Fiery French clash as Toulouse take on Clermont
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The second French clash sees the powerful Toulouse travelling to Stade Marcel Michelin to throw down the challenge to Clermont.
Clermont had a close shave with Wasps over the weekend, leaving the pitch just two points ahead of their opponents.
Wasps attacked the scoreboard after just 5 minutes with an energetic try by pacey winger Paolo Odogwu but Clermont hit back with a try a few minutes later and then again to build a seven-point lead on Wasps, but the latter scythed through the French outfit’s defence to draw level in the 25th minute. When Wasps scored again from a ruck with just less than half an hour to go, the momentum of the game lay with them, however, Clermont waited until after the final hooter to break their opponents’ hearts.
Meanwhile, Toulouse got the better of Munster at Thomond Park after a late surge saw the visitors seal victory in dramatic fashion with some brilliant displays of running and handling skills.
Match facts:
Clermont Auvergne and Toulouse have faced each other once previously in the Heineken Champions Cup, during the 1999/00 quarter-finals, Toulouse winning 31-18.
Clermont Auvergne have lost their last two home games in the Heineken Champions Cup, as many as in their previous 37 home games in the competition (W35); they are yet to lose three consecutive home games in the competition.
Clermont Auvergne have lost their last two home games against French opposition in the Heineken Champions Cup, both against Racing 92, after winning six of the previous eight (L2).
Toulouse have won eight of their 10 away games in the Heineken Champions Cup since the beginning of the 2018/19 season (L2), more than any other team in that span; they had lost seven of their previous eight games on the road in the competition (W1).
Toulouse have only lost two of their 16 games played against fellow French teams in the Heineken Champions Cup (W13 D1) and are undefeated in their 10 games played in the knockout stage against other TOP 14 teams (W9 D1).
Toulouse will play their 18th quarter-final game in the Heineken Champions Cup (W11 L6), equalling the current record of games played at that stage, set by Munster who they knocked out in the Round of 16.
Toulouse have the best tackle success rate (90%) of any side in the Heineken Champions Cup this season, Clermont’s rate of 83% is the second lowest (Wasps 83%).
Antoine Dupont (Toulouse) has beaten 13 defenders in the Heineken Champions Cup this season, eight more than any other scrum-half, he is also the only #9 to score multiple tries (3) and has made the most metres of any halfback (135).
Only Hamish Watson (50) has made more tackles than Clermont’s Fritz Lee (42) this season in the Heineken Champions Cup.
Clermont duo Damian Penaud (21) and George Moala (18) have beaten more defenders than anyone else in the Heineken Champions Cup this season, team mate Kotaro Matsushima ranks joint fourth (12); as a team Clermont have averaged more defenders beaten (31) per game than any other side.
