Clermont out after Bordeaux thriller
Morgan Parra took a quick penalty in front of the posts in the final minute, when three points would have been good enough to put the French giants through to the knock-out stages.
Clermont only needed a losing bonus point to secure their path to the quarter-finals, but when they were held up over the line in the last play of the game, it allowed Exeter Chiefs to steal top spot in the pool on points difference.
Bordeaux played their part in an incredible game, twice coming from two tries behind to steal the victory in the most dramatic of fashion.
A frenetic opening saw Wales international Jonathan Davies touch down inside the opening minute after excellent work from wing Noa Nakaitaci. Nakaitaci then got on the scoresheet himself, just two minutes later, when he got on the shoulder of an excellent run from fullback Scott Spedding.
Parra kicked both conversions as Clermont looked ready to wrap-up a four-try bonus point before half-time.
But credit to Bordeaux for the way they fought back, first getting a score from Berend Botha after 13 minutes, then prop Sebastien Taofifenua got their second after 19 minutes – when he crashed over from close-range.
A brutal battle in the contact area dominated much of the rest of the first half until Baptiste Serin kicked a long-range penalty at half-time to give them an unlikely 17-14 lead at the break.
Serin slotted a second penalty seven minutes after the interval to nudge Bordeaux further in front and they were putting the home side under real pressure.
A yellow card for Bordeaux prop Sekope Kepu proved to be a turning point, as within two minutes, replacement Damien Chouly had scored Clermont's third try, following excellent work from Parra and Aurelien Rougerie.
Parra knocked over the conversion to give Clermont a one-point lead and the bonus point then came with 18 minutes left on the clock when Paul Jedrasiak grabbed their fourth try.
But when Julien Bardy saw yellow for the home side for a dangerous tackle a minute after coming on, it allowed Bordeaux to grab their third try through Paulin Riva. There was still time for more drama as Bordeaux regained the lead with a fourth try, when they shifted the ball out wide for Peter Saili to go over in the corner.
A Pierre Bernard penalty three minutes from time took Bordeaux nine points ahead before Parra's moment of madness at the death ended Clermont's European campaign.
Scorers:
For Clermont:
Tries: Davies, Nakaitaci, Chouly, Jedrasiak
Cons: Parra 4
For Bordeaux-Begles:
Tries: Botha, Taofifenua, Riva, Saili
Cons: Beauxis 2, Bernard 2
Pens: Serin 2, Bernard
Yellow cards: Sekope Kepu (Bordeaux-Begles, 52), Julien Bardy (Clermont, 67)
Teams:
Clermont: 15 Scott Spedding, 14 Hosea Gear, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Noa Nakaitaci, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Fritz Lee, 7 Alexandre Japandry, 6 Damien Chouly, 5 Sébastien Vahaamahina, 4 Paul Jedrasiak, 3 Daniel Kotze, 2 John Ulugia, 1 Thomas Domingo.
Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Raphael Chaume, 18 Mickael Simutoga, 19 Loic Jacquet, 20 Julien Bardy, 21 Ludovic Radosavljevic, 22 Pato Fernandez, 23 Aurélien Rougerie.
Bordeaux-Begles: 15 Darly Domvo, 14 Metuisela Talebula, 13 Jean-Baptiste Dubié, 12 Romain Lonca, 11 Sofiane Guitoune, 10 Lionel Beauxis, 9 Baptiste Serin, 8 Matthew Clarkin, 7 Peter Saili, 6 Luke Braid, 5 Adam Jaulhac, 4 Berend Botha, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Clement Maynadier, 1 Sébastien Taofifenua.
Replacements: 16 Ole Avei, 17 Steven Kitshoff, 18 Jean-Baptiste Poux, 19 Cyril Cazeaux, 20 Marco Tauleigne, 21 Heini Adams, 22 Pierre Bernard, 23 Paulin Riva.
Referee: JP Doyle (England)
