European Champions Cup - Emotional Exit for Saracens

It was a gladiatorial contest with a mercenary ending for Mark McCall’s Saracens in their European Semi Final. Saracens rode the waves of emotion, they successfully silenced the forty thousands plus fanatical French fans and yet they fell short as one moment and one lapse of concentration cost them and Les Jaunards now edge ever closer to their greatest desire, the European Champions Cup. 

Clermont had fired the warning signs during their Quarter Final against the Northampton Saints, they ran the ball like a dream and attacked with joyful abandon, it was sensational and fired a huge warning sign to every side left in the competition. Yesterday, they fired another, as they showed that they can also do it the hard way, they were made to play a tighter game, dare I say it a more unfamiliar game, and yet they flourished. The most successful teams have the ability to pluck out whichever game plan is required, those with one singular strategy are found out and yesterday Clermont showed their hand beautifully. 

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The decisive try was so wonderfully executed that it looked as if it was in slow motion, Brock James’ chip over was delightfully weighted, a product of his years of experience and the man on the end of it, Wesley Fofana. Should Fofana choose to play in the manner that he does for Clermont in the blue of France then we should all take note, for when he turns it on, he’s some player and I believe even saying that is an understatement. 

What will have turned Toulon & Leinster heads was the fact that Clermont then weathered a thirty six minute storm from Saracens for Fofana’s try was just four minutes in the second half. Undeniably it was the most important time to score in order to wrestle the game back following their half time deficit however if you subscribe to the theory that it takes just 20 seconds to score a try, the match was far from finished. Desire and level heads were shown across the park, the nagging feeling of ‘we could really do this’ didn’t push any man to do anything nonsensical, instead it carried them through sensibly and delivered their end goal. 

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So what about Saracens, I hear you say? What of their performance? Personally I believe that the positivity of Mark McCall post match says it all, of course he was upset and in his changing room hearts were broken, that is not an exaggeration, that it is a fact. The words ‘this will make us stronger’ and ‘this won’t deter us going forwards’ are not smoke and mirrors, Saracens know that they were up against the best in Europe, a team that is in their groove and feeling that it is their time and yet they forced them to play out of their comfort zone. The result will hurt, the margin of defeat and the manner of defeat will hurt... they should have fired a few more shots of their own, they shouldn't have switched off to allow James' chip however ultimately what is done is done, it cannot be changed by dwelling on it. Instead I expect the result to ignite their Aviva Premiership desires and the Northampton Saints should be prepared to be on the receiving end of a reaction at the Stadium mK. 

Mark McCall's squad kept clarity of thought and precision in the face of the most intense and intimidating atmosphere that they will experience this season. The mental strength to counter the forty thousand fanatical fans is something that no other Aviva Premiership side has done, even Bath's trip to Toulouse looked like a walk in the park in comparison and their ability to process and counter this  will provide their platform for anything that this domestic season will now throw at them. Individual performances must be noted;  Richard Wiggelsworth continued to kick like a dream, Billy Vunipola never had less than two men on him and yet he made meters and of course the rare gemstone that is Maro Itoje sparkled. Itoje defies his years, he soars over every hurdle that is put in his way and on the European stage he looked completely and utterly at home.

It was a European Semi Final between two teams that knew each other extremely well and it was a cagey and nervous affair, the pressure of what was on the line ultimately showed however to say that it wasn't a thrilling and compelling game of rugby would be crazy! Saracens benefitted from a early piece of luck with what can only be described as a TMO clanger, they kept their heads and weathered the storm of the ‘neutral’ venue, however it wasn’t enough. Today I expect Toulon to progress in Marseille and for the stage  be set for the fifth all French Final of the European competition. Should that prediction come true it will be one hell of a Final for right now it will take something truly exceptional to deny Clermont the title that they believe that they are ready for. 

European Champions Cup - Spotlight On Saracens

'They are a very good side’ those were the words that Saracens’ Director of Rugby Mark McCall used to described ASM Clermont Auvergne when asked about them in the immediate aftermath of his squad's victory over the Leicester Tigers in the domestic competition last weekend. Now, for those of you that are thinking well that is a slight understatement, do allow me to contextualise them slightly; Mark McCall is a calm man, he does not deal in elaborate statements instead he takes everything in his stride. The fact that Clermont bulldozed past the Northampton Saints and played some of the best rugby that we have seen in Europe this year will not have passed him by however we all know that sport is about facing your challenges head on and never, ever showing your opposition any hint of trepidation. 

