Clermont teach Northampton a lesson with a 37-5 win in Champions Cup
Last Updated: 04/04/15 9:42pm
Clermont Auvergne gave Northampton a rugby lesson as they beat the English champions 37-5 to advance to the European Champions Cup semi-finals.
It was a dominant display from Clermont as Noa Nakaitaci scored twice and Wesley Fofana and Nick Abendanon also went over the whitewash.
Brock James kicked four conversions and three penalties to help the French side to a thumping success as Northampton were made to look ordinary at Stade Marcel Michelin.
Northampton’s only points came from an Alex Waller try, but the visitors well and truly beaten by the time he crossed over.
Clermont were ahead after four minutes when their pack won a penalty at the scrum and James stroked it over and things then went from bad to worse for Northampton after a great break from Fofana set up Nakaitaci for his first try.
Fly-half Stephen Myler invited further pressure with a poor clearance and Clermont broke from the ensuing attacking line-out, No 8 Fritz Lee punching the hole before offloading to Fofana.
The opportunity appeared to have been ruined when Nakaitaci spurned a three-on-one overlap, but the slippery France wing cut back inside to force his way through a wall of defenders.
Clermont’s second try came just as easy as the outstanding Abendanon glided through heavy traffic before feeding the impressive Fofana, who once again caused mayhem in the Saints' defence.
White shirts were queueing up to complete the run in when the ball was spun right and it was Nakaitaci who strolled over for his second try.
Any hopes of Northampton staging a comeback ended a minute before the interval when Abendanon, who must have caught the eye of England selectors, cast his magic once more before finding Fofana on hand to finish the move.
Trailing 27-0 at half-time, there was no way back for Saints with James' 47th-minute penalty adding to their misery.
Worse was to come, however, as their most promising spell of the match was brought to a halt when centre George Pisi was stripped off the ball and Abendanon ran the length of the pitch to score.
Clermont captain Damien Chouly was sin-binned for interfering at the breakdown and with a man down it took a forceful try-saving tackle from Abendanon to stop Saints from scoring from one move.
Gaps still appeared in the Top 14 club's defence and Waller strolled over, before taking exception to John Ulugia falling on him in the act of scoring and retaliating.
However, it was Clermont’s day and they will now face the winners of Sunday’s clash between Racing Metro and Saracens – and on this form, few will bet against them making the final.
