RUGBY:CLERMONT AUVERGNE drew level on points with Leinster at the top of Pool Two as they secured a bonus point in their 28-17 victory over Racing Metro at Stade Marcel Michelin last night.
The visitors from Paris got off to a great start and led 10-0 after 15 minutes thanks to a try from flanker Bernard Le Roux and a conversion and penalty from the boot of Argentine outhalf Juan Martin Hernandez.
Italian centre Gonzalo Canale got Clermont on the board, going over in the 25th minute, with outhalf Brock James adding the extras.
The home side took control in the third quarter with tries from Thomas Domingo and Jason White, both converted by James, putting them 21-10 ahead.
Julien Jane got one back for Racing but French centre Aurelien Rougerie sealed the bonus point with a try in the 72nd minute.
In Pool One, everything fell neatly into place as far as Northampton were concerned, writes Robert Kitson. A comfortable, 37-0 victory over Edinburgh, featuring four tries from wing Paul Diggin, and a favourable result in Cardiff, where the Blues beat Castres 14-9, ensured the Saints will top the pool, with a home draw guaranteed if they win in Castres next week. The French side can no longer qualify.
If they secure six pool wins, Jim Mallinder’s team might even qualify as one of the top two seeds alongside Toulouse, the only other unbeaten team in the tournament. That would enable them to avoid the other pool winners and increase their chances of reaching the semi-finals. Given England’s poor showing in Europe last season it is a giddy prospect.
The Saints will scarcely be bothered that this match was as mundane as Heineken Cup games come. First-half tries from Brian Mujati and Diggin helped to establish a 15-point cushion and their opponents, smashed at the scrum and outgunned physically, never looked like reeling them in. Diggin ran in three late tries to complete the defeat.
Edinburgh had their hands full dealing with the Saints’ Irish centre James Downey, who was as direct as ever in midfield, though they caused the odd problem themselves down the left flank through Tim Visser, their in-form Dutch wing who has flourished since moving north from Newcastle. Visser could be eligible to play for Scotland next year.
Rob Moffat’s team probably knew there was no way back 10 minutes before the interval. Diggin squeezed into the left corner when, by rights, he should have been hauled down. Only the departure of Northampton lock Christian Day brought a temporary halt to the home fans’ enjoyment.
They were soon back in good humour, though, in bidding farewell to the Edinburgh prop Kyle Trainor, who was sent to the sinbin following a dust-up with Dylan Hartley.
Mallinder could even afford to withdraw his captain before the final quarter, sending on a stream of replacements as they chased down the two tries required for a bonus point.
