European Rugby Champions Cup

Clermont Auvergne© Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images

This wasn't the same expansive, free-running extravaganza we saw from Clermont Auvergne in their win over Northampton Saints in the quarter-final, but they won't mind one jot. In the end, in a match of small margins and box kicks, it came down to an inspired chip over the Saracens defence by Brock James and the predatory Wesley Fofana playing the role of the grateful recipient to bunny hop over the line.

While the Saints crumbled in remarkable fashion in Stade Marcel-Michelin, this was a semi-final billed as being on neutral territory in St Etienne. But in reality it was as much a Clermont home match as you will ever see on nonaligned ground. The swathes of yellow and blue in the crowd left those with Saracens inclinations swallowed by the whirlpool of Les Jaunards devotees.

It will not go down as one of the great semi-finals and it was a different match to the one we saw at the same stage last season at Twickenham when Saracens put together a cup final performance a match early to win 46-6. There was never any danger of a repeat this time around. Saracens do not crumble and this is a slightly different Clermont beast.

They are a rarity - a team who can adopt different game plans depending on the opposition. Instead of ruthless counter-attacking - on one occasion when they attempted this, Jonathan Davies' uncharacteristic poor hands put paid to that venture - they preferred to kick, 44 times in total. They are a multi-headed monster, when you have cancelled out one attacking outlet, they offer another.

The match was all a little nervy with the teams going for jabs rather than haymakers. But there was a sole knockout punch which settled it, the Fofana try. He was magnificent for Clermont and if France are to pose any threat in the World Cup, they must build the team around him. The move looked fairly simplistic, it was a kick and catch but the accuracy of James' nudge and the positioning of Fofana were both sublime.

Clermont would have felt aggrieved they had not scored earlier. When Napolioni Nalaga was tip-toeing down the Saracens try line and then lunging into the corner, Chris Ashton bundled into him without any sign of arms being wrapped around the winger - picture Liam Williams' desperate attempt to tackle Cornal Hendricks in the second Test between South Africa and Wales back in June, it was similar. On that occasion South Africa were awarded a penalty try for the shoulder-charge, Clermont were not afford such a reward and instead had to field a 22 drop out. It was a poor call by the TMO and on-field officials.

Saracens will take heart from this, but it is another time when they have fallen short against French opponents. Last year it was in the final against Toulon, this time in the final four. But from setbacks can come a reaction. Billy Vunipola was superb at No.8 as was Jacques Burger at openside.

And then there is Maro Itoje. He is perhaps the most gifted player to come through the England age-grade system in recent times and Saracens have timed his exposure to top-flight rugby with perfection. He was preferred to Jackson Wray and Kelly Brown at blindside and looked at home. There was a wonderful moment when he out-jumped Abendanon for a high ball and then marmaladed Clermont scrum-half Ludovic Radosavljevic. A World Cup bolter? Perhaps not given England's options in the second-row and back-row but expect to see him in the 2016 Six Nations side as a blindside option.

For Clermont, attention shifts back to the Top 14 before thoughts of their final at Twickenham on May 2. They will have a fully-fit Camille Lopez at their disposal and they will hope to have Fritz Lee back. It will take a while for the smile to leave Abendanon's face. He was beaming from ear to ear when talking to the broadcasters post-match and you can see why when he is playing in that team, to that standard and in front of that crowd. But it will count for nothing unless they are victorious at Twickenham against either Toulon or Leinster.