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Japan s Kotaro Matsushima scored three times as Clermont opened their European Champions Cup campaign with an impressive 51-38 bonus-point win at Bristol on Saturday.
Matsushima s tries came within the opening 68 minutes as the three-time runners-up dominated the second-tier European Challenge Cup holders with some scintillating expansive play.
Clermont head coack Franck Azema praised Matushima s performance along with wingers Damian Penaud and Alivereti Raka. I m very happy with the work of the lads work today, Azema said. They have worked a lot together, even if they haven t got a lot cohesion, he added.
Fiji s Semi Radradra missed Bristol s first match in Europe s top-tier club competition since 2008 with a leg injury suffered in last weekend s Autumn Nations Cup victory over Georgia.
Japan star scores hat-trick in Clermont win over Pat Lam s Bristol
Kotaro Matsushima scored three times in the impressive victory. By AFP Saturday 12 Dec 2020, 3:49 PM Dec 12th 2020, 3:49 PM 9,907 Views 5 Comments
ASM Clermont Auvergne s Kotaro Matsushima (right) on the way to scoring his side s fourth try.
Image: PA
ASM Clermont Auvergne s Kotaro Matsushima (right) on the way to scoring his side s fourth try.
Image: PA
JAPAN’S KOTARO Matsushima scored three times as Clermont opened their European Champions Cup campaign with an impressive 51-38 bonus-point win at Bristol on Saturday.
Matsushima’s tries came within the opening 68 minutes as the three-time runners-up dominated the second-tier European Challenge Cup holders with some scintillating expansive play.
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Kotaro Matsushima took his season try tally up to seven in nine games with his hat-trick at Ashton Gate Geoff Caddick Text size
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Clermont coach Franck Azema praised blossoming Kotaro Matsushima after the Japan full-back scored a hat-trick of tries as the Top 14 giants opened their European Champions Cup campaign with a 51-38 bonus-point win at Bristol on Saturday.
Matsushima s tries took his season tally to seven in nine games as Clermont, the three-time runners-up, dominated the second-tier European Challenge Cup holders with some scintillating expansive play. We feel whether it s on or off the field in daily life he s blossoming. He feels good, he smiles, so we re happy. That s why we signed him, Azema told Sud Radio.
Blossoming Matsushima Bags Hat-trick To Help Clermont Past Bristol urdupoint.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from urdupoint.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.