Clermont coach remains cautious

Clermont Auvergne head coach Franck Azéma will ensure his side take nothing for granted when they host to Munster next Sunday.

Clermont made history on Saturday night, hailed throughout the French media, by becoming the first Top14 side to win at Thomond Park.

They would have gone into the return leg of this pool rivalry as favourites anyway given their impressive record at their Stade Marcel Michelin home, where they have been unbeaten in European competition since 2008.

Yet having beaten Munster on the road, there will not be many who believe they cannot do the double over the Irish province in front of their passionate fans.

Azéma, though, sounded a cautious note as he praised his side for outmuscling Anthony Foley’s side thanks to some valiant defending in the second half.

“We are happy because it’s hard to come and win here,” Azéma said. “There will of course be room for improvement but it was solid and we had control, which is important. But it’s only half-time.

“We were in a comfortable position to win the game (at 16-6 up at the interval) but the last five minutes showed that it was not finished.

“Certainly next week we have a big game. The defence was good, it was strong. In the last five minutes we were able to control this and I’m very proud of the players.

“The first part is finished and the second part starts next week, but it’s a good position to be in.

“We know in both games, it is important to take maximum points but we are in a good position, when you see the last five minutes and the score, we have to be wary next week.”

Clermont’s defensive hero at the death was captain and back rower Damein Chouly as Munster made a last throw of the dice with a lineout five metres out in the final seconds.

Chouly took a gamble hooker Duncan Casey would look for Paul O’Connell and it paid off, the forward stealing the lineout throw.

“I saw that Paul O’Connell had called the two last lineouts to himself,” Chouly said, “so I told the guys to lift me and it worked. During the game he adjusted his call and I saw it. It was psychology as well.”

Chouly’s forwards had struck the first blow when they mauled over the line in the first minute for a Fritz Lee try and the captain said: “It is a big part of the game. I think we can do better next week.

“It’s great (to win), but we know they will be even more hungry next week so we have to be ready for that.”