Never said he was the cause of todays loss and he scored 5 points. And as you always say with ROG duck maybe he gets extra credit because of having an excellent pack but Brock James is not a top 10 that is needed for HEC success. Yes he gets by as he's with 1 of best squads in world club rugby but Clermont need a 10 in the world class category. The man who was best and in my opinion made James try was Rougerie. And well watching from behind the goals (not best view) I thought he was best back for Clermont considering very little rugby he's played lately.
And again I wouldn't hail Wilkinson for the conversion as it was on a good side for him (albeit a great kick) but Clermont didn't have the player at 10 (Skrela or James) to be smart and play it smart. There's a big difference from not playing poorly and playing superb team rugby. If roles were reversed Wilkinson in my opinion would've played a totally different game.
And while I don't rate James as highly as some I'd ask if he is the much better player then shouldn't Vern Cotter be asked some serious questions.
Difference between profiting from others work in gaining penalties. And actually creating for the players outside and scoring points yourself. That try that James scored was created by him and whilst Rougerie was to thank, you need to remember James' distributing and creativity and look at it. He is not just adequate and gets by as you make out he is a major force in the squad.
In my opinion, the focus should be on the breakdown and how Lobbe and Masoe got on top in that area. I don't think 10 was the issue for Clermont until Skrela came on. Not saying James is better player than Wilkinson, but he gained his side points on the day which was crucial considering Toulon didn't concede many penalties. I do rate Wilkinson as well.
Teams have won the Heineken Cup with worse fly halves than Brock James for sure. Skrela, King, ROG, Goode, Healey, Delaigue, Michalak how many of those are in the world class category? Northampton won with Alistair Hepher playing at 10, not even close to an international. Healey wasn't even a 10. Michalak is one of the most maligned fly halves in Europe. Skrela is most well known for a kick that went backwards. ROG had a day similar to James' in Leinster in the 2000 final (which got forgotten once he nailed a few match winners, unlike when James has). King, Goode and Delaigue were never established internationals. Hard to argue those are world class fly halves.
It's not that though as I said there a big difference between not being poor and being a class act. Your clips are not in knockout rugby so pressure isn't as intense but the point being made is Clermont need a worldclass 10 no an average one.
Brock James has been with an excellent Clermont team for 7 years now and in a pivotal position you will always be 1 of the people held responsible and (while not all James fault) 1 Amlin in 2007 and 1 Top 14 in 2010 is an embarrassing record considering their talent. As in they lost a few finals before they won and James is responsible in his part. As is Vern Cotter who I think is overhyped, when you consider his assistant left for a "lesser club" (not my words) on a lesser budget and won 2 HEC's and an Amlin and realistically could've been 3 HEC's if injury wasn't an issue
There was the winning home streak at stake there, which was pressure. If you want an example of a knockout game then I can go back further than this season and find the Top 14 semi final the year Clermont won the ***le. In extra time nailing a long drop goal. There have been more good times than that Leinster game.
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James is much better than average, if you watched Top 14 or previous H Cup games you would know that, and he has helped them top the Top 14 table and get them to this stage undefeated. It's Skrela who is the poor one. Clermont don't need to change, their squad is already achieving.
Also in those years Clermont. 1) Clermont didn't take H Cup seriously other than home games until 2009 and also sacrificed the 2011 away games. 2) They only topped the Top 14 table once, and simply weren't the better side in those years and normally came from the final from 3rd in the table. Toulouse who had a better squad for most of the time. It's not like they were losing to Castres in those years. I very much doubt you can find a final that was James' fault from those other than the quarter final.
Also as mentioned, some people have used far harsher words for Michalak and Goode than average. Clermont can certainly win the Heineken Cup with James, and should have this year. And may well still win the Top 14.
Clermont's record isn't embarrassing. One of the most consistent sides in Europe, Leinster have been just a class act. Certainly not a lesser club, they are strong from 1-15 as well and have a large amount of an international standard.
