go

Van Wyk Haywood Hill Patterson Gibson Reinach Mallinder Stephenson

Foden is not the future and does not show enough pace anymore. Myler or Mallinder on the bench and get Francis bedded in. Mallinder for me as he can cover 10 12 15. Stephenson can cover 12 and 13 and we need options at centre. Francis and Mallinder are not options there. Groom as starter should be a given. Elliott has proved he is dependable in big games and can defend well.

Re: Clermont thoughts
Walks11 18 October, 2017 23:38
HLW's back line.. a change at prop and suspect Woody will be in the starting XV this week. Eadie Wood Harrison would be nice but too early for Mitch I guess. So Lawes, Wood, Harrison. Jamie G to have a rest

we have come back from a hiding to win in week 2 before so no reason why we cant this week and probably no better time to play Clermont. We need to have a strong first quarter with some points on the board and then who knows. If we concede early it could be tin hat time

Re: Clermont thoughts
Nath-coys 19 October, 2017 07:35
Groom
Francis
Collins
Burell
Horne/Stephenson
Foden
Mallinder

Would quite like too see Harry at Fullback too see how he goes.
Could be a second playmaker, but like goode at sarries I guess. And then allows us too have to physicality at 12 of
Burell.
Ace has been good but don't want too play him in too the ground.

Just a thought so you think Tuala could make a decent winger? He is a great finisher and always seems to beat the first man.
With North injured, Collins Harry ace looks a pretty good back 3?

Re: Clermont thoughts
Brackleysaint 19 October, 2017 09:08
Tuala has played on the wing for us and made some decent finishes.

Re: Clermont thoughts
Remy63 19 October, 2017 09:15
Quote:
HungryLikeTheWolf
I actually think we have a sensible outside chance. We have been written off as 18 point underdogs but Clermont have been far from scintillating this season apart from the odd game.

They are 9th, repeat, 9th in the Top 14.

They only beat a really poor Ospreys by 5 last week.

They’re a team slightly in transition from the old guard of Rougerie, Parra and the like.

From a Clermont's point of view, it's hard to deny that you have a chance to win in Clermont this time.

Although we have seen something new so far this season at the Liberty Stadium, some aggressiveness in the tackle, some defensive consistency and a 100% at the set piece, we are clearly beatable notably if your backs play a wide and fast game. As you said, we only beat a poor side by 5.

We have a lot of injuried guys (Vahaamahina, Iturria, Fofana, Nakaitaci, Chouly, Abendanon, Laidlaw) or suspended (Yato). Even if Fofana and bendy could be back for the game, our forwards are really weakened by the missing of our best one (Vahaamahina) and the two who are bringing some binders between the forwards and the backs (Iturria and Chouly).

Sarries are out of the radar for now, not only for you but for every single team in Europe.

Toeava's return is a big boost for us. The most gifted player I've ever seen apart of Sivivatu.

Ps : Parra is 28 grinning smiley



Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 19/10/2017 11:00 by Remy63.

Re: Clermont thoughts
Wilson Pickett 19 October, 2017 09:37
Thank you Remy, although you're making me a little too optimistic now...

Re: Clermont thoughts
None 19 October, 2017 10:33
Oh what the hell, lets be optimistic. I remember that Ulster, Leinster and going back a little further Biarritz never seemed to lose at home !

Re: Clermont thoughts
TOKS 19 October, 2017 10:36
I was optimistic in Clermont the last time we played there.

Then I took my seat in the Stade Marcel Michelin and looked (and listened) around me....

Clermont 18 Saracens 3.

Still that was a couple of years ago. Good luck to both teams for an entertaining game and a fair result.

Re: Clermont thoughts
Matthew 19 October, 2017 11:28
Last time we were in Clermont it was (another) one of our infamous European (lack of) performances:

[www.bbc.co.uk]

Clermont 37-5 Saints. Clermont were 37-0 up until the end too.

Now that I think about it, when was the last time we lost narrowly (LBP territory) in the top European competition proper (ie, not the Stade game last season)? Glasgow away a few seasons back when we blew a win at the death? It feels like in Europe we seem either to win or to lose badly with little inbetween.

