Clermont vs BT Sport Saracens, Saturday 3:15pm 18 April (Irish time); BT 1

.ak

I'm not so sure. I think clermont have a similar budget.

I think they are in the market for these guys, but just aren't offering the silly money Toulon are.

Bridge93

Saracens (Please ban me)

Well if the money is there and they aren't spending it that seems a bit nuts to me (I don't like the money creeping in but it is) as they haven't won anything while Toulon clean up

stephen_n

Saracens (Please ban me)

The thing that sticks out most about Toulon and Sarries, they both have obnoxious chairmen.

finatron

I've meet Clermont fans and Toulon fans can't say there was much difference both loud and full of energy which just seems to be the norm for most top14 teams supporters.
I just find the love in for Clermont a bit nauseating there only real difference to Toulon is they are always the bridesmaid.

.ak

Bridge93 wrote: »

Well if the money is there and they aren't spending it that seems a bit nuts to me (I don't like the money creeping in but it is) as they haven't won anything while Toulon clean up

Well from what I believe the money is being spent elsewhere, like their academy in Fiji.

They also seem more interested in purchasing players that will fit in with their current squad. As I said before, it's only actually started to work for Toulon. When they first bought all those big names they struggled to get any cohesion. I think clermont don't want to disrupt the current squad by bringing in names rather than guys who'll fit.

And sure look, they believe it'll work. They've been so close to it so many times, I think ripping down their approach is throwing the baby out with the water. They've got to believe it'll work.

Funny thing also is there's no love between the two clubs...

.ak

finatron wrote: »

I've meet Clermont fans and Toulon fans can't say there was much difference both loud and full of energy which just seems to be the norm for most top14 teams supporters.
I just find the love in for Clermont a bit nauseating there only real difference to Toulon is they are always the bridesmaid.

I think the appreciation of Clermont fans is determined by two things; those who went to the semi final in Bordeaux, and those who didn't.

vienne86

Saracens (Please ban me)

finatron wrote: »

I've meet Clermont fans and Toulon fans can't say there was much difference both loud and full of energy which just seems to be the norm for most top14 teams supporters.
I just find the love in for Clermont a bit nauseating there only real difference to Toulon is they are always the bridesmaid.

I've met both as well, though have had more meetings with Clermont fans. I went to Toulon last year and didn't find the fans that friendly, but yes, equally passionate about their team. But maybe I'm old fashioned.

Henry Ford III

Delighted at that result. Allez ASM!

molloyjh

total former wrote: »

Yeah, definitely, but certainly from a Leinster perspective it was their fans that endeared Clermont to us, from the 2010 QF onwards, great bunch of supporters.

I'm here in Marseilles now with a Clermont fan. He's coming to the game with us and will be cheering us on. The "love fest" is a 2 way thing and exactly as you say is driven predominantly by the supporters. Win or lose the Clermont guys are a classy bunch who are always great fun to be around. I've met a handful of Toulon fans like that but also a good few who are just cocky, arrogant sh*tes. For me that's the difference.

irishbucsfan

molloyjh wrote: »

I'm here in Marseilles now with a Clermont fan. He's coming to the game with us and will be cheering us on. The "love fest" is a 2 way thing and exactly as you say is driven predominantly by the supporters. Win or lose the Clermont guys are a classy bunch who are always great fun to be around. I've met a handful of Toulon fans like that but also a good few who are just cocky, arrogant sh*tes. For me that's the difference.

There are some Clermont fans like that, particularly when you go to games in CF, but they're a French team so it's to be expected.

Buer

.ak wrote: »

I think the appreciation of Clermont fans is determined by two things; those who went to the semi final in Bordeaux, and those who didn't.

That's a somewhat belittling comment, .ak.

Clermont have played on this island 8 times since 2007; one game does not drive it or even account for the majority of it.

I would put the house on there being a far more muted sentiment towards them if they had come out on top of the games between themselves and Ulster, Leinster and Munster in the 2007 - 2012 period regardless of how well their fans conducted themselves.

As someone put it, they've got the same vibe about them that Munster of 2000 - 2005 did. If they were to win the title a couple of times, that feeling would start to diminish fairly quickly. I recall in the 2013 final there being a hell of a lot of talk about the final being contested by two teams who had bought their way to the final. Clermont lost and the criticism was then directed largely at Toulon.

Buer

For all the grief Toulon take for signing only the best, they've an unbelievable knack to sign guys who haven't delivered or are viewed as having their best days behind them or damaged goods.

Nobody could have predicted how good the Armitage brothers would be. Lobbe was never the player he is now for Sale nor was Sheridan or Bruno. They turned around the career of Bastareaud. Burden was a nobody in this hemisphere when he went there. Juan Smith's career was over and nobody would touch him. Ali Williams was a crock who people thought was done. Giteau wasn't wanted by Deans and was on his way to the international scrap heap. Barcella has had his career completely wrecked through injuries. Hayman had spent 3 years picking up a pay cheque in Newcastle and was over 30. They're not signing guys who are at the peak of their powers.

