Clermont 24 Northampton Saints 7: Dylan Hartley facing potential citing after 'reckless' strike
Dylan Hartley faces an anxious wait to discover if he faces a potential citing ahead of Eddie Jones’s squad announcement next week after the England captain was shown a yellow card for a “reckless” strike during Northampton’s Champions Cup defeat against Clermont Auvergne on Saturday night.
The defeat all but ends Northampton’s hopes of reaching the knock-out stages following their heavy opening round defeat by Saracens and Hartley will hope it does not come at a further cost after he was sent to the sin bin in the first half for making contact with the head of Clermont tighthead prop Rabah Slimani as he attempted to clear out a ruck.
The collision was reviewed by the television match official and referee Ben Whitehouse determined , which left Slimani with a bleeding nose, was a yellow card offence but was "reckless but not intentional".
However citing commissioner Douglas Hunter, from Scotland, still has 50 hours from the 3.15pm (UK time) kick-off to decide whether or not to cite Hartley if he feels the sanction should have been a red card.
Television reviews appear to show that Hartley’s action was not intentional but he could be at risk because of World Rugby’ directive that there should be zero tolerance on head injuries. The entry level for a striking is two weeks.
Hartley received a six-week ban last December for striking Leinster flanker Sean O’Brien in a Champions Cup match, which took career total to 60 weeks.
Clermont were deciding last night whether or not to cite Hartley themselves with head coach Franck Azéma saying he could not make a decision until he had reviewed the incident again on video.
Jim Mallinder, Northampton’s director of rugby, admitted Hartley had been wrong to go off his feet in his attempted clear-out but insisted it was not a red card offence and possibly not even a yellow.
“When you come to a place like this, when you are playing top level rugby but have got to be physical in your clear-outs but you have got to stay on your feet,” said Mallinder.
“You can’t go diving off your feet and I think Dylan needed to stay up there instead of going off the ground. “There was no intention, he was clearing out and should have stayed on his feet.”
Slimani could also find himself in trouble as he was sent to the sin bin in the second half for a shoulder charge on Hartley while Clermont’s bonus-point victory came at a heavy price, with France fly-half Camille Lopez, suffering a horrendous injury that has ruled him out of action for a minimum of five months with a broken left leg.
Lopez could be heard screaming after his leg was trapped between his opposite number Piers Francis in the first half and the game had to be stopped for eight minutes before he was taken off in a stretcher.
Lopez will miss all of France’s autumn campaign and is also likely to miss the start of the Six Nations Championship.
The disruption however had little impact on Clermont’s ability to close out the bonus-point victory, with his replacement Charlie Cassang, scoring two tries either side of half-time to put the French Top 14 side in control.
Indeed Cassang went over for his second try at the start of the second half to open up a 19-point lead it looked as if Clermont were posed to inflict another rout on Mallinder’s side.
Yet despite the hostile environment, they dug in and enjoyed the lion’s share of the second half possession, with a try by Christian Day giving brief hope that the game could be salvaged.
Northampton’s lack of ruthless in finishing was their undoing however and Clermont were able to clinch the bonus point when Remi Lamerat cuts through and after Fritz Lee had gone close and replacement prop Etienne Falgoux went over for the fourth try.
Mallinder however claimed his side showed enough character to suggest they had not given up hope of qualifying, with back-to-back games against the Ospreys in December.
“We always knew it would be difficult when we got the draw,” Mallinder added. “I am very proud of the lads. They really fronted up. Attacking-wise we were good, we got over the advantage line, we made lots of breaks, defensively we improved from last week.
“There was some real heart, some real pride, some real passion – we will take that. We need to be a bit more accurate and we need to shore up our scrum and if we can do that we can compete with the best teams in Europe.”
Mallinder will first have to address problems at the Northampton scrum, with Saints tight-head prop Jamal Ford-Robinson enduring a tough debut.
It took a last-gasp tackle by Teimana Harrison on Clermont centre Remi Lamerat to prevent a try as early as the third minute. Yet Clermont would not be denied. After two five-metre scrums, Northampton were shunted over the line and Fritz Lee was able to control the ball to successfully ground it.