This week I took the time to re-visit the Quarter Final that will forever more be known as 'that Quarter Final' in the way in which Saracens' victory over Clermont last year is known as 'that Semi Final'. Let me assure you, or confirm your own thinking, that on second viewing Clermont's performance was just as, if not more, impressive than the first time around. Clermont’s attacking proficiency and collective physicality was astounding, they rode the Saints’ tackles like they were nothing more than a tiny inconvenience and strangled Saints in all areas of the game. To use one of the most aspired to and well know sporting phrases, Clermont were totally and utterly ‘in the zone’ and the greatest unknown is whether or not they will be able to take themselves back to that place, or a place close to that, again this weekend? 

A brief glance at a map book, or the modern day equivalent, Google Maps, will tell you that Saint Etienne is just eighty seven miles from the Stade Marcel Michelin. Most certainly the ‘intimidation factor’ of Clermont's formidable fortress will be diminished slightly by this shift in venue, however given that the drive from to Saint Etienne takes a little over an hour it won't be wholly diminished due to the 'neutral' venue. Saracens' travelling support will be out numbered and you expect out voiced by Clermont's fanatical fans. Will this worry Mark McCall's men, I doubt it, for Saracens are not a side that are phased by travelling away from home or their surroundings, in all honesty should thrive on the drive and ambition of silencing the crowd early. Clermont's the intoxicating combination of power and pace should be back and their sole focus will be to do quite the opposite and instead whip the French support into a frenzy of emotiona and animation. Nick Abendanon will cause chaos, positive chaos and Jonathan Davies this week articulated the clear direction that his side will take, that is to 'negate the errors in our game, play in the right areas, build a lead and force Saracens to play a bit.' 

Defensive solidity
 will be vital

It is unfair to say that Saracens do like to play rugby, they may not play with such fluidity in attack as the masters of going forwards Bath, however they do know how to put together constructive rugby. Our Aviva Premiership side continue to build, week on week, they are benefiting from their fruits of their very hard labour however this weekend they must take it to the next level, a level higher than we have seen to date. Mark McCall has experience and dynamite across the park, Billy Vunipola's inclusion is right and it is hoped that the distraction that was his 'citing' earlier in the week hasn't de-railed his preparations. Understanding Billy as a character, I doubt that it will have done and his personal performance will be at the heart of Saracens' prowess and indeed confidence. The impenetrable defensive display that was highlighted in the second forty minutes against the Leicester Tigers last weekend must be replicated and built upon for in Nalanga, Nakaitaci, Fofana and Abendanon they will have players of a much more unpredictable and dynamic nature heading their way. Cool heads are a must, cards cannot form part of the equation for any period with fourteen men at this stage in the competition may as well signal game over at that moment in time. 

By far this will undoubtedly be Saracens’ greatest test of the season, greater than any Aviva Premiership game to date and greater than any of their European tests, greater than their opener against Clermont in Round 1 and greater two weeks ago in Paris. Why I hear you ask? Well, it comes down to the fact that this weekend one of these two sides will go home and one of these two sides will have to wait another twelve more months to be in a position of claiming the title that they both long for so very dearly. The burning desire for this title drives both sides, Saracens’ hurt following last year’s Final runs deeper than they will openly admit to any of us and Clermont’s latent and pent up frustration at their lack of silverware over the past decade fuels their every move. On Saturday afternoon the immovable object will meet the impenetrable force and over the course of eighty minutes one must give away to the other, the question is which?

A Double, Bonus Points & More - Aviva Premiership Round 19 Review

Round 19 was a captivating round of Aviva Premiership action as across the country we witnessed some tremendous rugby and some superb individual and team performances. The ensuing results have shifted proceedings slightly in the table however it still remains tightly packed with just three rounds to go until the 2014/15 playoffs.

On Friday Night Bath Rugby headed to Kingston Park after a tough European loss to face a Newcastle Falcons side that had endured the same fate. The Falcons’ desire was to ‘do what we want to do and see how they cope with it’ and Dean Richards’ side weren’t really allowed to fulfil that desire due to the prowess of Bath’s defence. In the set piece the Falcons were strong and did ask questions of Bath however it was the collective prowess of Mike Ford’s side with the ball in hand that punched holes in the home side’s defence. Ollie Devoto picked up Man of the Match as we saw him in his natural habitat at Centre and his partnership with Ford looked accomplished. Sam Burgess looked the most comfortable that he has done on a Rugby Union pitch in the back row and all in all it was a successful day at the office for Ford’s side. 

On Saturday afternoon it was third versus fourth at Allianz Park as Saracens hosted the Leicester Tigers. Both sides knew that a victory was imperative to keep their eyes on the playoff/second home Semi Final prize and initially it looked as if the Tigers were going to spoil Saracens’ winning streak and confidence as they enjoyed much of the possession and opened the scoring with two Freddie Burns penalties. However Saracens felt their way into the game and it was the yellow card shown to Tom Youngs on 37 minutes for taking out Chris Ashton off the ball that helped to swing the momentum in the home sides’ favour. Saracens' fourteen points during the time with an extra man and their three tries in 9 minutes sealed the game. For the final quarter Leicester enjoyed all of the possession however they did not gain a single point from their efforts for their attack simply wasn't proficient enough to penetrate the wall that was Saracens' defence and the match finished Saracens 22 Leicester Tigers 6. 

