European Champions Cup - Let's Go Back-To-Back

Welcome to the back-to-back European fixtures and the two rounds that, more often than not, define teams' European fates. 

Every year when the calendar is released these are the weekends that I immediately turn to and this term the fixtures are extremely tough for our Aviva Premiership sides. In Round 2 Aviva Premiership sides set a high benchmark with 6 victories from 6 matches however they'll have their work cut out taking on Racing 92, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Munster Rugby and Oyonnax and of course with Bath and Wasps will be facing each other. In short we expect a least one team will spoil the 100% party!!

Round 3 starts in Paris as Racing 92 will host the Northampton Saints. This will be Racing’s second European outing and it should be Dan Carter’s first in their light blue strip after recently arriving from New Zealand. The Northampton Saints are heading to Paris with a touch more confidence than they had earlier in the term after delivering four consecutive victories. The set piece battle will be all consuming and very interesting, right now Jim Mallinder's pack are causing every side they face issues and Racing's have yet to lose a scrum on their own feed in the European competition. Without question back-to-back meetings against Racing 92 is a huge test for Saints because, although their forwards are firing, they haven't shown a true spark yet in their backline. The last time that the two sides met Jamie Roberts absolutely ripped through the heart of Saints so they've got a few memories to erase however they'll have do so against some of Europe's best in the form of Joe Rokocoko, Luke Charteris, Maxime Machenaud, Chris Masoe and of course Daniel Carter. 

  

A man to watch out for!

At Sandy Park second in the Aviva Premiership will meet the top of the Top 14 as the Exeter Chiefs host ASM Clermont Auvergne. The Chiefs' performance against Wasps, just five days ago, had it all however obviously was marred by Henry Slade’s injury. Henry is a great loss and his injury woe has also been compounded by the news that Dave Ewers will also be out until the new year. That said the Chiefs have plenty of depth in their squad and will know that they have a great chance to show Europe exactly what they are made of against a side that are tipped to go all the way. Clermont’s start to the season has been productive and impressive - their backline is firing on around fifteen cylinders and a man that we all know very well, David Strettle, has excelled. Exeter’s defensive line must be rock solid to repel Les Jaundards flair and they must approach the fixture without any hesitation and trepidation. The Chiefs' home record is impeccable and against the toughest of French opponents they must play their rugby, igniting their own backs and delivering the physicality that has become synonymous with the Devon outfit. 

At Thomond Park Munster Rugby will host the Leicester Tigers in a fixture that always gets the European juices flowing! The current European spoils are split with two wins apiece however neither have beaten the other away from home. An incredible statistic is that Munster have won 62 to their 66 European fixtures on home soil however they are heading into the game off the back of their last domestic home match being a loss against Connacht. The Leicester Tigers are bubbling nicely, Aaron Mauger has reinvigorated them and all will arrive in Ireland on cloud 9 after the club announced their big contract extensions this week.  Personally I’m looking forward to a fixture that should have plenty of bite to it and seeing how Leicester's new look side fares in the intimidating arena that is Thomond Park.

On Sunday Saracens head to the Stade Charles Mathon to face Oyonnax. Saracens are sitting comfortably at the top of Pool 1 and remain the only side in the top tier of Northern hemisphere domestic rugby that are unbeaten this competitive season. Conversely Oyonnax are at the bottom of the Top 14 with just two wins out of ten fixtures. Saracens’ victories aren’t always filled with 80 minutes of beautiful running rugby however their formulae and pragmatism is winning them matches. Without too much further analysis the form book and common sense points to this being a bonus point European victory for the Premiership side.

The early domestic
meeting went Wasps' way

The final fixture of the weekend will be Wasps’ and Bath’s second of four meetings this season. Last weekend Wasps suffered a set back against Exeter but had rested, or been forced to be without, some key individuals. Against Northampton Bath also missed players, Attwood, Eastmond and Hooper in particular, and again struggled with their collective cohesion and confidence. In short both sides must react, Wasps to cement their strong European position and Bath to properly commence their season. This match has some cracking personnel match ups and a whole host of players that Eddie Jones should be taking a very close look at. In the two respective backlines Semesa Rokoduguni, Jonathan Joseph, Elliot Daly, Joe Simpson, George Ford, Anthony Watson and Kyle Eastmond should all be of interest to the Australian. Then in the packs Matt Mullan, Henry Thomas, Nick Auterac, James Haskell, Joe Launchbury, Dave Attwood (if fit) and Rob Webber will  also under the spotlight. This round will be the first time that Bath are able to select from their full strength backline and boy they need to deliver. The form book says Wasps, by at least score, however if Bath finally put a cohesive game on the park then they have the ability upset odds... 

Opta Match Facts

• Racing 92 have won both of their previous Champions Cup matches against the Northampton Saints, outscoring them 52-19 in the process & have the top tackle success rate in the competition so far with 92%
• Clermont have won eight of their last nine matches in Europe and kept their opponents to single figures in five of those clashes
• Leicester have averaged the most points (34.5) and tries (4.5) per game in the Champions Cup season so far.
• Saracens have won their last two pool games in a row against French opposition and five of their seven tries have originated from a lineout win. 
• This will be the first meeting between Wasps and Bath in Europe despite having played 167 European top flight matches between them

European Round 3 Schedule

11 Dec 19:45 Ulster Rugby vs. Toulouse (BT Sport)

12 Dec 13:00 Glasgow Warriors vs. Scarlets (Sky Sports)

12 Dec 15:15 Racing 92 vs. Northampton Saints (BT Sport)

12 Dec 15:15 Benetton Treviso vs. Stade Francais Paris (BT Sport)

12 Dec 17:15 Exeter Chiefs vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne (Sky Sports)

12 Dec 17:15 Ospreys vs. Bordeaux-Begles (Sky Sports)

12 Dec 19:45 Munster Rugby vs. Leicester Tigers (BT Sport)

13 Dec 14:00 Oyonnax vs, Saracens (Sky Sports)

13 Dec 16:15 RC Toulon vs. Leinster Rugby (Sky Sports)
13 Dec 17:15 Wasps vs. Bath Rugby (BT Sport)