Clermont did not lot have it all their own way, with Api Ratuniyarawa and Courtney Lawes carrying strongly at times, but Northampton were unable to make their pressure count.
Hartley was denied a try when the television match official adjudged that a Northampton forward had illegally knocked out of his hand from a line-out maul and moments later Ben Foden was penalised for holding on just a metre short after hitting a strong line.
A sniping try by Cassang just before half-time put Clermont in control and when he collected Parra’s high ball to run in his second from 50 metres, Northampton appeared down and out.
Lawes, who was magnificent again, spearheaded the English club’s resistance however but despite salvaging some pride, after two rounds there are without any points and have it all to do.
Full-time | Clermont 24-7 Northampton Saints
Parra chips into touch and that's the game.
Clermont 24-7 Northampton Saints, 79 minutes
Saints are mauling from a lineout in pursuit of a consolation....it's held up. Scrum to Clermont.
Clermont 24-7 Northampton Saints, 77 minutes
Courtney Lawes just keeps going. He punctures Clermont with another carry but it's the hosts' 22 drop-out when Piers Francis grubbers into the dead-ball area and Scott Spedding dots down.
Clermont 24-7 Northampton Saints, 73 minutes
Another view on Ben Whitehouse's performance:
Terrible performance from this bloke. Tough day at the office. Won’t be at the top table for a while after this. ��
— Joe Marler (@JoeMarler) October 21, 2017
Clermont 24-7 Northampton Saints, 69 minutes
67 - Final changes for the Saints
▶️ Haywood, van Wyk, Stephenson, Pisi
◀️ Hartley, Waller, Tuitavake, Burrell— Northampton Saints (@SaintsRugby) October 21, 2017
Try, Etienne Falgoux! Clermont 24-7 Northampton Saints, 65 minutes
Game over. Bonus point for Clermont, too. Remi Lamerat cuts through and Clermont are clinical close to the line. Fritz Lee shunts close and replacement prop Falgoux makes sure.
Clermont 19-7 Northampton Saints, 62 minutes
Now Lawes spills with the Clermont line at his mercy! Clermont win a penalty at the ensuing scrum.
Yellow card, Rabah Slimani!
This is deteriorating yet further. Slimani ran into the ruck and hit Hartley - deliberately - with a shoulder to the head. He's off for 10 minutes.
Yellow card, Kieran Brookes!
That could be Northampton's challenge extinguished. Brookes ships another scrum penalty and Whitehouse sends him to the bin.
Clermont 19-7 Northampton Saints, 58 minutes
More frustration from Saints. They bang and bang at the door but then Luther Burrell spills. Scrum to Clermont five metres from their line.
No surrender
However this finishes, Saints have been really impressive today. They're refusing to relent, bossing the territory. Clermont 19-7 Saints.
— Tom Vickers (@WheresTommyV) October 21, 2017
Luther Burrell is back on too...
Clermont 19-7 Northampton Saints, 54 minutes
Tom Wood charges down Cassang and Saints have another big chance! Nick Abendanon charges in to spoil the chance from an offside position. Mallinder kicks to the corner...
Clermont 19-7 Northampton Saints, 53 minutes
Frustration for Saints. Again they are sparked by Harrison and Lawes but Nic Groom makes a poor decision to attack the blindside and Christian Day carries into touch five metres out.
Match action
Here is Cassang's second try. He showed great speed endurance to get over from long range.
Try, Christian Day! Clermont 19-7 Northampton Saints, 47 minutes
Northampton maul over and a melee breaks out! It's only pushing and shoving but Ben Whitehouse has totally lost control.
After some more posturing from the referee, the try stands. Harry Mallinder kicks the conversion. They're still in this.
Clermont 19-0 Northampton Saints, 47 minutes
Saints are not giving this up. They go through the phases, with Teimana Harrison and Courtney Lawes carrying strongly. They are lucky to keep the ball when a pass goes to ground but they eventually force a penalty and go to the corner...
