Stormers suffer another second-half fade as Clermont roar back for Champions Cup win

The Stormers had insisted in the build-up to their Champions Cup debut that, predominantly, they would use the experience to learn new lessons.

While that is undeniably a noble objective, the irony of their 14-24 loss to Clermont at the Stade Marcel Michelin on Saturday evening was that their biggest lesson is one they've already been exposed to this season.

Once again, the Capetonians heaped frustration on themselves by producing a now familiar second-half fade that belied how well they performed in the first 40 minutes.

Only this time, they were on a stage where they couldn't get away with it. 

Following a nervy start, where Ruhan Nel conceded an early penalty for a late hit on Sebastian Bezy and Ben-Jason Dixon - on as substitute lock for a concussed Ernst van Rhyn - was yellow carded for a high tackle, the URC champions took confidence from only conceding three points in that 10-minute period.

They had a relentless scavenger in Deon Fourie, who made life hell for the hosts at the breakdown and clearly relished his return to France if his zeal in general play was anything to go by.

It was he who also scored the Stormers' solitary try, brilliantly keeping his body position low to exploit Clermont's leaky defending at a rolling maul.

Allied with some tight defending and decent tactical awareness, they looked good value for a 14-3 lead at half-time.

But the wheels came off after the break as Clermont illustrated their pedigree and class.

Stung by Fourie's exploits at ruck time, the French stalwarts purposely sped up their breakdowns and went wider earlier to keep the breakdowns to a minimum.

That paid off almost immediately as midfielder Cheikh Tiberghien produced a sumptuously floated pass to Australian winger Alex Newsome, who