Adidas capture the backs mid game
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In South West London both Harlequins and Gloucester Rugby took their fans on an emotional roller coaster at The Stoop. Harlequins had only won one of their last seven first team matches and it took every ounce of physical and mental strength to secure their second. Gloucester enjoyed dominance at scrum time with Nick Wood, in particular, giving Matt Shields a very tough time of it. Individuals on both sides stepped up to the mark, having moved into the centres Asaeli Tikoirotuma proved effective and purposeful and Marland Yarde had his best game for a while. For the visitors James Hook played with confidence, the aforementioned pack were strong and Charlie Sharples enjoyed the fast track. Gloucester Rugby’s post match report on their website is titled ‘Gloucester cruelly and controversially denied at the Stoop’ and it clearly highlights their discontentment at the two yellow cards shown to Moriaty and Sharples that resulted in them conceding two late tries. Dan Robson did cross for the final score of the day however the home side held on for a memorable and important victory. 

On a Sunday afternoon in Devon the Exeter Chiefs became the first side to do the double over Jim Mallinder's men this season as they beat the Northampton Saints by 21-10. Phil Dollman's opening try was a sublime finish and it set the tone as Rob Baxter's side put their home advantage and sky rocketing confidence to good use. At the break it was fairly even however the Saints uncharacteristically failed to finish their chances throughout and when consecutive yellow cards reduced them to 13 men the Chiefs capitalised. One penalty, one penalty try and a conversion was the result and it gave the home side the platform they needed. Dave Ewers was industrious in the back row and turned heads as did the Chiefs' young twenty two year old tighthead prop Tomas Francis. Francis was a fundamental part of Exeter's strength at the set piece and it was their forwards that provided the platform for the victory. Saints' final try was a product of hard graft however provided little consolation as they head into European beak thinking of missed opportunities and looking the re-find their form. 

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East of Sandy Park, Wasps headed to London Welsh with only one thing on their mind, 5 points. Dai Young stated before the game that if his side didn't achieve that goal then they wouldn't be worthy of a Top 6 finish and thankfully for all concerned  in black and gold they put 40 points past London Welsh and scored 6 tries. Tom Varndell showed Bristol what they would be gaining next season with his hat-trick however in spite of the scoreline it wasn't all plain sailing for the visitors. London Welsh continued to deliver positives for their new coaching staff, Chris Elder marked his first Premiership start with a try and Opeti Fonua's large frame finished off a period of admirable Welsh play in the mid section of the game with a score of his own. Ultimately though Wasps' superiority reigned firm and their focus will switch straight away to preparing to host the Exeter Chiefs at the Ricoh Arena in two weeks time... what a game that will be. 

In the final game of the weekend London Irish and the Sale Sharks locked heads in a compelling battle that enthralled neutrals everywhere and gave fans of either side a whirlwind journey throughout the eighty minutes. Initially it looked as if Sale were going to dominant as Tom Arscott went over after just three minutes for his first try of the game and enjoyed much of the opening possession. Similar to the game at Allianz Park the turning point arrived just before half time; following an unsuccessful Chris Noakes penalty attempt Sale's Full Back Mike Haley fumbled Danny Cipriani's pass and Andrew Fenby capitalised with a try. It was the moment that gave Irish the lead and the belief heading in the second half however they didn't make things easy for themselves. In all the Madjeski  Stadium witnessed four yellow cards and six tries, Steve Diamond wasn't best pleased with the officiating however his side's away form will displease him more as they have only won one match away from home since November. 

Nineteen To The Dozen - Aviva Premiership Round 19 Preview

As we head into Round 19 of the Aviva Premiership there are just four full rounds of action remaining and only three tiny points are separating second and fifth position. Following, an intensive weekend of European action staying emotionally fresh for this domestic round will be critical for as we all know there isn’t any room for error, points mean prizes and this year, more than ever, every single point is vital.

Round 19 commences at Kingston Park where Dean Ryan’s Newcastle Falcons host Mike Ford’s Bath Rugby. Both sides tasted defeat on their European travels last weekend and both will be eager to rectify proceedings back in the domestic competition. Throughout the season the Falcons have built well, they now play expansive rugby mixed with purposeful physicality however they still lack that killer instinct to finish off teams and secure vital victories. Bath have made eight changes to face the Falcons and ones that include Sam Burgess gaining his first Premiership run out at blindside. Elsewhere Mike Ford has rotated his front row and Ollie Devoto takes Burgess  place in the centres. The Falcons start Simon Hammersley at Full Back and Rory Clegg takes the place of Tom Catterick in the middle. It will be an intriguing fixture on all counts and the manner in which Bath finished their Champions Cup Quarter Final will shout ominously to the Falcons for Ford’s side showed how impressive their ‘all court’ game can be when the execute it cleanly. 


