Christophe Urios is now Clermont head coach

Christophe Urios is now head coach of Clermont . Photo: PA.

Rudderless Clermont have a point to prove in Cape Town

Clermont Auvergne’s internal turmoil may well work in their favour as they search for a new coach.

Christophe Urios is now Clermont head coach

Christophe Urios is now head coach of Clermont . Photo: PA.

While the Stormers may well be favourites to cement their spot in the Heineken Champions’ Cup playoff rounds this weekend against Clermont Auvergne, the French side’s internal turmoil may well work in their favour as they search for a new coach.

Clermont fired their coach Jonno Gibbes after Leicester’s incredible 44-29 win in the French city last weekend, with former Ulster player and assistant coach Jared Payne taking charge of the team as they search for a new coach.

Clermont backed into a corner

Payne will know all too well the stakes for the French club as they face a side that hasn’t been beaten in Cape Town for more than a year and Clermont will start as underdogs in the fixture.

And their performance will directly impact Payne’s former club Ulster, who are battling it out with Clermont for the final qualification place for the playoff rounds.

Clermont’s season hasn’t gone well for them. The two-time French champions ended seventh last season, just qualifying for the Champions’ Cup but this season the results haven’t been going their way.

Other than their stunning comeback against the Stormers in their home game, they sit 10th after 15 rounds of the Top 14 and will be doing everything in their power to avoid relegation at the end of the season. Their 15 point loss at home to Leicester was the final straw that forced the board into making a move and this weekend could see them exit from European competitions as well.

Clermont already have a number of options lined up – including former Pumas coach Mario Ledesma, who played hooker for them in his heydey. The other candidate is Christophe Urios, who left Bordeaux as coach earlier this season.

Ulster’s interest

Ulster will be watching the tie with a lot of interest, but have their own problems as their form has nosedived since the November international break and they too are struggling to qualify for the next round in Europe.

Ireland vs Springboks
Henco van Wyk of Lions tackles Robert Baloucoune of Ulster during United Rugby Championship 2022/23 rugby match between Emirates Lions and Ulsters at Emirates Airline Park on the 15 October 2022 Photo: Sydney Mahlangu/BackpagePix

Their match against Sale Sharks won’t be an easy one, and if they don’t beat Sale on Saturday night, the Clermont result is academic. Clermont are currently in the eighth and final spot in Pool B and as things stand would qualify, while Ulster are 10th, with Sale in ninth.

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For Ulster then the choice is easy. They have to win and Clermont lose, which would catapult them into the final qualifying spot ahead of the other two sides and give them some relief after a few tough weeks for Dan McFarland’s side.

But the unpredictability of the French teams as well as their own form means that while there are several big games in Europe this weekend, this mini-battle will be one that will be closely followed, if only to see who gets that final qualification berth.