Sunday Snippets

Clermont go top: Clermont Auvergne are sitting pretty at the summit of the French Top 14 today, after clinching a much deserved draw from the jaws fo defeat against Racing Metro. Having seen title rivals Toulon and Stade Francais both succumb to losses earlier in the day, Clermont knew they could go top if they could simply avoid defeat on their travels to the nation’s capital. In an opening 40 minutes characterised by unforced handling errors and a general lack of flow to the game, it was the visitors who opened the scoring accounts, with a Morgan Parra three pointer, before Ireland’s Jonathan Sexton levelled up proceedings on the half hour mark. A dismal opening period was followed by some more enterprise in the second 40, with both sides looking more dangerous on the attack and it was the home side who were first over the whitewash. A misplaced Sexton kick over the top bounced kindly for Marc Andreu and away from Clermont defender Zac Guildford, with the former diving over for the opening five pointer to hand Racing the lead. Sexton’s conversion followed to make it 13-6 but the visitors came back fighting and were nearly over the line courtesy of Nick Abendanon, only for some poor handling to let them down once more. However, with eight minutes remaining, a superb Jonathan Davies break sent the visitors deep into Racing territory and it was Fijian winger Noa Nakaitici who would draw his side level having dotted down in the corner. With Parra off nursing a knock to his knee, it fell to Brock James to seal the draw from the touchline conversion and the Clermont stalwart duly obliged, sending his side to the top of the domestic table in the process.

Plisson called upon: Stade Francais flyhalf Jules Plisson has been added to the French national squad ahead of next weekend clash with Wales, after injury ruled out Pierre Bernard. Ahead of the visit of Warren Gatland’s men to Paris, Head coach Philippe Saint-Andre has called on the services of the youngster from the Parisian club, having seen Bordeaux-Begles playmaker Bernanrd limp from the field with a knee injury against Toulon on Saturday. 23 year old Plisson, who has four caps to his name having featured in last year’s edition of the Six Nations, will most likely play understudy to Clermont’s Camille Lopez in the matchday squad for the Stade de France clash.

Ryan Sheady