The first game on Saturday afternoon will be played at The Stoop where Harlequins will host Gloucester Rugby. After a tough experience at the hands of Saracens in Round 18 Harlequins will have valued their extra time off and must run out at home with the objective of reminding their fans how well they can play rugby. This will not be an easy task for Conor O’Shea’s side due to the fact that their confidence is as low as their front row resources and they haven’t yet won successive home games this Premiership season. It will be interesting to see David Humphreys’ selection decisions for with their impending Challenge Cup Semi Final on the horizon will he decide to rest some of his key men and keep them fresh for the knockout fixture? Regardless the onus will be on both sides to execute their game plans cleanly and with precision and to keep errors at a minimum for when they do entertaining rugby is the output.

The second Saturday fixture is in North London where Saracens host the Leicester Tigers in what will be a intriguing and potentially season defining match up. Leicester have weathered some tough storms already this season, they have won their last five Premiership matches in a row and turning over a side on a high following a breathtaking Champions Cup performance would send a huge message out to the rest of the table. Mark McCall’s men are building, last year they adopted the lead from the front approach this year they are developing round on round and I don’t see any signs of this ceasing.  All of the usual areas will be critical in this game, two experienced front rows will go toe to toe, both sets of half backs have been flourishing and what a breakdown it will be with Wray, Salvi and co doing battle. This should be a classic match between two intensely physical and ambitious sides. 

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At Sandy Park the Exeter Chiefs host the Northampton Saints in what is an extremely important fixture for both sides. The contrast in their European trips couldn’t have been more stark; Exeter romped to victory against the Newcastle Falcons, they were physical, clinical and scored five tries in the process whereas the Saints were humbled and hurt in France. The question is how much of an emotional toll will that loss to Clermont Auvergne have on Jim Mallinder’s men? The best outcome is that they’ll have slept on the result and woken up on Sunday morning and been pumped to the hills to show that it was a one off nightmare. It is for this reason that Rob Baxter should be preparing for an onslaught, whether or not his side will be presented with one only time will tell. The Chiefs have only lost once at home in all competitions since September so the Sandy Park factor will play it’s role in what will be a crucial Round 19 contest. 

In Oxford London Welsh have their second to last Aviva Premiership home game of the season as they welcome Wasps Rugby to town. Wasps turned more than a few heads last weekend in the South of France as they pushed Toulon hard and whilst the challenge of London Welsh will be vastly different however they must attack the fixture with the same purpose. As always the home side will put their all into the game, there is no questioning the fact that I expect Wasps to gain five vital points from the fixture however I hope London Welsh continue to make inroads into their performances objectives.

The final of the Sunday offerings will be held at the Madjeski Stadium where London Irish welcome the Sale Sharks to town. The Sharks remain in touch of that precious sixth position in the table which would unlock to the door to another season of European action and with their closest points rivals Wasps heading to the Kassam Stadium a win on the road is vital. London Irish finished their Challenge Cup Quarter Final dejected after a valiant fight back from sixteen nil down and an inconclusive final grounding. Interim Head Coach Glenn Delaney will be focused on ensuring that his final games in charge set a positive platform going into their new regime however Sale are a tough cookie to crack, home or away. 

European Champions Cup - Aviva Premiership Spotlight

When it was confirmed that every single one of our Aviva Premiership teams were going to be away from home for their Champions Cup Quarter Final fixtures the history books highlighted just how tough it would be. Since the competition’s conception only eighteen of the seventy two tournament Quarter Finals have been won by the away sides, therefore the gauntlet was set for Bath, the Northampton Saints, Saracens and Wasps Rugby, the question was would any of our Aviva Premiership sides prevail? 

The first game of the weekend was in Dublin where Bath Rugby faced the three times European Champions Leinster. Bath's game plan was clear, tempo was to be the name of the game and they were going to attack, with force, from everywhere. In the opening forty penalties and individual errors hampered the Premiership side from gaining the fluidity they desired and the radar of Ian Madigan hurt them as he slotted five penalties with ease. However Bath turned the game on its head in the second as they executed with much greater precision, George Ford was mesmeric, his prowess led their fightback from 5 - 15 down to 15 -18. Bath continued to surge towards the try line with seconds on the clock however the whistle of Jérôme Garcès ended the fixture as he penalised Matt Garvey at the breakdown. It was a large and game ending decision for you sensed that had the penalty gone the other way and Bath forced the game into extra time they would have won such was their momentum. 

