Doesn’t time fly when you’re
having fun? It doesn’t seem a moment ago
that the English clubs were at war with the Celtic and Italian sides, tearing
out each other’s throats whilst the French clubs flitted between the two sides
like a particularly industrious lady of the night. As it is now, we can happily refer to those
times as “the good old days” and move into an unsettling new era where everyone
seems to be getting along in a new format which the majority warily view as “fair”.
Of course, on the field, don’t
expect too many to be getting along.
Especially not in this Saturday’s match up, between Saracens and
Clermont. Remember that certain sunny
Twickenham day in April last year? The Heineken
Cup semi-final, previously tipped as a nail-biter, which ended up as probably
the greatest display by an English side in Heineken Cup history, as Saracens
obliterated their French rivals by 46 – 6.
Their defence simply annihilated the men in white, whilst their attack
was fluency at its finest. Clermont –
unofficially the best side in Europe over the past 3 years – were humiliated. And Jean-Marc Lhermet, sporting director of the
French club, says it’s not about revenge.
Garbage.
Their backline – aside from
their centres – may be completely different, but their pack is almost
identical; and it was they who came off well and truly second best last
year. To say that revenge will not come
into the psyche of any forward is to question their motivational – they will be
hell-bent on hammering the London side on their own patch. And they look in decent nick to do it too –
after losing at home to Montpellier, ending their record-breaking winning
streak, they have only lost once (away to Bordeaux) and sit 3 points clear at
the summit of the Top 14. A lot of their
game is based on forward power now and less on the unpredictability which they
had before – and so expect an organised and methodical approach to their play
this Saturday...but that doesn’t mean it will be any less vicious.
Facing up to this rabble of
angry Frenchmen will be a Saracens side who – along with Northampton and, to an
extent, Bath – have looked very comfortable so far this season. Their defence has been a little more leaky
than they would have liked, but their attack is certainly firing on all
cylinders, with well organised and dynamic forward play giving the arch-finishers
out wide plenty of opportunities to sniff out the try line. Sarries are no longer that team that made you
want to claw your eyes out rather than watch them play – they’re efficient,
powerful and clinical, and it is very impressive to see them firing on all
cylinders.
And they’ll need to be firing
on all cylinders at Allianz Park tomorrow.
Because, if the events of a year ago tell us one thing, it’s that these
countries don’t really get along when they’re in a confined space.
Saracens Team News
McCall will be without
injured front-row Kieran Longbottom, which paves the way for Petrus du Plessis
to join Jamie George and Richard Barrington, while Alistair Hargreaves skippers
the side from lock where he is joined by George Kruis. Will Fraser returns to the side after a
hamstring injury at openside flanker, alongside Kelly Brown and Billy Vunipola
as Richard Wigglesworth partners Charlie Hodgson at half-back, with Brad
Barritt and Chris Wyles linking up in midfield.
In the back three, Alex Goode returns to the side at full-back, with
Chris Ashton and David Strettle starting on the wings.
Starting Line-up:15 Alex Goode; 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Chris Wyles, 12 Brad Barritt, 11
David Strettle; 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Richard Wigglesworth; 1 Richard
Barrington, 2 Jamie George, 3 Petrus du Plessis, 4 George Kruis, 5 Alistair
Hargreaves (c), 6 Kelly Brown, 7 Will Fraser, 8 Billy Vunipola.
Subs: 16
Schalk Brits, 17 Rhys Gill, 18 James Johnston, 19 Jim Hamilton, 20 Jackson
Wray, 21 Neil de Kock, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Marcelo Bosch.
Key Player
Will Fraser. The young flanker returns to the side
following another enforced absence which came along just when he was hitting
his straps. A lot of people have raised
eyebrows that Jacques Burger – the human missile who spearheaded that
remarkable performance at Twickenham – has been left out (I don’t believe he is
injured), but for me it is exactly the right call. Clermont would have been expecting that
brutal and relentless physicality, but Fraser has more subtlety, speed and
precision – he can steal ball and frustrate even the most efficient of
packs. The youngster has a huge task to
keep this Clermont 8 quiet, but you can be sure he won’t shirk it. All that said, I am surprised Mr Burger doesn’t
make an appearance on the bench, however.
