The European Rugby Challenge Cup final between ASM Clermont Auvergne and La Rochelle at Newcastle on May 10 will be the third time the French duo have met this season. Both matches were in the TOP 14, so here we look back at those two domestic meetings. La Rochelle 16 ASM Clermont Auvergne 12 La Rochelle maintained their 100% home record in the TOP 14 in this Round 7 clash in October, but Clermont claimed a defensive bonus point, despite being reduced to 12 men for 10 minutes and 14 for over 20 in a second half played in monsoon conditions. Fly-half Ihaia West gave the home side a 9-0 lead with three penalties from three attempts in the first half, when Clermont scrum-half Morgan Parra missed a simple kick and wing Damian Penaud had a try disallowed by the video referee for a knock-on. However, Penaud made amends within a minute of the restart, only for visiting prop Loni Uhila to be red-carded after 57 minutes for a late tackle while team-mates Peceli Yato and Etienne Falgoux were in the sin bin. La Rochelle capitalised with a penalty try, but replacement hooker John Ulugia made them sweat for their victory with a 69th minute try that was converted by replacement scrum-half Greig Laidlaw. https://twitter.com/ChallengeCup_FR/status/1120670069246300161 ASM Clermont Auvergne 44 La Rochelle 19 Clermont comprehensively avenged their October loss at Stade Marcel Deflandre by inflicting La Rochelle’s first TOP 14 defeat since September 29 in January, outscoring the visitors by five tries to three to return to the top of the table. Scrum-half Greig Laidlaw spearheaded the win with 18 points from a try, two conversions and three penalties, all of which came in the first half as Clermont opened up a 23-7 lead, No.8 Peceli Yato getting their other try. Clermont added three more tries in the second half from a penalty try, replacement wing George Moala and full-back Tim Nanai-Williams, with the latter two being improved by replacement scrum-half Morgan Parra. La Rochelle’s scores came via a first-half try by No.8 Victor Vito converted by fly-half Ihaia West, plus second-half tries from replacement centre Geoffrey Doumayrou and second row Jone Qovu, the second of which was goaled by West. https://twitter.com/ChallengeCup_FR/status/1120991414681264131