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All eyes will be focused on Stade Felix Mayol on Saturday as the winners of the last four European Rugby Champions Cups go head-to-head in a titanic Pool 3 clash. - 12/10/2016 13:04
All eyes will be focused on Stade Felix Mayol on Saturday as the winners of the last four European Rugby Champions Cups go head-to-head in a titanic Pool 3 clash.
RC Toulon’s reign of European dominance came to an end last season when Saracens lifted the Champions Cup for the first time. The Cote D’Azur club had won the competition in each of the three previous seasons, and are determined to reclaim their crown.
But that will be no easy task with Saracens flying high once again. Their 30-14 triumph over Wasps sent them back to the summit of the Premiership, which they added to their Champions Cup triumph last season.
Sarries director or rugby Mark McCall is also hoping to have England and British & Irish Lions outside half Owen Farrell back in harness for the big Champions Cup kick-off. He has missed all six league games to date with a back injury, but warmed-up with the team ahead of the Wasps match and, now that he is able to kick at goal once again, could come into the reckoning ahead of Alex Lozowski. And captain Brad Barritt cannot wait to drink-in the atmosphere in the south of France.
He said: “It promises to be an amazing atmosphere, as you get with every home Toulon game. They’re going to have a packed ground with a passionate fan-base and it’s something that we’ve really enjoyed over the last few seasons, going to these home fortresses and doing our best to go there and win.
“We know this season is a new chapter and we know that we have to work doubly hard to get anywhere near the achievements of last season. Our campaign in the Aviva Premiership has obviously started well but know that we have a huge opening fixture against Toulon which one that we’re really looking forward to.”
Toulon have rallied after a sluggish start to the season. They have beaten TOP14 leaders ASM Clermont Auvergne and Challenge Cup champions Montpellier at home in the last three weeks, before drawing with high-flying La Rochelle.
Former Bath Rugby head coach Mike Ford has linked up with the Toulon backs, and will be giving valuable insight ahead of the Pool 3 contest. Toulon have struggled with injuries in the early season but head coach Diego Dominguez wants to see his men rise to the occasion on Saturday.
He said: “The challenge is tough for players who will be able to gauge where we are at as a team as we prepare to face the champions. It will be interesting to see. The charm of this competition is that you can be in trouble in October and at the top in April. But our fans are going to push very hard to win this trophy.
“We have won the Champions Cup recently but we are in a new cycle. We can not rely on a team that is in place for several years. But the amalgam may be able to operate quickly to lead us to the end of the competition.”
Match facts
- This will be the third meeting between Saracens and Toulon in the tournament, both of which came in the knockout stage as Toulon emerged victorious in the 2012/13 semi-final and the 2013/14 final.
- Saracens have won their last five Champions Cup games against French opposition, each of those victories coming by more than 10 points, including last season’s final win over Racing 92.
- Saracens have won their last nine home games in the Champions Cup, their best run in the competition.
- Toulon have won four of their six games away against Premiership opposition in the Champions Cup, however they’ve lost two of their last three in England.
Saracens ended Toulon's proud unbeaten home record in the European Rugby Champions Cup as the defending champions opened their Pool 3 campaign with a 31-23 win at Stade Mayol. - 15/10/2016 17:20
Saracens ended Toulon’s proud unbeaten home record in the European Rugby Champions Cup as the defending champions opened their Pool 3 campaign with a 31-23 win at Stade Mayol.
The English champions had looked to be romping to victory when tries from Sean Maitland, Richard Wigglesworth and Chris Wyles – plus 10 points from Owen Farrell on his return from injury – gave Mark McCall’s men a 25-6 half-time lead.
But three-time winners Toulon roared back after the break with tries from Levan Chilachava and Bryan Habana, plus the reliable boot of Leigh Halfpenny.
However, Saracens kept their nerve and a late Farrell penalty put the seal on an historic victory and deny Toulon a losing bonus point.
Saracens could hardly have wished for a better start as they totally dominated the opening 40 minutes.
Farrell and Halfpenny exchanged penalties before the English side claimed the opening try through Maitland.
Strong forward carries laid the groundwork and the Scotland international finished brilliantly in the corner.
Farrell missed the conversion but he was soon lining up another shot at goal following another Saracens’ try. Richard Wigglesworth was the scorer, going under the posts after hooker Jamie George charged through a gaping hole in the Toulon defence.
Farrell added the conversion and then kicked a penalty after a strong carry from George Kruis once again had Toulon in retreat.
They did at least trim the gap through Halfpenny’s second penalty after Maro Itoje was penalised for a high tackle. But Saracens rammed home their ascendency with a third try before the break.
Mako Vunipola’s cute offload allowed Farrell and Marcelo Bosch to make yards, with Wyles finishing the flowing attack on the left and Farrell converting.
Halfpenny got the first points of the second half on the board but Farrell soon replied when Nonu saw red for a tip tackle on Brad Barritt.
But the numbers were soon evened up as Itoje infringed following an extended spell of Toulon pressure and the game suddenly swung in hosts favour.
Chilachava burrowed over from the next passage of play and Habana raced his way over at the end of a flowing attack, with Halfpenny adding both conversions to get his team within five points.
Saracens then lost Schalk Burger to the bin with eight minutes to go for slowing down ruck ball, but Farrell’s penalty got them over the line.
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