Too big and too strong, Clermont bash Saints
CLERMONT No.9 Greig Laidlaw hailed a dominant pack performance as the Top 14 leaders unleashed a storm at Franklin’s Gardens that blew hapless Saints away.
Scotland’s livewire pivot enjoyed an armchair ride behind a pack that battered Northampton’s scrum, while their rampant backs, led by Peter Betham and Isaiah Toeava, did the rest.
There were few crumbs of comfort for Saints, who have a mountain of work to do if they are to salvage their European campaign, starting at the Dragons on Friday.
Laidlaw said: “It was a brilliant team performance and the pack made my job easy. It wasn’t just the scrum, in general play the rucks were dominant and we were able to zip the ball away. It’s put us in a good position and we want to win this competition.”
Northampton suffered a blow after six minutes when Harry Mallinder, a lively attacking threat from fullback up to that point, took a blow to his right knee and hobbled off.
Saints continued to press, twice forcing penalties that Dan Biggar kicked to the corner, before Andrew Kellaway failed to ground Biggar’s angled grubber.
Biggar slotted Saints ahead after Clermont went offside, but Laidlaw replied immediately and the visitors almost bagged the first try when Toeava collected another Biggar grubber, saw off Kellaway and counter-attacked 60 metres.
Saints denied him but Clermont regrouped and, after forcing two scrum penalties, they packed down a third time before the ball was whizzed via Fritz Lee and Laidlaw to Patricio Fernandez, who released Betham for a flamboyant finish.
Clermont indiscipline handed Biggar three-points but the visitors grew in confidence and, with Laidlaw expertly directing affairs as Northampton’s scrum continued to creak, Clermont pounded the line before Peceli Yato crashed over.
A third Clermont try arrived when, following a delightful flick from Fernandez to Judicael Cancoriet, the impressive
Toeava made ground before nudging a delightful grubber for Betham to pounce and put his side 20-6 ahead at the break.
Damian Penaud broke clear to leave Northampton in disarray, but he knocked on at the vital moment.
It was one-way traffic as Northampton struggled to gain a foothold and a delicious offload from Sitaleki Timani to Tim NanaiWilliams led to a penalty that Fernandez kicked to the corner, enabling Rabah Slimani to finish the lineout drive.
Clermont were dominating all areas, a midfield turnover from Flip van der Merwe highlighting the gulf in power and precision that England men Dylan Hartley and James Haskell could do nothing to supress.
Saints were punished again when Lee’s popped pass found Betham and he released Davit Zirakashvili, who put Arthur Iturria under the posts.
Yato raced on to a pass from Nanai-Williams for try No.6, but the visitors eased off and failed to add to their tally before Saints, to their credit, rallied to claim late consolation scores from Tom Collins and David Ribbans.
Boyd said: “When you’re playing a side that’s got so many good players and are that big and strong, you’ve got to control the ball. We didn’t do that.”