How Clermont saw off Munster challenge

Kicking lapses

Both of Clermont's first-half tries found their starting points in inaccurate kicking from Conor Murray and Simon Zebo.

The Munster scrum-half failed to find touch deep in his 22 and the kick-chase did not put the necessary pressure on the home side as they countered with a try that was a demonstration of all that is wonderful about Clermont in full flight.

Camille Lopez made an incisive break through the centre of the Munster defence before the ball was recycled and moved to the left wing. Backs and forward were involved – and naturally Wesley Fofana - before the five pointer was secured by Damien Chouly.

On the stroke of half-time Aurelien Rougerie burst through and Clermont looked certain to score before some last-ditch tackling averted the danger. Zebo was presented with a chance to clear his lines, but similar to Murray before him, his kick was the launchpad of the Clermont attack with Noa Nakaitaci touching down for a crucial score before the interval.

From being two points down at the break, Foley's side found themselves trailing 15-6.

Cool Clermont

After last week's disappointing performance, the visitors took the game to Clermont from the first whistle, with JJ Hanrahan prominent in attack as Munster had the hosts on the backfoot.

Anthony Foley's side posed far more questions in the opening 10 minutes than the previous 80 in Thomond as Ian Keatley slotted his two kicks to set a marker down to their pool rivals.

Clermont however never panicked, and played themselves nicely into the contest, attacking Munster from all angles and at times looking irresistible with ball in hand.

Scrum supremacy

With less than 10 minutes to the break Munster still held a narrow lead, but Munster's worst fears in the scrum were confirmed when Davit Zirakashvili turned the screw on John Ryan and Lopez put Clermont into the lead for the first team, a lead they never surrendered.

Up until that point the scrum hadn't been used as an attacking weapon to any degree of success, but with the relatively inexperienced Ryan and Casey at the coal face, the Top 14 outfit demonstrated their power in the pack to earn the penalty.

It was evident even more as the game wore on as the Munster scrum simply had no response to power of Clermont eight.

14 man Munster

After a bright start to the second half with Ian Keatley slotting over his third penalty, Munster soon had a mountain to climb when full-back Felix Jones was sent to the bin for a cynical challenge.

The former Leinster man could have few complaints over the decision and while the French side only added three points to their tally in his absence, it robbed the visitors of an attacking threat with work to do on the scoreboard.

Physical power and defensive prowess

Clermont have always been easy on the eye with their attacking stars, but Jono Gibbs' fingerprints are all over this current team and aside form the late intercept try from Duncan Casey, they didn't give Munster a sniff after weathering the early storm.

On 56 minutes Munster put together a number of phases without making any real headway before Paul O'Connell was dumped on his backside to the roars of the Stade Marcel Michelin. The ball found its way out to the left wing where Simon Zebo looked to stretch the defence and after evading a first challenge, he was quickly snuffed out.

A minute later and Munster, still struggling to get over the gain line, were pinged for holding on as Conor Murray had little option at the bottom of a ruck.

It was the game in a minute and highlighted not only the physical prowess of Clermont, but that Gibbs has instilled a work ethic that may just give the team that little extra to shed their bridesmaids tags.