Tuesday, June 09, 2009
Perpignan win the Top 14 Final against Clermont
It was the first time in over fifty years that the Catalans had won the Top 14 championship. For Clermont though, it was yet another moment of heartbreak as they lost their third final in three years, and their tenth in total.
They started well though, with Brock James delivering a pinpoint crosskick for try scoring machine Napolioni Nalaga to gather and dive over. James converted effortlessly from the touchline, giving the blue and yellow supporters plenty to cheer.
Fullback Jerome Porical showed maturity beyond his years as he put in a masterful performance with his goal kicking, as well as playing a hand in Perpignans only try, scored by David Marty.
Porical and Brock James put on impressive kicking displays, but it was the 23 year old Perpignan fullback who made Clermont pay for their indiscretions, claiming 14 points with his four penalties and a conversion.
"We have nothing to apologize for," said a dejected Clermont scrum-half Pierre Mignoni.
"The Catalans were superior and we lost the game in the details. We had been warned, and with our experience we should have done better. I am sorry for our supporters," he added.
To make matters worse, Clermonts Aurelien Rougerie and Julian Bonnaire both picked up injuries, ruling them out of Frances upcoming tour of the Southern Hemisphere.
Frances first tour match is against the All Blacks in Dunedin this Saturday.
Time: 05:07
Posted at 10:43 am | 34 comments
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Viewing 34 comments
Anonymous June 09, 2009 5:10 pm
perpignan started to dominate the game after Jamie cudmore gave away that stupid penalty away from the scrum. If he had not done that things could have been different.
HUGHT
HUGHT
AllBlackJack June 09, 2009 6:07 pm
Top 14 is the most boring league in rugby, stealing its name from super 14 still doesnt bring any excitement to it!
NZ 4 eva
NZ 4 eva
rugby guy June 09, 2009 6:28 pm
Arent you going to post the massive hit the ref takes from Bull's n7 in the Super 14 final? (minute 19)
Keep up the good work
Keep up the good work
Anonymous June 09, 2009 6:36 pm
Top 14 is the most boring league in rugby, stealing its name from super 14 still doesnt bring any excitement to it!
Top 14 has been created in 1892...
Top 14 has been created in 1892...
Anonymous June 09, 2009 7:02 pm
LOL!!! top 14 is older than super 14 and i'm sure you never seen just one top 14 match so don't try to make us feeling smaller than you in the south because when i see your empty stadiums in the super 14 it makes me laugh...
tah June 09, 2009 7:05 pm
Thought Clermont would surely win.
Would rather listen to the french commentary rather than these two boring commentators...no excitement
Would rather listen to the french commentary rather than these two boring commentators...no excitement
Anonymous June 09, 2009 7:12 pm
all black jack is a merry chocker, as every all black team when they play the blues in world cup, nanananaan
Munstaaaaa June 09, 2009 11:40 pm
Awesome atmosphere in the Stade France.
French lads, don't listen to fucktards like AllBlackjack. They're just jealous cause in their league there are like 5 people in the stadium and the score in the final is 100 to 6.
From a proud Munsterman, cheers.
French lads, don't listen to fucktards like AllBlackjack. They're just jealous cause in their league there are like 5 people in the stadium and the score in the final is 100 to 6.
From a proud Munsterman, cheers.
Mary June 09, 2009 11:42 pm
RD you are awesome but please add the last Guetteba highlihgts on Top 14 2008-2009 they are immense.
Love u
Love u
EARugbyFan June 10, 2009 12:25 am
Damn,
The boots on those guys. Think of the pressure.
The boots on those guys. Think of the pressure.
ryan June 10, 2009 12:59 am
im a kiwi, allblackjack gives us all a bad name, great game great league
Ally June 10, 2009 2:14 am
Feel desperately sorry for Clermont, but the better team won on the day. 3 finals in 3 years though is a terrific achievement and they deserve something. What a quality team.
I thought it was a great final - great teams, 80,000 crowd, tons of passion. Well done the French. I enjoyed it as much as I love the Heineken Cup, the Super 14, Zurich Premiership - all epic celebrations of rugby in their own way!
On a side note, I find Starmer-Smith (the commentator) annoying and pretty incompetent - his sentences barely make sense and he stumbles and bumbles along cheerily.
I thought it was a great final - great teams, 80,000 crowd, tons of passion. Well done the French. I enjoyed it as much as I love the Heineken Cup, the Super 14, Zurich Premiership - all epic celebrations of rugby in their own way!
On a side note, I find Starmer-Smith (the commentator) annoying and pretty incompetent - his sentences barely make sense and he stumbles and bumbles along cheerily.
Anonymous June 10, 2009 2:54 am
I cant belueve clermont lost!! Perpignan deserved it but still 3 finals lost in 3 years... thats too much. BTW i love the top 14 it has pretty much everything
Anonymous June 10, 2009 2:57 am
i wanted to see rougerie against the all blacks... he is a significant loss..
piaruskov June 10, 2009 6:33 am
Great game, hard fought, even though 1 or 2 extra tries would have been enjoyable.
