The Heineken Cup, the competition with the longest standing name out of
all of the sponsored competitions and leagues, or so it feels that way. We have
been graced with the Powergen Cup, the EDF Energy Cup, the LV Cup, the Amlin
Challenge Cup, the Guinness Premiership, the Aviva Premiership and many more. Semantics aside the Heineken Cup is the one everyone wants to
win, to hear that final whistle blow and confirm to the whole world that you
are the best team in the whole of Europe… by god that has to be a great feeling.
Of course winning the Rabo, the Aviva Premiership or the Top 14 is a big deal
but nothing says dominance like winning the Heineken Cup.
This weekend marks the semi-final stage with 4 teams all hoping that they will be the ones travelling to Dublin on the 18th
May ready for one final battle to win that ultimate prize. Clermont Auvergne,
Munster, Saracens and Toulon an almost even split across the nations but
between them many more than 4 countries are being represented. Warren Gatland
may be announcing his Lions squad this coming week but you can bet your bottom
dollar that he will be scrutinising all the players eligible for
selection… whether that means the Toulon players only time will tell. I doubt
this weekend will massively change his selection choices however I’m sure the
odd curveball could provide him with a sleepless night or two!
Munster will look to O’Connell to put in another huge shift and they will be thankful that they are not turning up to the Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin where Clermont haven’t lost in 59 games… instead the Stade de la Mosson in Montpellier will host this epic encounter! With a capacity of 32,000 you have to wonder just how many Munster fans will be there… 15,000, 25,000, 30,000?
Of the two fixtures of course I’ll keep my eye on
the result however Sunday’s game is the focus for me! Jonny Wilkinson, Alex Goode, Nick Kennedy all
on one pitch… heaven! Taking off my girly hat and putting my serious rugby hat
on Twickenham is set to host an epic encounter. Two huge packs going at each
other, two back lines ready to rumble and a huge (although not quite sell out)
crowd means that it is set to be a great day of rugby in TW1.
Saracens
The
Saracens squad has had an eventful few weeks… a club bonding trip to Verbier complete
with tobogganing, paragliding and skiing was just the start. Then crocodiles,
tarantulas and wolves in training, whatever will be next!? These unorthodox
methods may cause some snide comments and raised eyebrows from some members of
the rugby community however I believe that keeping things fresh at such an intense period of the season is one of reasons why this squad is
playing so well! This weekend’s game will be a test and a test that is much
greater than any of their recent Premiership games… even the Gloucester game last weekend.
On paper the Toulon line up is terrifying to read… however I’m sure every
Sarries player will not see it like that instead they will see it as a huge
opportunity to show what they are made of! So who will be starting for Sarries;
15.Alex Goode; a
clear winner of the battle at 15 for me! Delon eat your heart out, Alex wears the shirt very, very well!
14. Chris
Ashton; aiming to show Stuart he should be on the plane to Argentina… needs a big, big game!
13. Joel Tomkins;
the former Rugby League player spent half of the last HC Campaign on the
periphery… this time he’s an integral part of the team!
12. Brad
Barritt; winner of the best Tweet award quite apt before this weekend’s game
too: "Three things you cannot
recover in life: the WORD after it’s said, the MOMENT after it’s missed and the
TIME after it’s gone."
11.David
Strettle; hoping to emulate his three try hat-trick against Worcester… the only
challenge is that the competition is slightly stronger!! No offense Worcester!
10. Owen
Farrell; “The Apprentice” as he has been named by the UK media… although I
swear that last week Toby Flood was the apprentice… so I’m a little confused! Regardless
of the name situation Owen Farrell will take the Twickers turf hoping to not
only win the game but to prove to Warren Gatland that he’s Lions material!
Personally I’ve no doubt he’ll do the latter... the former I'm not so sure!
9. Richard
Wigglesworth; sited as one of the Premiership players who doesn’t get the
recognition they deserve and winner of the cutest kids in the world award.
1.Mako
Vunipola; 20 st 7 lb and yet still cries at Mufasa's death, everyone loves a
rugby player with a sensitive side!
2.Schalk
Brits; loves to provide an insight into post game recovery on Twitter...enjoy ladies!
