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Argentine fly half Patricio Fernández delivered the performance of his career as Clermont downed Bordeaux this afternoon in a round 19 French Top 14 fixture. Having been 19-0 down Clermont fought back to complete a 24-19 away victory in front of 28,332 supporters to retain pole position in the French domestic championship.
The Rosario play maker scored half of Clermont’s points, landing a penalty, converting two tries and scoring a try of his own. He played opposite Pierre Bernard, a 27 year old who has been called up to France’s international roster in the past but remains uncapped.
Fernández got the opportunity to start ahead of Australian Brock James who was on the bench. The veteran James is to join rivals La Rochelle next season leaving Fernández to be the potential understudy to the 9 time capped 26 year old, Camille Lopez.
Based on today’s performance Fernández may well be playing much more often. This comes as a combination of positive and negative news to Argentine rugby supporters. Many have been vocal in wanting Fernández to return home to join the Super Rugby franchise, Los Jaguares. This would enable him to play in the Rugby Championship for Los Pumas.
With six rounds to go Clermont are well positioned to appear in the play-offs. The club not only holds first position but in being 21 points ahead of the seventh places Castres the central-French side is very comfortably placed.
Under existing representative laws players based outside of Super Rugby franchises are not to be considered for international duty. Fernández is thereby not to be selected, that is unless the new policy is softened.
The potential of the laws indeed being softened have been speculated upon by members of the Argentine media. Gloucester second-rower Mariano Galarza is one player said to be free to be selected by Daniel Hourcade in 2016. A number of others based in England and France could thereby also play for Los Pumas.
Fernández was deemed by Daniel Hourcade as not being ready for the demands of the Rugby Championship in 2015 and for this reason he was not considered for Rugby World Cup 2015. Of those who went ahead of Fernández Juan Pablo Socino has payed his final test match while Juan Martín Hernández and Santiago González Iglesias are primarily views as centers not fly halves.
Still aged just 21 Fernández is a player who has been underlined for a likely ugly half spot at Rugby World Cup 2019. He made his test debut in 2013 while he was still a teenager. He faced Brazil and Chile in the that year’s CONSUR Cup, scoring two tries and a total of 38 points.
