Clermont subject Italians to 12-try thrashing

Aironi 0 Clermont 82

Clermont ran in 12 tries to thrash Italian whipping boys Aironi in their Heineken Cup Pool Four match at Stadio Brianteo to keep alive hopes of a place in the quarter-finals.

The French side raced ahead with some early scores and were already 47-0 in front at the break.

Wingers Sitiveni Sivivatu and Julien Malzieu completed their hat-tricks in the second half, with Brock James kicking seven conversions to add to four from Morgan Parr.

Full-back Lee Byrne scored a brace, while Alexandre Lapandry, James and Elvis Vermeulen also touched down as the French side collected a bonus point ahead of next weekend’s home clash with pool leaders Ulster.