Top 14 may be losing some momentum at the moment (awful Heineken Cup, not as much tries as there used to be,..) but it's still a great league. Maybe if they manage to get less than 300 games a year the level will improve again
Top 14 may be losing some momentum at the moment (awful Heineken Cup, not as much tries as there used to be,..) but it's still a great league. Maybe if they manage to get less than 300 games a year the level will improve again
4LC4TR4Z June 10, 2009 6:35 am
Rougerie, Bonnaire, Floch are officially injured, but... Not. They just declined their selection. It's a shame.
Top 16 (unique division with 16 teams) have been created in 2000, and became Top 14 in 2002.
The french championship was created in 1892 but, to 2000, there was much more teams participating. Most of the times in 2,4, and even 8 pools.
Top 16 (unique division with 16 teams) have been created in 2000, and became Top 14 in 2002.
The french championship was created in 1892 but, to 2000, there was much more teams participating. Most of the times in 2,4, and even 8 pools.
goodNumber10 June 10, 2009 6:40 am
was at the game, the atmosphere was immense and the game was amazingly frantic and high intensity.
Top 14 is an absolutely amazing league when you get the games between the top half of the league, it does lack something in the lower half which is why it isn't as competitive as the Guiness Premiership or the Heni cup.
But it's a great competition, the later stages are equal to anything else out there.
Top 14 is an absolutely amazing league when you get the games between the top half of the league, it does lack something in the lower half which is why it isn't as competitive as the Guiness Premiership or the Heni cup.
But it's a great competition, the later stages are equal to anything else out there.
Anonymous June 10, 2009 7:25 am
i was in a pub in france and the people where just sitting there kind of bored, i was the only one cheering on good actions as the runs of that USAP number 11 which arent in that highlight reel for some unknown reason ( i was in grenoble )
Thomas June 10, 2009 8:07 am
Thought Brock James was South African? I swear that commentator says he's Australian
Anonymous June 10, 2009 8:27 am
Broc james used to play fly half for the force before they had giteau, butch james is SA
Flooz June 10, 2009 8:31 am
I think it wasn't the best final in term of game (than last year)
But i feel verry sorry for Clermontois with their third final lost in 3 years...
AllblackJack make me smile,
Top 14 is an older competition than super 14. Ur comments are pretty embarrassing
But ur right, super 14 final was very entertaing with a lot of tries from bulls against a "sieve" defence of chiefs
But i feel verry sorry for Clermontois with their third final lost in 3 years...
AllblackJack make me smile,
Top 14 is an older competition than super 14. Ur comments are pretty embarrassing
But ur right, super 14 final was very entertaing with a lot of tries from bulls against a "sieve" defence of chiefs
Ben Kirby June 10, 2009 9:35 am
French fly halves have such a sweet kick. Its amazing how they make such good connecion with the ball.
What do they do differently?
Why hasnt brock james beenpart of the aussies?
2 words.
Matt Giteau
What do they do differently?
Why hasnt brock james beenpart of the aussies?
2 words.
Matt Giteau
Will Topps June 10, 2009 9:58 am
1) As many have mentioned, the Top 14 predates the S14.
2)Brock James is Australian, and has't been selected by Dingo Deans as current Aussie policy is to only select Oz based players, hence Elsom returning home.
3) I'd have to second the point about empty stands in the S14, you rarely see such sparse crowds in the Northern hemisphere, thereagain, some of the stadia isn't as spectacular.
4) The Perpignan goal kicker has a beautiful action. He looks so nonchalant, especially considering he's just popping over goals in a final!
2)Brock James is Australian, and has't been selected by Dingo Deans as current Aussie policy is to only select Oz based players, hence Elsom returning home.
3) I'd have to second the point about empty stands in the S14, you rarely see such sparse crowds in the Northern hemisphere, thereagain, some of the stadia isn't as spectacular.
4) The Perpignan goal kicker has a beautiful action. He looks so nonchalant, especially considering he's just popping over goals in a final!
nick June 10, 2009 10:19 am
His name is Jerme Porical, he's only 21 and my guess is we'll see him soon in a blue jersey
jay June 10, 2009 12:39 pm
If I'm not mistaken James used to play for the under 21 while Giteau was his direct sub...
I love Allblackjack's comment :
the top 14 is so freaking boring to the point that Umaga, Carter or Collins came to real be disgusted by french rugby because it is a well-known fact : as you get older you tend to find for yourself the most boring end of career you can have and that is France ^^ Laughable :D
I love Allblackjack's comment :
the top 14 is so freaking boring to the point that Umaga, Carter or Collins came to real be disgusted by french rugby because it is a well-known fact : as you get older you tend to find for yourself the most boring end of career you can have and that is France ^^ Laughable :D
Deiter June 10, 2009 6:08 pm
I feel bad for Clermont....
The Finals Failures not a tag they want but get
The Finals Failures not a tag they want but get
Thomas June 11, 2009 11:06 am
Brock, Butch, what's with these ridiculous names haha?
Cheers
Cheers
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