Approximately 900 miles South of Dublin ASM Clermont Auvergne welcomed the Northampton Saints to the Stade Marcelin Michelin and delivered the performance of the weekend. Clermont were utterly ruthless in their demolition of the Aviva Premiership side and they hardly stopped for breath as they ravaged the Northampton Saints. Clermont’s charge was led by their all around superior physicality, interestingly I read that prior to the game every single Clermont player had to deliver a presentation to the coaches on their role such was their focus to deliver a perfect performance. Jim Mallinder's side were shocked, their set piece was brutally dismantled and to compound the hurt Courtney Lawes and Alex Corbisiero both picked up injuries, the severity of which are yet to be confirmed. Clermont have been knocked out too many times before, they are the best side never to have won the competition and the power of their hurt fuelled their a charge. Abendanon, Nakaitaci, Fofana and Nalanga sparkled, Brock James highlighted his experience and up front their collective power was astounding. Alex Waller’s 67th minute try proved to be little consolation and bouncing back as quickly as humanly possible will be the Saints' sole focus. It was as tougher weekend as any of them will have experienced in their professional careers. 

The Champions Cup Sunday Service kicked off in Paris where Racing Metro 92 hosted Saracens. From the opening exchanges it was clear that this fixture was going to be an arm wrestle between two sides that appeared well versed in the other's game plan. Racing must have wondered how Saracens went into half time a point ahead, 6-5, for the home side had the greater of the points scoring opportunities in the opening half. Racing’s hunger for the fixture was epitomised by the ground that Brice Dulin covered during his time on the field. Alongside Dulin, Maxime Machenaud was inspired and was the classic little French General as he bossed his forwards around, distributed with proficiency and sniped away. The momentum swung in Saracens’ favour around the 60 minute mark however they couldn’t pull away and make that shift manifest itself on the score board. As the teams wrestled it looked as if Mark McCall’s side were going to taste defeat, however a single Macelo Bosch penalty from 45m out rewarded their hard labour and sent them soaring through to the Semi Finals. 

The final European offering was at the beautiful Stade Felix Mayol as Wasps entered the lair of the reigning Champions, RCT Toulon. It was the toughest of draws for the Premiership side that made the knockouts the hard way due to defeats in their opening two rounds however Dai Young’s side arrived determined to put their game on the park. Toulon didn’t have things all their own way, they were made to work for their victory and work harder than I believe that they thought that would have had to. Elliot Daly constantly threatened, Joe Simpson highlighted again why he should be part of England’s set up and collectively Wasps faced into the might of the Champions. Toulon’s depth and supreme rugby knowledge showed, Frederic Michalak slotted twenty of his side’s thirty two points and they delivered the result in spite of not being at full strength or in fifth gear. Ali Williams’ pull back on Elliot Daly was clear and obvious however the fact he avoided a yellow and went on to score the decisive try minutes later will hurt Young's men for a long time. Wasps’ performance turned heads, now in the aftermath of such a performance they are being wholeheartedly praised from all areas of Europe and rightly so. Dai Young's men must return to the Aviva Premiership with a spring in their step and focus on achieving a place in next year's European Competition. 

The View from the AVIVA

‘We should have won that game’, those were the words of Mike Ford following Bath’s fifteen points to eighteen defeat at the hands of Leinster Rugby and he is absolutely right. Bath travelled to Leinster with a spring in their step as they welcomed back their strike men from International duty and they delivered a stunning comeback but their own first half errors ultimately cost them an EPC Champions Cup Semi Final place. 

The match set off at breakneck pace and never ceased from the first exchange to the very last it was spellbinding, fearsome and a sight to behold. For neutrals everywhere the knockout delivered in every facet, both sides’ intention to play was marked and impressive however for those with loyal allegiance  either way blood pressures would have sky rocketed as their nerves were severely tested. 

Bath’s game plan going into this fixture wasn’t a secret, they had a desire to play at pace and went in with a firm attacking mindset. However, in the opening half their endeavour was interspersed heavily with individual errors and scrum time misfortunes, these halted their output and resulted in penalties against the Premiership men. Ian Madigan delivered a superb kicking display as he slotted five of his six penalties in the opening forty and as such Bath’s headed into the changing room ten points down and behind their opponents on all of the key facets. 

