News: Rougerie out of
crucial Munster clash; Dax crash to London Irish again
12 December 2008
Clermont’s hopes of causing an upset in Munster have been
dealt a severe blow with confirmation that captain Aurélien
Rougerie has been ruled out with a jaw injury.
The
inspirational winger was outstanding as ‘Les Jaunards’ beat
the defending champions 25-19 at home last week, but his
absence from Thomond Park is a major set back.
Prop
Thomas Domingo will also miss Saturday’s Pool 1 clash, while
Munster are expected to recall fit again hooker Jerry
Flannery in the only change to their side.
Centre
Barry Murphy has recovered from a back strain that saw him
miss midweek training.
Meanwhile, Dax were thumped 59-7 by London Irish in
last night’s Pool one match in the European Challenge Cup.
Elvis
Seveali’i and Warren Fury both grabbed two tries apiece as
the Guinness Premiership leaders put their French visitors
to the sword. James Hudson, Delon Armitage, Topsy Ojo and
Peter Howat also got on the scoresheet, with latter adding
eight conversions and a penalty to complete the rout.
Dax’s only response came through a late
Jannie Bornman try, converted by Antoine Vignau-Tuquet.
The
result all but secured the Exiles their quarter-final berth,
and left Dax staring up from the foot of the table with zero
points from four games and a negative aggregate of -121.
Elsewhere, Montauban’s general assembly have elected
Patrick Vianco as their new president – the club’s third so
far this year.
Vianco,
who steps up from vice-president, will be assisted by his
two predecessors; Patrick Bardot and Daniel Havis.
Bardot
stepped down in June, while Havis followed suit in October.
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