Try, Charlie Cassang! Clermont 19-0 Northampton Saints, 41 minutes
Ah. That's really weak from Nic Groom, unfortunately. Morgan Parra hoists a box-kick and Cassang claims the ball to sprint 60 metres. Parra's conversion misses but that's a sucker-punch for Saints.
Second half
It sounds crazy, but if Saints score first they could get something out of this game. We're underway again. Dylan Hartley is back with us.
Match action
Dylan Hartley was extremely unlucky to see yellow.
Understatement
Well that first half has been eventful.... #ASMNOR@btsportrugby
— ugo monye (@ugomonye) October 21, 2017
Half-time | Clermont 14-0 Northampton
What a bizarre half. Saints have done really well to stay this close and could even be level. Dylan Hartley's return should allow them to rally. It's not over.
Try, Charlie Cassang! Clermont 14-0 Northampton Saints, 39 minutes
Clermont make their two-man advantage pay. Eventually some space opens up around the fringes and Cassang scampers through. Parra converts and that is half-time.
Diplomatic
It's fair to say referee Ben Whitehouse won't be bought beers in Clermont tonight. He's having a 'tough day at the office'.
— Tom Vickers (@WheresTommyV) October 21, 2017
Clermont 7-0 Northampton Saints, 36 minutes
Farcical. Northampton's Mikey Haywood - on during Dylan Hartley's sin bin - needs to leave the field for a blood replacement.
That means there is no hooker, so we are going to uncontested scrums...and Saints need to bring on a replacement front-rower too.
Clermont 7-0 Northampton Saints, 35 minutes
Another scrum penalty for Clermont. Whitehouse warns Lawes - Saints' stand-in skipper - that he will go to a yellow at the next set-piece offence.
Parra goes to the corner...
Clermont 7-0 Northampton Saints, 34 minutes
Morgan Parra is back on. Eesh.
Match action
This has been an excellent effort from Northampton so far.
Yellow card, Dylan Hartley!
A really tough one. Hartley steamed in to a ruck and make contact with Rabah Slimani by accident. After a TMO-check, Whitehouse rules that the contact was "reckless but not intentional". It's a sin-binning.
Clermont 7-0 Northampton Saints, 29 minutes
Ben Foden goes so close! Remi Lamerat makes the tackle and gets over the ball. There was no release there, but Ben Whitehouse gives Clermont the penalty and they clear.
Clermont 7-0 Northampton Saints, 26 minutes
Parra has been knocked unconscious now. Scott Spedding is on in his stead. We should watch to see if Clermont try to bring Parra back...
Clermont 7-0 Northampton Saints, 25 minutes
No try. Courtney Lawes fought through a Clermont maul and disrupted the ball. Dylan Hartley pounced on the loose ball to score, but Ben Whitehouse adjudges that Lawes deliberately knocked the ball on.
Clermont 7-0 Northampton Saints, 24 minutes
We are going to the TMO for a potential Saints try out of nowhere...
Horrible scenes for Lopez
That leaves a big hole for Clermont and for France.
Clermont 7-0 Northampton Saints, 22 minutes
Oh no. Serious injury here to Camille Lopez. He's twisted awkwardly in the tackle and has badly injured his left leg. Play was stopped immediately by referee Ben Whitehouse, who deserves credit.
Charlie Cassang is on. He's a scrum-half, so Morgan Parra will be shifting out to fly-half.
Match action
Courtney Lawes' outstanding form is continuing this afternoon.
Clermont 7-0 Northampton Saints, 20 minutes
Clermont recover to hold up a Saints carrier, so they'll have the scrum.
"Stay here, stay here" says Dylan Hartley. He's started extremely well.
Clermont 7-0 Northampton Saints, 19 minutes
Harry Mallinder sparks a counter with a burst and an offload. Jamal Ford-Roobinson trundles into the Clermont 22 and suddenly Saints are within five metres!
Clermont 7-0 Northampton Saints , 13 minutes
Saints are giving it a crack with ball in hand. Here's Nafi Tuitavake carrying hard.