3.Matt
Stevens; highlighted as Sarries kicking coach in a recent interview… hopefully
that is just a typo!!
4.Steve
Borthwick; Matt Stevens describes him as a miserable bastard but finishes the
sentence with ‘but we love him for it’ and also highlights that he is the best
captain he has ever played for.
5.Alistair
Hargreaves; South African lock and founder of the charity http://wethegoodpeople.org/ aka all round
decent man!
6.Jackson
Wray; the baby of the back row born in 1990… pretty sure he doesn’t remember
the cassette or VHS!
7.Kelly Brown;
an absolute Scottish legend…
8.Ernst
Joubert; winner of the most horrific broken nose in game, it’s so good even
Mike Tindall would be proud!
Replacements:
John
Smit, Rhys Gill, Carlos Nieto, Mouritz Botha, George Kruis, Neil de Kock,
Charlie Hodgson, Chris Wyles,
Toulon
Mourad Boudjellal’s galacticos… with £18.5m
at his disposal it is no wonder the team sheet reads like a who’s who of rugby!
Sadly the development of this dream team means that his men are labelled by
many as mercenaries and money grabbers as opposed to what they actually are
which is great players!! Players who work hard for each other, who eat, drink and sleep
rugby in the sunny South of France and enjoy the odd spot of bonding themselves,
it’s not Verbier but it is a pretty epic Harlem Shake:
Leaving Steffon Armitage and Frederic
Michalak on the bench clearly shows just
the strength in depth! With Mr Toulon running the show at 10… Bastareaud
powering through at 13 and a huge front row I imagine that despite all of the
positive thinking in the world a few Sarries players will be shaking in their
boots slightly!
15.Delon Armitage; fewer yellows,
fewer bans… yet the same line breaks and speed around the park!
14.Rudi Wulf;
All Black Utility Back… started young and continues to dominate the wing in
France!
13.Mathieu
Bastareaud; 18st 2lbs squeezed into a 6ft 1in frame…thank god I’m not in his
way! 1 hit and I’d never survive!
12.Matt
Giteau; initiator of the “#getmelonabird”
campaign… aka get Gethin Jenkins a lady!!
11.Alexis Palisson;
try scoring winger who caused controversy with his topless pictures in Têtu!!
10.Jonny
Wilkinson; England’s all time record points scorer, the provider of some of the
BEST moments in English rugby ever! He reached legend status a very long time
ago and continues to be at the very top of his game. He ran the show against
Leicester and will continue to run shows this season and beyond!
9.Sébastien Tillous-Borde; cheeky scrum half with his own website, quick to the breakdown,
quick hands opens up the Wilkinson Glory!
1.Andrew
Sheridan; revitalized in the sunshine, injury free, 30 matches this season and it’s
all put down to the sunshine and red wine! The one and only problem is that his
English rose skin still burns too easily and therefore vest shaped sun-burn is
a regular occurrence and photographic evidence is posted on Twitter!
2.Sebastien
Bruno; 38 years old and he has just signed a new contract with Toulon. Proof
again that the South of France is the perfect place to continue your career
beyond all expectations…sometimes even your own!
3.Carl Hayman;
resident Kiwi with 45 caps….shunning the All Blacks for the sunshine! A regular
theme I believe!
4.Bakkies
Botha; not in Richard Cockerill’s good books at the moment due to his interesting
tackle which Cockers deems to include ‘excessive use of the knee’. I’m sure he
won’t lose any sleep over this!!
5.Nick
Kennedy; Toulon vs. Sunbury… sunshine vs. rain! No wonder he’s
playing better than ever! Looking forward to seeing him back in action on UK soil!
6.Danie
Rossouw; quickly got over the broken toe that meant he missed the Tigers clash.
Pent up frustration will be released onto the Sarries 15!
7.Juan
Fernandez Lobbe; arguably one of the best Argentina players ever! Enough said!!
8.Chris Masoe;
Award winner… 2011-12 Top 14 Player of the Year!
Replacements:
Jean-Charles
Orioli, Gethin Jenkins, Davit Kubriashvili, Joe van Niekerk, Steffon Armitage,
Maxime Mermoz, Frederic Michalak, Jocelino Suta.