Clermont Auvergne Team News
The headline team news from
the Clermont camp is the omission of Jonathan Davies, amid rumours a cohort of
Wales internationals may be making a homecoming. With central contracts now available to Wales
coach Warren Gatland under the new Participation Agreement, speculation is rife
regarding numerous Top 14 players and the decision to leave him out of the
Saracens clash means he will not be cup-tied for Europe. Although there is no Davies, livewire France
centre Wesley Fofana does start in his absence, offering a dynamic edge to the
Clermont attack.
Starting Line-up: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Noa
Nakaitaci, 13 Aurelien Rougerie, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Camile
Lopez, 9 Ludovic Radosavljevic; 1 Thomas Domingo, 2 Benjam Kayser, 3 Davit
Zirakashvili, 4 Jamie Cudmore, 5 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 6 Fritz Lee, 7 Julien
Bonnaire, 8 Damien Chouly (c).
Subs: 16
John Ulugia, 17 Raphael Chaume, 18 Lement Ric, 19 Loic Jacquet, 20 Julien
Bardy, 21 Brock James, 22 Thierry Lacrampe, 23 Benson Stanley.
Key Player
Fritz Lee. Last year, the men in white looked
shell-shocked as they were spanked all over the park like naughty little boys,
with even the mighty Fritz Lee made to look like a lamb in comparison to the
ravenous wolf pack. Now, old Fritz is not
the sort to take kindly to that treatment.
Expect the explosive Kiwi to be fired up for this one and to lead a
brutal forward effort, with plenty of carries around the fringes. The only problem is, that’s exactly where the
wolf-pack like to defend...
Key Battle
George Kruis v Jamie
Cudmore. Anyone expecting a victory
anything like the freakshow we saw last year will be in for a rude awakening –
this game will be a tight affair that will probably be decided by three things: accuracy with the boot, forward power and
set-piece dominance. These two guys will
be crucial to the latter two. The young
Sarries lock is certainly the more athletic of the two and has the potential to
cause plenty of problems in the lineout but he must also go toe-to-toe with the
physicality offered by Cudmore, who is the engine room of this huge Clermont
pack. If he can match the big Canadian
in the loose, then Clermont will not have many places to go.
Prediction
It’s a hard one to call, but
I think it’s fair to say we won’t be saying a 40-odd point drubbing this time
around. Make no mistake, all the talk of
revenge not being in the minds of Clermont players is utterly nonsense. They were humiliated, and players of the
calibre who play for the French giants will be well aware they have a score to
settle. Expect a brutal, physical
encounter which could get feisty at times – but I think Saracens will prove too
strong at home and pick up a crucial win.
Sarries by 6.
And in the other games in the first ever round of the Rugby Champions Cup?
Sale Sharks v Munster:
The Sharks are always difficult
to beat in Salford but Munster have the nous and quality to claim a hard-fought
win. Munster by 8.
Harlequins v Castres:
Quins may not be firing on all
cylinders, but neither are Castres. And
the French simply cannot travel. Solid
win for the hosts. Quins by 12 points.
Leinster v Wasps:
Wasps look dangerous this
season but Leinster have a point to prove and, in Dublin, they will be too
strong. Leinster by 14.
Leicester Tigers v Ulster: Ulster
should take advantage of the injury ravaged Tigers to claim a narrow win at
Welford Road and continue their current hoodoo over the East Midland side. Ulster
by 4.
Toulon v Scarlets:
The Scarlets are unpredictable
and have the ability to surprise many quality sides. But not the reigning Champions. Toulon
by 24.
Glasgow Warriors v Bath: Glasgow
are in great form and will fancy their chances against the West Country outfit,
but the visitors are playing some quality stuff and could steal a result. Bath
by 2.
Toulouse v Montpellier: An
all French affair and so the simplest thing to do is to go with the standard
French rule – the home side always wins.
Toulouse by 7.
Racing Metro v Northampton Saints: An
incredibly hard one to call – Racing are a real challenge at home but Saints
look very, very sharp. I think they
might pick up a crucial win. Saints by 3.
Ospreys v Treviso:
It’s a top v bottom Pro12
clash, and I think the gulf in quality, form and confidence will show. Ospreys
by 21.
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