Nick Abendanon was perhaps the only happy Englishman at Stade Marcel Michelin on Saturday night and, after leading Northampton a merry dance, he revealed faint but lingering World Cup hopes. Clermont Auvergne’s former Bath full back ran amok as the Premiership champions were thrashed 37-5 — scoring one try from long range and having a crucial hand in two others, to claim the man-of-the-match award. Abendanon won the last of his two caps for England back in 2007, but he was still on the coaches’ radar until his move across the Channel last summer and, after a supreme display of elusive running, he admitted he has not given up on the slim possibility of a Test recall. Nick Abendanon breaks clear to score for Clermont in their thrashing of Northampton on Saturday . The English full back was man of the match for the third time against Premiership opposition this year . The 28-year-old is theoretically out of contention as an exile abroad, but he invoked the ‘exceptional circumstances’ clause in the RFU selection policy as he said: ‘I’d love to get a call from Stuart (Lancaster) over the summer, but I’m not counting on it because they’ve got that rule in place. ‘I understood the reasons for the rule, and in my heart I knew that when I came to France my England career was probably over. But the World Cup . . . special dispensation . . . if Clermont continue the way they are, I stay injury-free and I keep playing some good rugby, then maybe it’s a possibility in the same way that people have been talking about Steffon (Armitage).’ Abendanon crosses in his starring performance for the French side in the European Champions Cup . A World Cup dispensation has been discussed for Toulon's English flanker Steffon Armitage . They have the squad to do anything, based on their efforts on Saturday night, when the Saints were brutally swept aside. Visiting captain Dylan Hartley said: ‘They steamrollered us and just kept going.’ His fellow England forward, Tom Wood, vented his frustration on Twitter, saying: ‘Thanks to Clermont for inviting us to their open training-session today. We’ve left our non-contact bibs in the changing-rooms. Humbled.’ Northampton captain Dylan Hartley (second right) leads the Saints off the field after their convincing defeat . Meanwhile Anthony Watson believes it is only a matter of time before Bath’s attacking intent delivers silverware after their 18-15 European Champions Cup quarter-final loss to Leinster in Dublin. Mike Ford’s men produced an impressive second-half comeback to leave the three-time champions hanging on by a thread at the end with full back Watson and fly-half George Ford especially impressive. ‘If anything, the way we played against Leinster adds more confidence because I thought there were times when we showed all we can do,’ Watson said. ‘I think the way we have been playing this year has been a revelation to be a part of and I have really enjoyed playing for this club.’
Nick Abendanon was man of the match in Clermont win over Northampton.
Clermont thrashed Premiership's Saints 37-5 at Stade Marcel-Michelin.
Former Bath full back conceded England career over after France move.
But Abendanon's not yet given up hope of a call-up to the national team.
He hopes to be spoken of in the same way as Toulon's Steffon Armitage.