Mike Ford’s messages at half time were clear, as he shared with me after the game, the direction for his side was to find their composure, to improve their discipline and ultimately to stick to their game plan. As the second half roared into life it was clear the messages have been received and eighteen minutes Captain Stuart Hooper scored their second try of the game. The break that created the try was George Ford’s second moment of magic, his textbook show and go in the first half drew gasps from spectators in the crowd and this second half break was just as impressive and critical to keep them in touch. It must be said that Bath’s fly half showed his full repertoire under intense pressure at the Aviva Stadium, all game long Devin Toner hit him with brute force and pressed every single kick, and yet the twenty two year old coolly and expertly gained the territory that his side required and made World Class, eyes up rugby look effortless.   

As the half continued Bath pressed from all areas of the field, Anthony Watson caused Leinster difficulties as he enjoyed the extra space provided to him, however two key knockons from Agulla out wide prevented his breaks resulting in points. Peter Stringer entered the fray after sixty six minutes to a heartwarming ovation from the Aviva Stadium, the thirty seven year old added a steely and experienced head when it was needed most and in the final quarter of the game upping the tempo and distributed cleanly out to Ford. It is fair to say that the scrum remained a challenge, however I impressed by the manner in which both Max Lahiff and Nick Auterac delivered off the bench. 

With the final whistle approaching Alafoti Faosiliva's charge down almost gave Bath the score that they’d been searching so intently for however he was beaten to the grounding by Jimmy Gopperth. Bath pressed and as the time went passed 80 minutes the scoreboard illuminated Leinster Rugby 18 Bath Rugby 15, however with the possession in their hands Bath had one last chance to take the game. After positively charging up the field the ensuing breakdown was penalised by Jerome Garces, Matt Garvey was the unfortunate recipient of Gaces’ final judgement. It was a harsh call on the Bath man, after delivering such an impressive turnaround and comeback into the match it was a merciless ending to the game for our Premiership side. 

European Champions Cup - Spotlight On Saracens

The earlier offering on Easter Sunday comes to us from Paris as Saracens take on the might of Racing Metro at the Stade Yves-du-Manoir. It is the first time that Racing have progressed forwards from the group stages of to the European knockouts and they have looked mightily impressive in the process of doing so. By comparison, Saracens are veterans of the Quarter Finals as this is the third consecutive year that they have reached the knockout stages of Europe.

Saracens have a strong record against their opponents having won three of their four meetings together however Racing are the only side to remain unbeaten in the competition and their performances against the Northampton Saints in particular show exactly what they are capable of when their put their minds to it. This match will deliver a physical contest up front and a test of both side’s defensive prowess for across the two back lines there are exuberant and enigmatic individuals. 

A man that has contributed greatly to Racing’s campaign so far is Juan Imhoff and that is showcased in his tournament statistics to date; Imhoff has made thirteen clean breaks, three hundred and forty two meters and has scored five tries in five matches. It goes without saying that the winger will be itching to add to this total  in this significant fixture. Elsewhere Racing’d back line houses men whose talents we know all about from their time in their International jerseys; Brice Dulin, Teddy Thomas and the imperious Jamie Roberts, in short Racing’s backline is as strong as I’ve seen it. The unit that is Eddy Ben Arous forms part of a physically imposing front three with Dimitri Szarzewski and Luc Ducalcon and their loggerhead with Mako Vunipola, Jamie George and Petrus Du Plessis will be tasty to say the very least. Thankfully for the players and indeed us all at home the man in the middle is referee Nigel Owens and that means that at scrum time and indeed across the park the officiating will be World Class and will allow a positive game to flow.

Saracens enter the game without their Captain Al Hargraves who has a x injury… his starting shirt is taken by Jim Hamilton and the Captaincy has been handed to Richard Wigglesworth. Mark McCall’s side must handle one of the most proficient kicking games that you’ll see currently in World Rugby from Jonathan Sexton and having faced him on International duty Alex Goode knows only too well what will becoming his way at Full Back. Saracens’ two fliers David Strettle and Chris Ashton are both performing near their very best at the moment, the task will be to provide clean ball out to them and then let the two men do the rest.

This game should provide us with some expansive rugby and will be played at a Test match intensity. Both sides have ample pressure heaped on their shoulders; Racing must show just worth of the financial input that has been invested in them on the largest stage that the Northern Hemisphere has to offer whilst whilst for Saracens that have a score to settle with this competition and they can only do so if they progress right through to the very end. Over the past few weeks our Aviva Premiership side have been ramping up their performance levels nicely and they’ll need to take it to another level again this weekend in order to come away with a famous victory from the Stade Yves-du-Manoir. 

European Champions Cup - Spotlight On Wasps

The Easter Sunday afternoon offering is in the South of France where Toulon host Dai Young’s Wasps. Our Aviva Premiership side secured qualification after a nail biting wait following their twenty all draw with Leinster in the Final round and their place was thanks to Montpellier’s shock victory in Toulouse.