For all the crap we give them, they're ridiculously good at seeing the talent in a player and getting their confidence back.

irishbucsfan

Buer wrote: »

That's a somewhat belittling comment, .ak.

It's also incorrect, Leinster fans were on the Clermont bandwagon from at least the away group game in 2010, if not the previous meeting in the RDS.

CatFromHue

This is like a Marriage referendum debate but instead of Adam and Steve we're talking about Leinster and Clermont

:D

.ak

Buer wrote: »

That's a somewhat belittling comment, .ak.

Clermont have played on this island 8 times since 2007; one game does not drive it or even account for the majority of it.

I would put the house on there being a far more muted sentiment towards them if they had come out on top of the games between themselves and Ulster, Leinster and Munster in the 2007 - 2012 period regardless of how well their fans conducted themselves.

As someone put it, they've got the same vibe about them that Munster of 2000 - 2005 did. If they were to win the title a couple of times, that feeling would start to diminish fairly quickly. I recall in the 2013 final there being a hell of a lot of talk about the final being contested by two teams who had bought their way to the final. Clermont lost and the criticism was then directed largely at Toulon.

I'm not sure how it's belittling? If you had experienced the reception the Leinster fans got in Bordeaux by the Clermont fans I think you'd understand why there's a love-in there. I'm not saying anything other than that fact. I'm not suggesting that anyone is lesser for not being there?

irishbucsfan wrote: »

It's also incorrect, Leinster fans were on the Clermont bandwagon from at least the away group game in 2010, if not the previous meeting in the RDS.

I'm not sure what you mean by that, or what you took from my comment - I'm not saying there wasn't any appreciation between fans before the Bordeaux game... however a lot of Leinster fans 'adopted' Clermont as their 2nd team after that game. I think the march through O'Connell st in the 2010 semi did open a lot of people's eyes to what you can expect and I think a lot of Leinster fans were very impressed by the atmosphere they brought to the RDS but I don't think there was as much of an appreciation as there is now.

irishbucsfan

.ak wrote: »

I'm not sure how it's belittling? If you had experienced the reception the Leinster fans got in Bordeaux by the Clermont fans I think you'd understand why there's a love-in there. I'm not saying anything other than that fact. I'm not suggesting that anyone is lesser for not being there?



I'm not sure what you mean by that, or what you took from my comment - I'm not saying there wasn't any appreciation between fans before the Bordeaux game... however a lot of Leinster fans 'adopted' Clermont as their 2nd team after that game. I think the march through O'Connell st in the 2010 semi did open a lot of people's eyes to what you can expect and I think a lot of Leinster fans were very impressed by the atmosphere they brought to the RDS but I don't think there was as much of an appreciation as there is now.

Well there was a ridiculous amount of appreciation in 2010. When we were in Clermont-Ferrand ever Leinster fan was walking around talking about how they'd never miss a chance to go to the city ever again, and how they wished we could play in SMM every week etc, that's where it hit it's apex for me anyway.

CatFromHue

pfft you noobs

when Montferand came to the 'Brook in 02/03 I knew :P

iroced

irishbucsfan wrote: »

There are some Clermont fans like that, particularly when you go to games in CF, but they're a French team so it's to be expected.

. Arseholeness is French exclusive ?

Buer wrote: »

For all the grief Toulon take for signing only the best, they've an unbelievable knack to sign guys who haven't delivered or are viewed as having their best days behind them or damaged goods.

Nobody could have predicted how good the Armitage brothers would be. Lobbe was never the player he is now for Sale nor was Sheridan or Bruno. They turned around the career of Bastareaud. Burden was a nobody in this hemisphere when he went there. Juan Smith's career was over and nobody would touch him. Ali Williams was a crock who people thought was done. Giteau wasn't wanted by Deans and was on his way to the international scrap heap. Barcella has had his career completely wrecked through injuries. Hayman had spent 3 years picking up a pay cheque in Newcastle and was over 30. They're not signing guys who are at the peak of their powers.

For all the crap we give them, they're ridiculously good at seeing the talent in a player and getting their confidence back.

That's a great point you're making. And dare I say you forgot the "best" example: Wilkinson. I remember all the people laughing at Boudjelal (at least in France) when he signed him like "look at this kid he thinks real rugby is like playing fantasy rugby manager" :rolleyes:...

molloyjh

irishbucsfan wrote: »

There are some Clermont fans like that, particularly when you go to games in CF, but they're a French team so it's to be expected.

I've been to SMM twice and was in Bordeaux as well and I have to say I didn't meet a single person who wasn't anything but gracious and decent. To see the way they stayed quiet for our place kicks as a mark of respect was really impressive. Compare that to the Toulon fans on Sunday who booed and whistled every decision that went against them no matter how right or wrong the decision was, who made as much noise as possible when we were taking our place kicks but then had the audacity to give out to the small number of Leinster fans who decided to do the same, who would only get behind their team when they were winning and who refused to clap McFadden off the field...

Not sure what to make of the last comment either tbh. I've seen plenty of dicks in Leinster jerseys over the last few years in particular.