The last time that there were three Premiership clubs in the top European semi-finals Out On The Full haven’t been created and I was still at university! Now Saracens, Wasps and the Leicester Tigers are flying the Premiership flag with distinction and this weekend promises to be one of the most dramatic of the season.
The semi-finals of any competition are one of the worst places to leave, you’ve done all of the hard work to get there and yet fall short of being able to have a shot of lifting the title. It’s brutal, agonising and cruel, but at the end of the day that’s professional sport.
Both semi-finals are equally intriguing, with Saracens and Wasps you have the meeting of Europe’s best defence against the leaders of the pack in attack. Then with Leicester and Racing 92 you have a Tigers side that are desperate to get back to the top of the European summit and a Racing side that are ignited by one of the best fly-halves the game has ever seen.
Saracens v Wasps
So where should I start with Saracens versus Wasps? Perhaps with the colossal personal match-ups? Or with their respective records in this year’s European competitions? In fact the question is immaterial because wherever you start the conclusion is that this is going to be an immense battle of wills and we are going to witness some sensational rugby.
Saracens are yet to lose in this year’s European competition and Mark McCall’s side have only conceded 10 tries in their 7 matches. Without question Saracens are the best in the business at putting teams off their stride and then ruthlessly stifling their opponents. At times Saracens’ defence is impenetrable due to their intense physicality but if any side have the ability in their back line to find holes then it’s Wasps.
Wasps charged out of Pool 5, the so called ‘Pool of Death’, without a backwards glance and it was their performances in Europe that power charged their season. Now Dai Young’s side are playing with immense confidence and have the lethal combination of electric backs that can make something happen from nothing and an experienced pack with a huge work rate.
The personnel clashes are mouthwatering from Charles Piutau and Alex Goode at full back and Joe Launchbury going against his England competitiors to watching both Christian Wade and Chris Ashton endeavouring to outshine each other on opposite wings. But, if you are going to pick one match up then it has to be Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes squaring up at No8. Without doubt Eddie Jones will be watching both of their outputs intently and I fully expect the ground at the Madejski Stadium to shake when they first clash.
If I can let's just take a moment to apprecaite the impact that the most experienced man on the field could have, George Smith. At the age of 35 George is still at the very top of the Euoprean game, he's made the most tackles in the tournament so far, 94, and his impact on Wasps this season has been profound. The flanker's ability at the breakdown is innate and when he pops up at first-receiver it's brilliant to watch. Whether you do so on the day, or perhaps after, take a moment to focus solely on Australia's most cap forward ever and just appreciate his work, you won't regret it.
If I can let's just take a moment to apprecaite the impact that the most experienced man on the field could have, George Smith. At the age of 35 George is still at the very top of the Euoprean game, he's made the most tackles in the tournament so far, 94, and his impact on Wasps this season has been profound. The flanker's ability at the breakdown is innate and when he pops up at first-receiver it's brilliant to watch. Whether you do so on the day, or perhaps after, take a moment to focus solely on Australia's most cap forward ever and just appreciate his work, you won't regret it.
The last time that these two sides met Wasps prevailed 62-34, but don’t take that scoreline as your barometer because at that time Saracens were missing a wealth of players. Indeed the only conclusions that you can deduce from that match are that Saracens will feel that they have a score to settle and Wasps will be itching to deliver another huge statement.
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode 14 Chris Ashton 13 Duncan Taylor 12 Brad Barritt 11 Chris Wyles 10 Owen Farrell 9 Richard Wigglesworth 1 Mako Vunipola 2 Schalk Brits 3 Petrus du Plessis 4 Maro Itoje 5 George Kruis 6 Michael Rhodes 7 Will Fraser 8 Billy Vunipola Replacements: 16 Jared Saunders 17 Richard Barrington 18 Titi Lamositele 19 Jim Hamilton 20 Jackson Wray 21 Neil de Kock 22 Charlie Hodgson 23 Marcelo Bosch
Wasps: 15 Charles Piutau 14 Christian Wade 13 Elliot Daly 12 Siale Piutau 11 Frank Halai 10 Jimmy Gopperth 9 Dan Robson 1 Matt Mullan 2 Carlo Festuccia 3 Lorenzo Cittadini 4 Joe Launchbury 5 Bradley Davies 6 James Haskell 7 George Smith 8 Nathan Hughes Replacements: 16 Ashley Johnson 17 Simon McIntyre 18 Phil Swainston 19 Sam Jones 20 Thomas Young 21 Joe Simpson 22 Ruaridh Jackson 23 Rob Miller
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode 14 Chris Ashton 13 Duncan Taylor 12 Brad Barritt 11 Chris Wyles 10 Owen Farrell 9 Richard Wigglesworth 1 Mako Vunipola 2 Schalk Brits 3 Petrus du Plessis 4 Maro Itoje 5 George Kruis 6 Michael Rhodes 7 Will Fraser 8 Billy Vunipola Replacements: 16 Jared Saunders 17 Richard Barrington 18 Titi Lamositele 19 Jim Hamilton 20 Jackson Wray 21 Neil de Kock 22 Charlie Hodgson 23 Marcelo Bosch
Wasps: 15 Charles Piutau 14 Christian Wade 13 Elliot Daly 12 Siale Piutau 11 Frank Halai 10 Jimmy Gopperth 9 Dan Robson 1 Matt Mullan 2 Carlo Festuccia 3 Lorenzo Cittadini 4 Joe Launchbury 5 Bradley Davies 6 James Haskell 7 George Smith 8 Nathan Hughes Replacements: 16 Ashley Johnson 17 Simon McIntyre 18 Phil Swainston 19 Sam Jones 20 Thomas Young 21 Joe Simpson 22 Ruaridh Jackson 23 Rob Miller
Leicester Tigers v Racing 92
On Sunday afternoon the Leicester Tigers will be returning to the scene of one of their most famous European victories, the City Ground in Nottingham. On 28th April 2002, Tim Stimpson kicked Leicester into the final with his penalty that bounced off the crossbar and post before going over. Of course it sent the Leicester Tigers' fans into a state of euphoria but I expect that this weekend they wouldn’t mind it being done and dusted before the final seconds of the game!