Wasps’ progression this season has been marked however this weekend poses a tremendous European challenge and key injuries have compounded that task. Alongside Nathan Hughes exclusion whilst he awaits his disciplinary appeal, Wasps' two starting wingers Christian Wade and Salosi Tagicakibau are sidelined with hamstring injuries. Tagicakibau is a difficult customer to play against, sides find him difficult tackle and he adds defensive security out wide whilst Christian's unique feet and ability to create something from absolutely nothing will be sorely missed.

From the opening round of this competition Toulon have oozed confidence, it is the type of confidence that comes with having won the Title for two years in a row and are looking as sharp as they did during the course of those successful campaigns. Bernard Laporte’s side are hungrier than ever, for the prize of a place in the history books is their 2015 motivation as no side has ever won the European competition for three years in succession. Toulouse have won four European titles but not in a row and both Leinster and Leicester have done the double but a treble is unchartered waters. 

The fitness of Matt Giteau, who takes his place on the bench, is a tremendous boost to an already firing side. Giteau is a naturally gifted rugby player and even if he is a little rusty  he will still add great value to the game. Toulon's missing personnel are influential ones too in particular Bryan Habana and Leigh Halfpenny, however their replacements highlight the depth in Laporte's squad as  Delon Armitage and Drew Mitchell step into the shirts respectively. 

Wasps must arrive in the South of France, cool, calm and collected in spite of their injuries and play with a positive freedom, for frankly speaking they are not expected to gain a victory against the odds on favourites to be Champions. My personal hope is that they put in a performance that is fitting of the occasion and one that does themselves justice. After showing the rest of the Aviva Premiership his colours Alex Lozowski starts at 10 with Andy Goode on the bench, this will be a huge test for Lozowski however I'm backing him to front up exactly like Henry Slade did against Jonny Wilkinson. James Haskell’s leadership and impact on the game will be vital, his head to head with Steffon Armitage will be the talk of the fixture and alongside Ashley Johnson and Guy Thompson they must deliver at the breakdown against the European force that is Steffon Armitage. Armitage has 15 European turnovers to his name already and more carries than any man in either side, it goes without saying nullifying him and his impact on proceedings is a very large priority. 

Toulon will be confident and rightly so for their squad screams class; Botha, Hayman, Williams, Fernandez Lobbe and they are running on home soil. Our Aviva Premiership side must deliver to the top of their game from the first moment until the last and see where it takes them, there is no room for error in the South of France and they must be fearless against the most intimidating opponents in the competition. 

European Champions Cup - Spotlight On Northampton Saints

The second game of the weekend is at the Stade Marcél-Michelin where the Northampton Saints have the task of taking on ASM Clermont Auvergne in their own back yard. Les Jaunards’ home record is second to none in the context of World Rugby, let alone in the European competition and the atmosphere that the Saints’ will be greeted with will be unlike anything that they have met this season.  

Jim Mallinder’s men are sitting pretty at the top of the Aviva Premiership with a healthy ten point cushion and their squad houses tremendous talent and depth although they do have a few injuries to contend with that take out key men from across the park.  George North is  out of action due to his concussion rest period, his presence will be sorely missed as he was the top points and try scorer across both sides. Clermont aren't without their own causalities to contend with as Morgan Parra and Camille Lopez are both unavailable for the weekend’s all important Quarter Final clash.

The Saints have scored more tries than any other side in the competition with twenty five however on the whole their European form hasn’t been as positive as their Premiership form and this is something they’ll want to rectify with immediate effect on Saturday afternoon. Saints must turn up the heat from the start; they must impose themselves in the first twenty minutes through the winning trio of bruising physicality in defence and at the breakdown, set piece dominance and early scores. Should they achieve all three then that will go a long way towards nullifying the crowd at the Stade Marcél-Michelin, and in that fortress a more peaceful crowd is half the battle. Dylan Hartley has a hugely important role to play on Saturday, both positionally in the set piece and as Captain marshalling his troops and setting the tone with a cool head. From one to fifteen Mallinder’s men must impose themselves and ensure Clermont cannot penetrate the gain line, defence will be king and it will be up to the colossal specimens of Lawes, Manoa, Clark and Wood to lead this. In the middle Stephen Myler’s ability to orchestrate his side into the right areas of the field with efficiency will be critical alongside a high percentage off the tee. 

For the home side their English export Nick Abendanon is a game changer, he is a man that rarely has a bad game and his statistics to date in their European campaign illustrate this; Nick has made 74 carries, beaten 23 defenders and made more meters than any man on either side, 571. Noa Nakaitaci illustrated to us all in England’s game against France how dangerous he can be and Napolioni Nalaga on the other wing adds brilliant to the side’s line breaking ability. Clermont have overtly stated that this Champions Cup  be all and end all in their minds is this year’s Champions Cup, it is higher in the pecking order than the Top 14 and the fact that every single player had to present their role to the coaches this week highlighted how meticulous their planning has been.

