Top 14: Clermont Auvergne Parra-shoot
into semi-finals after 21-17 win against Racing
07 May 2010
|
Not enough: Francois Steyn
Photo: Michael Paler |
Clermont Auvergne 21 (6)
Racing-Métro 17 (5)
Stade Marcel Michelin
France
scrum-half Morgan Parra kicked five second-half penalties to
ease Clermont Auvergne to a narrow 21-17 home win against
valiant Racing-Metro 92.
Parra,
who took over the kicking duties after Brock James wobbled
yet again, was on target in the 49th, 61st, 64th, 71st and
77th minutes as Clermont secured their quarter-final win.
The
10-time runners-up had looked to be heading for yet more Top
14 heartache as they stood 12-17 down with 15 minutes left,
but the yellow card for Racing lock Santiago Dellape proved
decisive as Clermont used their numerical superiority to
telling effect.
Earlier,
it had appeared that Springbok Francois Steyn would be the
evening's hero after landing two huge kicks to put Racing on
the verge of a massive shock win.
Pierre
Berbizier's side had started as huge underdogs against
Clermont, but Steyn's siege-gun boot threatened an unfancied
victory as they turned an early 6-0 deficit into near glory.
The
South African World Cup winner was always in the thick of
things in what was his first start at fly-half for the
Parisians, landing a 50m penalty on 47 minutes to put them
7-11 ahead, and then going one better just after the hour
mark when he was successful with a 55m drop-goal, which made
it 12-17.
But
Clermont fought back immediately with a Parra penalty 15
minutes from time - his third of the match - and they then
turned the screw following Dellape's trip to the sin-bin for
use of the shoulder.
Clermont
hooker Benoit Cabello went close to scoring an intercept try
before Parra's late brace of penalties sealed the win that
keeps alive 'Les Jaunards' hopes of making a fourth
successive final, and they will now play Toulon for the
right to contest this season's showpiece.
Earlier,
Clermont had opened a 6-0 lead thanks to two penalties from
fly-half James. The Australian landed successful kicks in
the fourth and 22nd minutes, but he was also wayward with
two further efforts (in the 23rd and 32nd minutes) as he
once more showed fallibility on the big stage.
Winger
Napolioni Nalaga twice went close to grabbing the game's
opening try, but Racing's defence held firm in the face of
Clermont's pressure.
Racing
full-back Jonathan Wisniewski also had trouble with his
radar, missing a drop-kick and penalty as the Parisians
struggled with early nerves. But the whole balance of the
match changed dramatically one minute before half-time when
South African flanker Jacques Cronje touched down in the
corner after a sweeping Racing move from 30m out.
Wisniewski missed the ensuing conversion but the momentum
was with the visitors despite them going into half time 6-5
down.
Wisniewski finally succeeded with his fourth kick at goal as
Racing then edged ahead two minutes after the restart,
before Steyn extended that to 6-11 on 47 minutes with his
first long-range effort. Clermont scrum-half Parra then took
over the home side's kicking duties and landed a trio of
penalties in the 49th, 61st and 64th minutes as he tried
valiantly to keep Vern Cotter's team in the match.
Wisniewski and Steyn succeeded with a drop-goal apiece in
reply, before Dellape's yellow swung the pendulum once back
in Clermont's favour.
|