This is the first time that Racing 92 have ever reached this stage of Europe’s top flight competition and although Leicester are seasoned European veterans they haven’t been in the semi-final mix since the 2008/9 season.
This is the first time that Racing 92 have ever reached this stage of Europe’s top flight competition and although Leicester are seasoned European veterans they haven’t been in the semi-final mix since the 2008/9 season.
Of course all eyes will be on the World Player of the Year, Dan Carter and looking at the impact that he’ll have on the game. Whether Dan is fit or not to take the place kicking duties is a moot point, instead his mere presence on the pitch ignites Racing and his game management skills are the most important thing. We’ve seen countless times before, including during the Rugby World Cup Final, just how well he can steer and control a test match and without question he'll do the same again on Sunday. It has to be said also that Racing's threats go beyond their fly-half; Juan Imhoff and Brice Dulin will be a handful for Leicester’s defence and in the second-row Luke Charteris is a classy operator.
This season Leicester have been reinvigorated under the tutelage of Aaron Mauger and in a lovely little sub-plot their new head coach should have some insights on Dan Carter seeing he was a Cater’s team mate during their All Blacks days. Leicester’s attacking threats are as good as they come with Telusa Veainu and Peter Betham being the most potent of all. In the middle Freddie Burns is in the form of his career, his place kicking is on point and he’s playing with a great deal of confidence which is just as well given his opposite number. Leicester cannot be afraid to play on Sunday, they have to stick to their guns and attack the fixture with energy and conviction.
Racing 92 should try and knock Leicester off their stride early in order to silence the crowd and worry their opponents. Conversely Leicester have to make full use of home country advantage and the fact that ‘away’ clubs only have a 35% success rate.
Leicester TIgers: 15 Mathew Tait 14 Telusa Veainu 13 Peter Betham 12 Manu Tuilagi 11 Vereniki Goneva 10 Freddie Burns 9 Ben Youngs 1 Marcos Ayerza 2 Harry Thacker 3 Dan Cole 4 Dom Barrow 5 Graham Kitchener 6 Michael Fitzgerald 7 Lachlan McCaffrey 8 Opéti Fonua Replacements: 16 Greg Bateman 17 Logovi’i Mulipola 18 Fraser Balmain 19 Ed Slater 20 Tom Croft 21 Sam Harrison 22 Owen Williams 23 Adam Thompstone
Racing 92: 15 Brice Dulin 14 Joe Rokocoko 13 Johannes Goosen 12 Alexandre Dumoulin 11 Juan Imhoff 10 Dan Carter 9 Maxime Machenaud 1 Eddy Ben Arous 2 Virgile Lacombe 3 Ben Tameifuna 4 Luke Charteris 5 Francois van der Merwe 6 Wenceslas Lauret 7 Bernard Le Roux 8 Chris Masoe Replacements: 16 Camille Chat 17 Khatchik Vartanov 18 Luc Ducalcon 19 Manuel Carizza 20 Antonie Claassen 21 Mike Phillips 22 Remi Tales 23 Louis Dupichot
Leicester TIgers: 15 Mathew Tait 14 Telusa Veainu 13 Peter Betham 12 Manu Tuilagi 11 Vereniki Goneva 10 Freddie Burns 9 Ben Youngs 1 Marcos Ayerza 2 Harry Thacker 3 Dan Cole 4 Dom Barrow 5 Graham Kitchener 6 Michael Fitzgerald 7 Lachlan McCaffrey 8 Opéti Fonua Replacements: 16 Greg Bateman 17 Logovi’i Mulipola 18 Fraser Balmain 19 Ed Slater 20 Tom Croft 21 Sam Harrison 22 Owen Williams 23 Adam Thompstone
Racing 92: 15 Brice Dulin 14 Joe Rokocoko 13 Johannes Goosen 12 Alexandre Dumoulin 11 Juan Imhoff 10 Dan Carter 9 Maxime Machenaud 1 Eddy Ben Arous 2 Virgile Lacombe 3 Ben Tameifuna 4 Luke Charteris 5 Francois van der Merwe 6 Wenceslas Lauret 7 Bernard Le Roux 8 Chris Masoe Replacements: 16 Camille Chat 17 Khatchik Vartanov 18 Luc Ducalcon 19 Manuel Carizza 20 Antonie Claassen 21 Mike Phillips 22 Remi Tales 23 Louis Dupichot
Champions Cup Schedule
Saturday 23rd April - Saracens v Wasps KO 3pm
Sky Sports 1 Coverage from 2.55pm
Sky Sports 1 Coverage from 2.55pm
Sunday 24th April - Leicester Tigers v Racing 92 KO 3.15pm
BT Sport Europe Coverage 2.30pm