Clermont 7-0 Northampton Saints , 9 minutes
That's the first sighting of Clermont Alvareti Raka, who bursts through midfield and wins a penalty for his team as a Saints tackler fails to roll away.
The hosts go to touch and there is a little chip from Parra. Nic Groom collects the ball and is tackled in the air. Respite for Saints, who kick to touch.
Our man in Clermont...
...is Gavin Mairs.
Cue picture caption suggestions at Stade Marcel-Michelin.... pic.twitter.com/lfU3pl7CFQ
— Gavin Mairs (@GavinMairs) October 21, 2017
Try, Fritz Lee! Clermont 7-0 Northampton, 5 minutes
At the third re-set, the Clermont scrum is too powerful. Dylan Hartley's pack is shunted back. Lee controls with his feet and dives over.
Morgan Parra's conversion is perfect.
Granted...
Not if your a Saints fan.......
— Marc Gillham (@gilberto_21) October 21, 2017
Clermont 0-0 Northampton Saints, 4 minutes
Northampton give up a free-kick at the scrum and Clermont's first possession is devastating. Morgan Parra direct proceedings with monster runners flooding off him and Remi Lamerat is held up over the line. Five-metre scrum to the hosts.
Kick-off
Referee Ben Whitehouse blows his whistle. We're underway. It's loud. Saints recover the kick-off and are into their phase-play nicely.
Atmosphere building
What a place this is.
Best rugby ground in Europe for atmosphere. Building nicely. Saints fans just starting to make themselves heard, too. pic.twitter.com/u0MqucgQDb
— Tom Vickers (@WheresTommyV) October 21, 2017
Here come the players.
Injured scrum-half Greig Laidlaw
"This certainly isn't a forgone conclusion. They've been good in the Premiership outside of the game against Sarries and they'll be fired up for Courtney Lawes' 200th game."
Jim Mallinder
"We've had one game in this tournament, we've got five left and we're not just going to give up."
Teams
Here's a reminder of Clermont's line-up...
�� If you missed team news for Clermont...
2️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ for Courts
5️⃣0️⃣ for Harry
5️⃣0️⃣ in Europe for Fodes
1️⃣st start for Ford-Robinson pic.twitter.com/1lPLyVxxMc— Northampton Saints (@SaintsRugby) October 20, 2017
...and a look at what Clermont are working with:
#CompoASM Isaia Toeava titulaire à l’arrière face à @SaintsRugby demain à 16h15 au #Michelin ! https://t.co/z7F1vX5vdk#YellowArmypic.twitter.com/t2qyk9goja
— ASM Rugby (@ASMOfficiel) October 20, 2017
There has been a change to the above 23, actually. David Strettle is out with Nick Abendanon replacing him. Scott Speeding moves onto the bench.
Fifteen minutes until kick-off
It's worth highlighting that, bar two thrashings at the hands of Saracens, Saints have gone very well this season. It's easy to forget that, but they'll have to be brilliant to get something out of this afternoon.
�� “We’re a good side and we can play some good rugby. We’ve proven that this year, but now we need to prove it this afternoon.” pic.twitter.com/yw75HDYdn3
— Northampton Saints (@SaintsRugby) October 21, 2017
Last time out
Read this through your fingers - or ignore it entirely - if you are a Saints fan. Here's a reminder of how Northampton began the Champions Cup. Holders Saracens were in a rare mood.
Toss up
Dylan Hartley and Morgan Parra are the skippers this afternoon.
#Toss entre les deux capitaines avant #ASMNOR@MorganParraOff le remporte et choisit le Coup d’Envoi pour @ASMOfficiel@ChampionsCup_FRpic.twitter.com/ymqbBzX2r9
— ASM Rugby (@ASMOfficiel) October 21, 2017
Good afternoon
Next up on our live-blogging weekend operation is Northampton's trip to Clermont. On the back of their 57-13 humbling against champions Saracens, Jim Mallinder's men now get to face last season's runners-up.
It's not getting much easier for Saints.
������ pic.twitter.com/8E4emJPxNQ
— Northampton Saints (@SaintsRugby) October 21, 2017