Clermont have a weight of expectation on their shoulders whilst the Northampton Saints have the gruelling task of travelling to one of the most intimating stadiums in the Northern Hemisphere. I expect Saints to push Clermont hard, at the set piece, around the park and especially at the breakdown, however the overarching question is will their efforts before enough to topple Fortress Stade Marcél-Michelin?

European Champions Cup - Spotlight On Bath Rugby

The European Champions Cup is the pinnacle of the domestic game in the Northern Hemisphere and now after the gruelling group stages, just eight teams remain with four English sides, three French sides and a solitary Irish province left in the competition. History informs us that home is where the heart when it comes to successful knockout European rugby, of the seventy two European quarter finals only eighteen have been won by the away sides, a mere twenty five per cent. That statistic speaks volumes and in 2015 all four of our Aviva Premiership side’s must travel away to notorious rugby strongholds; the Aviva Stadium, the Stade Marcél-Michelin, the Stade Yves-Du-Manoir and of course Toulon’s Stade Félix Mayol.

The Out On The Full focus is on the opening game of the weekend that will be played in Dublin between Bath Rugby and Leinster, in front of an expected crowd of 45,000 plus. Leinster are highly experienced at handling the pressure of knockout European Rugby, their record speaks for itself having won six of the ten Quarter Final fixtures that they have been involved in and importantly four of their last five. Drilling down to the head to head matches against Bath Rugby Matt O’Connor’s side also have the advantage having won five of their six meetings however I, like many others believe that Bath Rugby are the Aviva Premiership side with the greatest chance of progressing through to the Semi Finals. 

Bath's winning selfie in Toulouse
@DomDay7

The fortunate scheduling of the Aviva Premiership meant that Mike Ford was able to give his key talisman ample rest following the RBS 6 Nations, a luxury that not every side had and one that will mean the linchpins of the side are flying come Saturday afternoon. In Europe, Bath, like Wasps, qualified having lost their first two group games and their defining victory was away at Toulouse in January. In my eyes that game was ample preparation for what lies ahead this weekend, Bath flew to France and stamped all over the intimating atmosphere and history of Toulouse. Ford’s men coolly nullified the French giants with their intensity up front and dynamism in the back and I expect them to perform to the same level on Saturday afternoon.

As England’s RBS 6 Nations game a few weeks ago highlighted the breakdown will be a vital area that Bath must gain superiority of and they must do so from the outset. Leinster’s proficiency at ruck time is renowned with Messers Heaslip & O’Brien leading the charge. Referee Jermone Garces is firm with the whistle and both sides must ensure they have an understanding of his limits from the outset to avoid being penalised more than necessary. Leinster are astute around the fringes, O’Conner’s men are wily operators when it comes to holding a man down slightly longer than necessary post tackle or taking a man slightly off the ball and that is something I’m sure Bath will have noted and be ready for. The pressure on Bath’s back row is high however with the experienced Francois Louw and the physicality of Leroy Houston I expect them to stand up and deliver.  

Out the back both sides love to play with ball in hand and show off their footballing abilities... to use the words of the Bath management, they are ‘two positive sides’. Interestingly when you look at the statistics there is little to choose between them in terms of number of tries scored per game, the number of clean breaks or the average number meters made however there is one vital difference and that is the percentage off the tee. Bath’s 84% success rate eclipses Leinster’s 74% and as we all know when it comes to knockout rugby a single penalty is all that it takes to secure victory. This week Leinster haven’t been shy in stating their intent to ‘target’ George Ford and shut him down as quickly as possible and in my view this is nothing new. Now, in 2015 I believe that every single side aims to shutdown Ford, whether they overtly state it or not for he is Bath’s playmaker and intrinsic to their game. This statement and intent will not change the visitor’s game plan in the slightest and should not intimidate Ford himself. Bath’s backs are some of the most effervescent, vibrant and naturally talented of the Aviva Premiership and it will be the spark of Jonathan Joseph, Kyle Eastmond and Anthony Watson in particular that form the heart of Bath’s charge.  Leinster house their own pearls; Kearney, McFadden, Fitzgerald and Madigan and when they hit their stride they’re as dangerous as they come and the prospect of these positive sides running at each other is delightful.

Leinster have the history, home advantage and a back catalogue of Quarter Final victories to draw upon however right now there is something exciting about Bath. Every single facet of the game will be contested to Test Match level and in front so many passionate fans there will be no place to hide. During the course of this season in particular our Aviva Premiership side have developed a steely edge and a winning mentality and if they put their game on the park, no holds barred they might just break Irish hearts.