The least we can write about this mid-table encounter, tense until the end, is that the defenses prevailed over the attacks for at least fifty minutes, if we put aside the try by Sigfried Fisi’ihoi (20th) when the Pau pack took advantage of an error by the Auvergnats in touch near their in-goal to place their left pillar in orbit. At that moment, the Section Paloise led 10-0, but it was nibbled at the end of the first period by a penalty goal signed Anthony Belleau (38th, 10-3).
For the rest, the two teams initially played cautiously and sought above all not to expose themselves too much, which resulted in a long insipid encounter, stuck in the middle of the field. It should be noted that the Clermontois lost their playing master Benjamin Urdapilleta in the 27th minute, hit in the left shoulder and replaced by Belleau who suffered from the comparison with the Argentinian international in terms of leadership and precision against the posts…
Simmonds best director of the Championship
In the fiftieth minute, therefore, the Palois made their pack give behind penalty and, with passes after percussions, offered their fly-half Joe Simmonds a space into which he rushed with relish to score a try which he transformed himself to , with 118 points, become the best director of the Championship and outdistance Castres Pierre Popelin (113 points), his runner-up.
We then had to wait almost the hour mark to see Clermont finally launch a sharp attack behind the lineout, a beautiful combination which impacted in the center then, after two more periods of play, found its conclusion thanks to hooker Étienne Fourcade (58th, 17th). 8). But Pau warded off the danger by nimbly counter-attacking on a recovered ball and his left winger Aminiasi Tuimaba broke through between four defenders to seal this success.
