How is it that Clermont keep doing this? Taken at face value, losing away to the Ospreys isn't a particularly egregious loss, but when you contexualise with all of Clermont's previous European missteps it paints a damaging picture.
The French giants enjoy the second biggest budget in the Top 14, and unlike Toulouse who top that list, they don't waste it on South African dross. A look through their team last night shows that they put out close to a full-strength selection: Jonathan Davies, Wesley Fofana, Camille Lopez, Morgan Parra, David Strettle, Fritz Lee, Damien Chouly etc.
Ospreys are a good side with Dan Biggar and Alun Wyn Jones at the forefront but they were beaten relatively soundly by a Leinster team last week that is nowhere near Clermont's level - so it is borderline unacceptable that the French giants left Swansea without even a losing bonus point after their 21-13 defeat.
Hopefully a French version of Alan Quinlan (Elvis Vermeulen?) slammed Franck Azema's side for going down to another inferior opponent away from home.
As in a lot of Clermont's collapses, they started very well. We have seen Fofana pop up on the shoulder of a teammate countless times and make the defence pay and this particularly fine example gave the visitors an early 7-0 lead.
But indiscipline ruined Clermont as they conceded 18 points through penalties and now face the possibility of either missing out on the Champions Cup knockout stages or getting an extremely unkind away quarter-final draw.
We shouldn't be particularly surprised though. Since Clermont's first appearance in the European Cup in their super-rich incarnation (2007/08) they are 11-18 in ties played outside of France. That includes losses to Racing (2), Leinster (2), Ospreys (2), Leicester, Exeter and Wasps.
By contrast, Toulon are 12-7 in European ties played outside France.
You could argue that Toulon have a stronger squad, but not to the extent that their win-loss records should be so at odds.
Clermont have a knack for losing winnable games. They don't discriminate though; they are just as lacking in testicular fortitude against Toulon as when they play a second-tier Guinness Pro12 team.
