David Barnes reports as the Top 14 bursts back in to life
“Sergio Parisse was red carded after the ref accused him of elbowing flanker Alan Bravo. He said it was selfprotection”
Apoll of Top 14 coaches anointed Clermont champions before business got under way. Still early, of course, but they might just be right. Not necessarily because Clermont beat Agen by the massive margin of 67-23 yesterday nor because they scored ten tries to add to the 14 they have scored in two pre-season friendlies.
It is more because they played without six of their best players, internationals protected by a Federation-League deal to keep them primed for their country.
Men like the influential Morgan Parra, leader of an absent elite, as well as brilliant English full-back Nick Abendanon recovering from a shoulder operation.
Every reason then to think the coaching fraternity might turn out to be right. Especially with Scottish debutant Greg Laidlaw in such commanding form at fly-half while converting seven tries and kicking a penalty.
Agen performed a miracle last season to escape relegation. It may just be beyond them this time around.
The massacre took time to develop, former All Black centre Isaia Toeave grabbing the two first-half tries. Then came the deluge.
Fijians Aliverati Raka and Samuel Ezeala, 18, grew up together back home. Their familes are friends. How thrilling for them then to score two tries each at the heart of this team looking to make up for a dreadful defence of their last title last season.
Another double-up star was Aussie back Peter Betham who came on late to worsen the damage for Agen. Prop Sipiti Falatea and Fijian centre Apisai Naqalevu weighed in, too.
There are 12 different nationalities in the Clermont squad which includes 13 Pacific islanders. A potent mix, to be sure.
Few predicted success for Bordeaux-Begles whose English supremo Rory Teague has gone out on a limb by revolutionising his outfit with 16 new signings.
But they may be changing their minds now after Bordeaux’s convincing 41-19 win over Pau, another club who harbour rival ambitions of making the top six.
Bordeaux are the best-supported team in the Top 14, a crowd desperate for success that has kept eluding them for years.
Teague believes he has the answer and why not after he helped turn a match tied on the hour into an exhilarating victory?
France full-back Nans Ducuing scored two tries, the second created by Semi Radradra, the immense back lured away from Toulon at great expense. His debut in the second half helped tip the balance.
The icing on the cake was provided by centre Romain Lonca, who gave way to Radradra before returning eight minutes from time to score the two concluding tries.
Paddy Jackson, sacked by Ulster and hounded from his Irish homeland after appearing in a rape trial, scored a debut try while accompanying Perpignan into the Top 14.
Sadly for him and a promoted outfit cheered by a packed, hopeful house, though, the dream of an opening win quickly crumbled.
And, by the end of their demoralising 46-15 defeat by Stade Francais, a chilling reality had long set in. Noth- ing like the euphoria felt by their triumphant Rugby League brothers Catalan Dragons at Wembley yesterday. But logical when you consider Stade, now the richest club in the country, have a budget of 34 million euros, more than double the one available to their rivals.
For six-try, bonus-winning Stade, this was just what the doctor ordered. Doctor Hans Peter Wild, that is, the billionnaire businessman behind the team’s rebuilding.
He has said that he plans to transform Stade, who were close to relegation last season, into the Real Madrid of rugby.
The only blot on his landscape was a red card for iconic Italian captain Sergio Parisse whom the ref accused of elbowing flanker Alan Bravo just before the interval on receipt of a high ball. Parisse complained he had only been guilty of self-protection.
Stade already led 29-3 when Parisse departed through a couple of tries from flanker Sekou Macalou, another from full-back Kylan Hamdaoui, who doubled his tally in the second half, and one from Fijian centre Waisea Nayacalevu.
Perpignan, who were two men up after a yellow card for Aussie lock Hugh Pyle, briefly hit back through Jackson and a penalty try.
But South African scrum-half Piet van Zyl, new signing by compatriot boss Heyneke Meyer, crossed the line unopposed before fly-half sub Jules Plisson kicked a final penalty.
Lyon’s 16-16 draw with Toulouse was marked by an injury to English winger Delon Armitage, who was stretchered off half way through the second half.
He ran into trouble after a devastating solo run down the wing that left him clutching his knee in pain.
Despite not winning, the tie was a success for Lyon fly-half Jean-Marc Doussain who kicked 11 of the points on his debut after playing the whole of his career at Toulouse.
Promoted Grenoble went down bravely but without reward 21-28 at La Rochelle. The defeat could be more costly still.
Steven Setephano, their Kiwi flanker, was sent off in the final seconds for an offence in the ruck.