Clermont the complete package, says Cheika

THEY have yet to claim the honour of being their nation’s best, nor have they won a Heineken Cup, but Michael Cheika had little hesitation yesterday in describing Clermont Auvergne as the most complete side in France.

Losing finalists in the Top 14 for the last three years, their European ambitions have been similarly frustrated in that time, thanks in no small part to Munster with whom they were pooled twice in a row.

However, they escaped another ‘pool of death’ this year when pipping Leicester and the Ospreys to top spot in pool three and they remain one of the favourites in this year’s race for the Top 14 title.