B
Bullitt
Guest
Toulouse wing Vincent Clerc believes his side deserved to win their Top 14 showdown with Clermont on Sunday after a missed penalty in the final minute condemned them to a one-point loss.
Clerc's 23rd minute try gave Toulouse a 15-6 lead only for the hosts to succumb to a Clermont comeback in the second half.
With Frédéric Michalak, who otherwise had a great game, missing an 80th minute shot goal that would have handed Toulouse victory, Rouge et Noir conceded their first home defeat of the season. Not what you would call ideal preparation for next week's Heineken Cup fixture against Harlequins.
"We deserved to win," said Clerc after the final whistle.
But not everyone agrees with the French international winger. It would probably be more fair to point to the hosts twelve knock ons and lack of pragmatism against the new league leaders.
With Toulouse throwing the ball around and wasting a number of chances, Clermont hung in thanks to handful of penalties and a drop from Seremai Bai before fly-half Tasesa Lavea scored what proved to be the winning try.
Clermont full-back Anthony Floch thought his side's victory was the logical conclusion to a hard-fought match.
"This victory was not a hold-up," said Floch.
"Thanks to the penalties and drop goal we managed to stay in touch. Tasesa's try did us a lot of good and gave Toulouse a smack on the back of the head and they struggled to get back up.
"After that we managed to keep our one-point lead until the end. It's a real delight because few teams win in Toulouse. The coach just told us that we've accomplished an exploit.
"We've continued our momentum. We're first in the Top 14, we've got a big match against Ospreys next week and we need to turn our attention to that. "
Toulouse fly-half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde hopes the loss would be a wake-up call ahead of the next fortnight's crucial European matches.
"We were less conservative than them, we wasted too many chances, especially me with the boot," said Toulouse fly-half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde.
"We could have won it in the last minute but that penalty wasn't easy. It's a shame because we could have climbed an extra place in the standings.
"The game disappointed me because we had the chance to break clear, we play well out wide and it's a shame we could capitalise on our chances.
"It's kick up the backside that could help us next week (against Harlequins) because qualification for the European quarter finals remains a priority."
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,9...5853016,00.html
Clerc's 23rd minute try gave Toulouse a 15-6 lead only for the hosts to succumb to a Clermont comeback in the second half.
With Frédéric Michalak, who otherwise had a great game, missing an 80th minute shot goal that would have handed Toulouse victory, Rouge et Noir conceded their first home defeat of the season. Not what you would call ideal preparation for next week's Heineken Cup fixture against Harlequins.
"We deserved to win," said Clerc after the final whistle.
But not everyone agrees with the French international winger. It would probably be more fair to point to the hosts twelve knock ons and lack of pragmatism against the new league leaders.
With Toulouse throwing the ball around and wasting a number of chances, Clermont hung in thanks to handful of penalties and a drop from Seremai Bai before fly-half Tasesa Lavea scored what proved to be the winning try.
Clermont full-back Anthony Floch thought his side's victory was the logical conclusion to a hard-fought match.
"This victory was not a hold-up," said Floch.
"Thanks to the penalties and drop goal we managed to stay in touch. Tasesa's try did us a lot of good and gave Toulouse a smack on the back of the head and they struggled to get back up.
"After that we managed to keep our one-point lead until the end. It's a real delight because few teams win in Toulouse. The coach just told us that we've accomplished an exploit.
"We've continued our momentum. We're first in the Top 14, we've got a big match against Ospreys next week and we need to turn our attention to that. "
Toulouse fly-half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde hopes the loss would be a wake-up call ahead of the next fortnight's crucial European matches.
"We were less conservative than them, we wasted too many chances, especially me with the boot," said Toulouse fly-half Jean-Baptiste Elissalde.
"We could have won it in the last minute but that penalty wasn't easy. It's a shame because we could have climbed an extra place in the standings.
"The game disappointed me because we had the chance to break clear, we play well out wide and it's a shame we could capitalise on our chances.
"It's kick up the backside that could help us next week (against Harlequins) because qualification for the European quarter finals remains a priority."
http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,9...5853016,00.html
