ASM Clermont Auvergne, or Clermont Rugby, appeared ready to make Pool 2 of the Champions Cup more than just the group that includes Leinster, La Rochelle and Bath Rugby. 

The French Top 14 club throttled and shut out Benetton of the United Rugby Championship, 28-0, at Stade Marcle-Michelin in Clermont-Ferrand, France on Dec. 7.  

Clermont scored three tries and made three conversion in the first half en route to the win and never trailed after the 8' mark of the match. Sebastian Negri's yellow card at the 7' in the first half didn't help, as Benetton never recovered. 

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Clermont Rugby has a had a strong start to the Top 14 season, compiling a 7-0-4 record through 11 rounds. In Champions Cup play, Clermont looked like a legit title contender with two tries by Barnabe Massa in the first half. 

Second Half: Resolute Defense And A Strong Finish By Clermont Rugby

Benetton sought to regroup in the second half, making several substitutions, including Alessandro Izekor and Bautista Bernasconi, to add fresh legs. However, Clermont’s defense proved unyielding, denying the visitors any opportunity to breach the try line.

Clermont capped its dominant performance in the 74th minute when Peceli Yato added his second try of the night, once again converted by Urdapilleta to stretch the lead to 28-0. 

The match saw a late yellow card issued to Clermont's Alivereti Raka in the 78th minute, but it did little to impact the outcome.

What's Next For Clermont Rugby And Benetton Rugby?

Clermont has its toughest match of the competition when it travels to Dublin to play Leinster in what could be the biggest match of Round 2. 

Meanwhile, Benetton returns to Italy to face Premiership table leader Bath Rugby, which lost to La Rochelle in Round 1. 

Clermont Vs. Benetton Rugby Scoring Summary

Clermont Rugby: Tries: Yato (8’, 74’), Massa (32’, 39’); Conversions: Urdapilleta (9’, 33’, 40’, 75’)

Watch Clermont Rugby Vs. Benetton Champions Cup Highlights From Round 1

How To Watch The Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Season On FloRugby

Every match of the Investec Champions Cup is streaming on FloRugby and the FloSports app. 

Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Round 1

• La Rochelle 24, Bath Rugby 20
• ASM Clermont Auvergne 28,  vs. Benetton Rugby 0
• Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Exeter Chiefs, Sat, Dec 7, 2024, 8 AM, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
• Northampton Saints vs. Castres Olympique, Sat, Dec 7, 2024, 10:15 AM, cinch Stadium @ Franklin's Gardens
• DHL Stormers vs. RC Toulon, Sat, Dec 7, 2024, 10:15 AM, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
• Munster Rugby vs. Stade Francais Paris, Sat, Dec 7, 2024, 12:30 PM, Thomond Park
• Saracens vs. Vodacom Bulls, Sat, Dec 7, 2024, 12:30 PM, StoneX Stadium
• Glasgow Warriors vs. Sale Sharks, Sat, Dec 7, 2024, 3 PM, Scotstoun Stadium
• Racing 92 vs. Harlequins, Sat, Dec 7, 2024, 3 PM, Stade Dominique Duvauchelle
• Union Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Leicester Tigers, Sun, Dec 8, 2024, 8 AM, Stade Chaban-Delmas
• Stade Toulousain vs. Ulster Rugby, Sun, Dec 8, 2024, 10:15 AM, Stade Ernest Wallon
• Bristol Bears vs. Leinster Rugby, Sun, Dec 8, 2024, 12:30 PM, Ashton Gate

Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025  Round 2

• Sale Sharks vs. Racing 92, Fri, Dec 13, 2024, 3 PM, Salford Community Stadium
• Castres Olympique vs. Munster Rugby, Fri, Dec 13, 2024, 3 PM, Stade Pierre-Fabre
• Vodacom Bulls vs. Northampton Saints, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 8 AM, Loftus Versfeld
• Ulster Rugby vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 10:15 AM, Kingspan Stadium
• Leinster Rugby vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 12:30 PM, Aviva Stadium
• Leicester Tigers vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 12:30 PM, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
• Stade Rochelais vs. Bristol Bears, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 3 PM, Stade Marcel Deflandre
• Harlequins vs. DHL Stormers, Sat, Dec 14, 2024, 3 PM, Twickenham Stoop
• RC Toulon vs. Glasgow Warriors, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 8 AM, Stade Felix Mayol
• Benetton Rugby vs. Bath Rugby, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 8 AM, Stadio Monigo
• Stade Francais Paris vs. Saracens, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 10:15 AM, Stade Jean Bouin
• Exeter Chiefs vs. Stade Toulousain, Sun, Dec 15, 2024, 12:30 PM, Sandy Park

Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Round 3

• Glasgow Warriors vs. Racing 92, Fri, Jan 10, 2025, 3 PM, Scotstoun Stadium
• DHL Stormers vs. Sale Sharks, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 8 AM, DHL Stadium
• Exeter Chiefs vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:15 AM, Sandy Park
• Hollywoodbets Sharks vs. Stade Toulousain, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:15 AM, Hollywoodbets Kings Park
• Munster Rugby vs. Saracens, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 12:30 PM, Thomond Park
• Stade Francais Paris vs. Northampton Saints, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 12:30 PM, Stade Jean Bouin
• Leicester Tigers vs. Ulster Rugby, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3 PM, Mattioli Woods Welford Road
• Castres Olympique vs. Vodacom Bulls, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3 PM, Stade Pierre-Fabre
• RC Toulon vs. Harlequins, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 8 AM, Stade Felix Mayol
• Stade Rochelais vs. Leinster Rugby, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Marcel Deflandre
• Bristol Bears vs. Benetton Rugby, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:15 AM, Ashton Gate
• Bath Rugby vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 12:30 PM, The Rec

Investec Champions Cup 2024-2025 Round 4

• Ulster Rugby vs. Exeter Chiefs, Fri, Jan 17, 2025, 3 PM, Kingspan Stadium
• Vodacom Bulls vs. Stade Francais Paris, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 8 AM, Loftus Versfeld
• Northampton Saints vs. Munster Rugby, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 10:15 AM, cinch Stadium @ Franklin's Gardens
• ASM Clermont Auvergne vs. Bristol Bears, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Marcel-Michelin
• Benetton Rugby vs. Stade Rochelais, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 12:30 PM, Stadio Monigo
• Leinster Rugby vs. Bath Rugby, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 12:30 PM, Aviva Stadium
• Harlequins vs. Glasgow Warriors, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 3 PM, Twickenham Stoop
• Racing 92 vs. DHL Stormers, Sat, Jan 18, 2025, 3 PM, Paris La Defense Arena
• Union Bordeaux-Bègles vs. Hollywoodbets Sharks, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 8 AM, Stade Chaban-Delmas
• Saracens vs. Castres Olympique, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 10:15 AM, StoneX Stadium
• Stade Toulousain vs. Leicester Tigers, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 10:15 AM, Stade Ernest Wallon
• Sale Sharks vs. RC Toulon, Sun, Jan 19, 2025, 12:30 PM, Salford Community Stadium

Investec Champions Cup Format 

Key points of the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup:

• A multi-pool format, as launched in the 2023-2024 season
• 24 elite clubs - eight each from the Gallagher Premiership, URC and TOP 14 - in four pools of six
• Sporting jeopardy, with each club playing against four different opponents, home or away, in the pool stage
• Four highest-ranked clubs in each pool qualify for the Round of 16
• The Investec Champions Cup will be played over eight weekends, with four pool rounds and four knockout rounds culminating in the 2025 final, which will be staged at Cardiff's Principality Stadium on Saturday, May 24.

Investec Champions Cup Weekends

• Round 1 – 6/7/8 December 2024
• Round 2 – 13/14/15 December 2024
• Round 3 – 10/11/12 January 2025
• Round 4 – 17/18/19 January 2025
• Round of 16 – 4/5/6 April 2025
• Quarter-finals – 11/12/13 April 2025
• Semi-finals – 2/3/4 May 2025
• 2025 Investec Champions Cup final – Saturday, May 24, Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Champions Cup Qualifications 

Twenty-four clubs have qualified for the 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup as follows:

• United Rugby Championship (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.
• TOP 14 (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.
• Gallagher Premiership Rugby (8): The eight highest-ranked clubs based on their final finishing positions.
• If not already qualified, the winner of the 2024 Investec Champions Cup will take the place of the eighth-ranked club in its league.

Investec Champions Cup Qualifiers 

• TOP 14 – Stade Toulousain, Union Bordeaux-Bègles, Stade Français Paris, RC Toulon, Stade Rochelais, Racing 92, Castres Olympique, ASM Clermont Auvergne
• GALLAGHER PREMIERSHIP – Northampton Saints, Bath Rugby, Sale Sharks, Saracens, Bristol Bears, Harlequins, Exeter Chiefs, Leicester Tigers
• UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP – Glasgow Warriors, Vodacom Bulls, Munster Rugby, Leinster Rugby, DHL Stormers, Ulster Rugby, Benetton Rugby, Hollywoodbets Sharks

When Does The 2024-2025 Investec Champions Cup Begin? When Is The Champions Cup Final?

The Investec Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup begin Dec. 6, and the four-round pool-play action ends Jan. 19, 2025. The Round of 16 starts on April 4, while the quarterfinals are April 11-13. The semifinals are May 2-4. 

The EPCR Championships weekend is in Cardiff, Wales at Principality Stadium. There are championship games on May 23 (EPCR Challenge Cup) and May 24 (Investec Champions Cup). 

How To Watch Rugby Matches In The United States On FloRugby

FloRugby and FloSports also are the US home to: 

• Investec Champions Cup
• EPCR Challenge Cup
• Currie Cup
• Top 14
• Super Rugby
• And more

FloRugby also is home to match archives and match replays. 

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