Re: Clermont thoughts
Wilson Pickett 19 October, 2017 12:20
I was there last time, the atmosphere alone was worth the trip.


Why did we lose? Our genius tactics of thumping the ball to the Clermont back 3.

3 separate tried came from Dickson kicking aimlessly into their 22, they ran them back for tries.


Luckily Dickson isn’t playing but Cobus was starting to do a rather worryingly good impression last week.


Groome starts, quick ball, have a go at them. Smash the breakdown. Quick D line speed.

Re: Clermont thoughts
fair_weather_fan 19 October, 2017 15:21
Ford Robinson gave Sarries problems last week when he came on.

Ace was brought in as an injury replacement and has somehow become a starter. Better as wing than FB so yes why not Ace on the wing and Harry at FB.

Re: Clermont thoughts
smitferbrainz 19 October, 2017 15:49
We're gonna get creamed!

Re: Clermont thoughts
SaintSurrey 19 October, 2017 17:19
Van Wyk
Hartley
JFR
Api
Ribbans
Lawes
Wood
Harrison
Groome
Francis
Pisi
Burrell
Horne (Ace if Horne not fit)
Collins
Mallinder

Heywood
Waller
Hill
Paterson
Gibson
Cobus
Stephenson
Foden



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 19/10/2017 17:28 by SaintSurrey.

Re: Clermont thoughts
ch saint 19 October, 2017 18:49
For me the issue is whether we stand a chance of qualifying, because if we do not then I would want to protect key players needed for the premiership, so I would not play Francis, Lawes, Groom or Horne. We stand a good chance of doing something in the premiership if we are injury free. Last week we lost one of our "top" men while losing by the greatest margin I have ever seen. This is not being negative just planning beyond europe.
Furthermore it's the forwards who need to step up this week.

Re: Clermont thoughts
Abington Adam 19 October, 2017 20:15
If we start well then we've got half a chance, if Clermont get an early try or two then it will be a cricket score.

Re: Clermont thoughts
Wilson Pickett 19 October, 2017 20:26
CHSaint

If we win every other game apart from Saracens then we have a shot as best runner-up, bonus points relevant of course.

If we lose on Saturday then we can't. SO I would play a full team this Saturday and see what happens.


We have only got a banged up Wasps next week.... confident we beat them even with a few players out.

Re: Clermont thoughts
Le marseillais 20 October, 2017 09:33
Quote:
Abington Adam
If we start well then we've got half a chance, if Clermont get an early try or two then it will be a cricket score.
Clever man.
That's it: Clermont is a simple team to understand.
The ten first minutes are the most impotant. We, the fans, know quickly if the team is "in" or "out".
We know if the players will fight, or not.
The score wil depends on that.



ASM Clermont Auvergne supporter

Re: Clermont thoughts
Le marseillais 20 October, 2017 09:37
Quote:
HungryLikeTheWolf
CHSaint
If we win every other game apart from Saracens then we have a shot as best runner-up, bonus points relevant of course.

If we lose on Saturday then we can't. SO I would play a full team this Saturday and see what happens.


We have only got a banged up Wasps next week.... confident we beat them even with a few players out.

The wolf is really hungry...
Same thing for us: we do not hope to finish first of tis pool, sarries will.
Our hope is to finish second best to be qualified, and so it depends on the bonus points won or lost.



ASM Clermont Auvergne supporter

Re: Clermont thoughts
Wilson Pickett 20 October, 2017 09:54
Philippe have you been sent a link to your interview with BBC radio?

Re: Clermont thoughts
Le marseillais 20 October, 2017 10:08
No Tom.
Unfortunatly, the ITW has been cancelled because of my job.
Maybe for the retun match ?



ASM Clermont Auvergne supporter

Re: Clermont thoughts
Le marseillais 20 October, 2017 11:43
Our team for tomorrow :
[www.asm-rugby.com]



ASM Clermont Auvergne supporter



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 20/10/2017 11:44 by Le marseillais.


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