Top 14 - Nalaga sends Clermont into final

Eurosport - Sun, 22 Jun 17:52:00 2008

Fijian winger Napolioni Nalaga scored both of Clermont's tries in a convincing 21-7 win over Perpignan in the French Top 14 semi-finals.

RUGBY Clermont Perpignan Nalaga - 0

Watched by 55,000 people in a sweltering Stade Velodrome in Marseille, Nalaga turned on the style to score in each half and set up a final showdown with either Stade Francais or Toulouse, who meet in Bordeaux on Sunday.

His stunning brace also took his season's try tally to 18, easily the championship's top scorer.

Clermont winger and skipper Aurelien Rougerie said his team had been rewarded for their build-up.

"It was a difficult match in terms of intensity levels but we managed things well and in attack and counter-attack, we are very satisfied," said the French international.

"We were dominating in the first half but had to be patient. There is no euphoria in the team because there is another big match ahead of us."

Table-toppers Clermont had finished 17 points ahead of fourth-placed Perpignan during the regular season and had the match virtually wrapped up at half-time when they were 16-0 ahead.

Fly-half Brock James opened the scoring after 10 minutes with a 30-metre drop goal before slotting home a 20th-minute penalty after Perpignan hooker Marius Tincu had been penalised.

Three minutes later Nalaga scored his first try as he broke free from the challenge of Perpignan fly-half Nicolas Laharrague to cross with James adding the extras for a 13-0 lead.

That became 16-0 on the stroke of half-time when Perpignan were again penalised for their indiscipline in the maul and James coolly slotted home the 35-metre kick.

Seven minutes after the break, Nalaga was released just inside his own half, brushed aside the challenge of Perpignan's replacement winger Christophe Manas and sprinted away for a confident try.

That made the score 21-0.

Just after the hour mark, Laharrague got Perpignan on the scoreboard with South African World Cup winner Percy Montgomery finding the target with an easy conversion.

Watch Sunday's second Top 14 semi-final LIVE on British Eurosport 2: Toulouse v Stade Francais at 14:00 (BST) on Sunday.

British Eurosport 2 is available in the UK on Sky channel 410 and Virgin Media channel 521 or British Eurosport 2 - available on Sky 411 and Virgin Media 525.

AFP / Eurosport

Comment 1 - 13 of 13

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  1. bande de vauriens, du tennis tout moisi dans le gymnase d'une ecole primaire alors que le meilleur match de rugby se jouait entre la meilleure equipe du mon contre l'usap...

    quelle honte!!

    From ant.toine, on Sun 22 Jun 1:20PM

  2. This just proves that anyone who subscribes to this lunatic provider would be better off giving their money to charity. At least they would feel better.
    Even when they do show "live" programmes at least half the time we all know the results, what a shower.

    From Chris C, on Sun 22 Jun 5:57AM

  3. Top tip, chums; when you intend to showing a tennis match between non-entities, kindly advertise it as such and don't lead us to believe that a mouthwatering T14 match is on. If you don't want to show T14 sell the rights.

    Cheers boys, that was a distinct waste of my Saturday afternoon.

    From daiholbrook, on Sat 21 Jun 9:27PM

  4. where the hell was the rugby - i set my video for it and came back home to discover some repeated tennis and later tennis played inside a shed watched by a handful of people. i trust tomorrow's game wil be shown and the final next saturday unless a repeated edition of strogest man is shown.

    From martin.woelfel, on Sat 21 Jun 8:34PM

  5. I knew Eurosports time/broadcast predictions were a disgrace to begin with but this really takes the slash. Broadcasting a 2nd rate tennis match in a sports hall in a country that has as much interest in tennis as Germany has in test cricket is an absolute joke. Pathetic. If you advertise rugby show it, otherwise the only satisfied viewers you will have are menopausal females warming up for the annual disappointment of watching some sh*thouse British player going out in the first round of Wimbeldon.

    From sepp d, on Sat 21 Jun 5:44PM

  6. This is utter madness, what are we doing watching tennis from inside a shed in rainy nottingham, I actually live in nottingham aswell? All year I look foreward to the top14 play offs and then this happens! Disgraceful.

    From Tomas T, on Sat 21 Jun 5:29PM

  7. Once again, it seems that Eurosport can't be bothered with its audience. Was really looking forward to this match and now some tennis is on instead watched by 3 men and a dog! Will this happen again tomorrow when the 2nd playoff is played? I'm not holding my breath.....................

    From hardistycarol, on Sat 21 Jun 5:05PM

  8. Once again the Rugby is canceled
    Why oh Why do Eurosport keep doing this,
    if we cared about the tennis we could go & watch it,
    It's been raining all day here in Nottingham so why didn't they move it indoors hours ago & LEAVE THE RUGBY ALONE FOR ONCE ?????????

    From theresalaunder, on Sat 21 Jun 4:40PM

  9. WHERE ON EARTH IS THE RUGBY?
    WE DO NOT CARE ABOUT STUPID TENNIS AND RAIN!
    WE WANT THE RUGBY!!!!! AND FAST!

    From eloib2001, on Sat 21 Jun 4:29PM

  10. for information : 3-0 for Clermont so far .... still nothing on the screen !

    From hubertetienne, on Sat 21 Jun 4:23PM

  11. what the @#$% is going on ????? where is the rugby ????

    From hubertetienne, on Sat 21 Jun 4:21PM

  12. And now I'm watching a covered tennis court being rained instead of the game YOU said would be shown, WHAT IS GOING ON!????????????????????????

    From Nick P, on Sat 21 Jun 4:13PM

  13. well doesn't look like the game is on......some boring tennis game is on instead, and to think I just subscirbed to watch this game.........not very happy with eurosport to say the least!

    From Nick P, on Sat 21 Jun 4:07PM
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