ASM Clermont suffered its first home defeat of the season on Saturday, December 28, 2024, falling to Montpellier at Michelin Stadium with a final score of 22-18. The loss marks a disappointing end to the year for the Clermontois, who had previously managed to maintain their unbeaten streak at home.
Leading up to the match, Clermont had shown promising form, having won their first seven home games. The anticipation was palpable as fans gathered to witness what they hoped would be another triumph. Early on, ASM Clermont looked set to dominate, with Étienne Fourcade scoring two early tries within the first half, putting his team 12-3 up by the 27th minute.
Despite their initial stronghold, Montpellier’s defensive strategy began to wear down the home side. "Montpellier came and imposed their game, and we need to look at ourselves now," remarked ASM Clermont's head coach, Christophe Urios, reflecting on the match's turning point. Montpellier’s game plan involved heavy pressure on Clermont’s forwards, which proved effective as they capitalized on the home side's mistakes.
Montpellier managed to claw back just before halftime, with Cobus Reinach putting points on the board, leaving the score at 12-10 as both teams headed to the locker rooms. The battle at the rucks was fierce throughout, with each team vying for control.
After the break, the match took on a different tone. Stuart Hogg emerged as Montpellier’s star, connecting on multiple penalty kicks to give his team the advantage. "We played the perfect away match," stated Joan Caudullo, Montpellier's head coach, as his team took control of the proceedings.
Clermont struggled to find their rhythm, as the second half revealed chinks in their armor. Despite attempts to regain momentum, the mistakes began to pile up — a sign of pressure mounting on the players. The powerful defense from Montpellier kept Clermont on the back foot, culminating in several turnovers and penalties against the home side. "Having lost our last home match of the year is disappointing, but we will regroup and come back stronger,” said Clermont player Sébastien Bézy as he vowed to turn things around.
With the score fluctuated throughout the second half, the dynamic shifted sharply when Hogg’s kicking accuracy rewarded Montpellier, leading to their decisive win. Clermont only managed to score once more near the end of the match through another penalty from Giral, which was not enough to overcome Montpellier's lead.
The final whistle brought disbelief among the local supporters, who had witnessed their team’s descending performance. "It was tough for us; we tried our best, but penalties hurt our chances," explained Fourcade, whose earlier contributions went uncelebrated as the brilliant forward display fell short under mounting pressure.
This defeat now places Clermont fifth in the Top 14 standings, with the team needing to bounce back quickly, as they face Vannes, currently at the bottom of the league, next week. The disappointment looms, but players and coaches alike are determined to rectify mistakes and regain form before the competition intensifies.
Going forward, the emphasis will be on discipline and capitalizing on scoring opportunities. With the depth of talent on the team, supporters are hopeful this stumble against Montpellier is just a wake-up call to heighten performances as the season progresses.
With lessons learned from this hard-fought match, ASM Clermont will aim to redeem themselves against Vannes, focusing on strategy and communication to avoid similar slip-ups. The path back to victory may be challenging, but it is one the team is more than prepared to navigate.
