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Sarà un ultimo atto inedito quello del Millenium Stadium
Saracens and Clermont have been knocking on the door of lifting European club rugby’s biggest prize in recent years and have met in the knock-out stages.
Both teams have lost to RC Toulon in the final, Clermont in 2013 and Saracens in Cardiff last May, and will be desperate to take that final step. This game could go a long way to laying the groundwork for that success.
Saracens, behind defending champions Toulon, have been the biggest improvers in Europe in recent years.
They reached the quarter-finals in 2012, semi-finals in 2013 and the final last season, only to fall-short against French opposition on all three occasions.
Saracens possess both power, in the likes of Billy and Mako Vunipola and British Lions centre Brad Barritt, as well as the finishing ability provided by England wings David Strettle and Chris Ashton, top try-scorer in last season’s tournament.
They are also in form, having lost just once so far this season and lying second in the Aviva Premiership, though embark on this campaign without retired captain Steve Borthwick.
New skipper Alistair Hargreaves said: “We were disappointed to lose the final last season but I’m sure those defeats are going to play a part in our thoughts this time around.
“This tournament is about being up for the big occasion. All the teams in this pool are always putting their hands up to win the tournament so every game will be huge.”
Clermont have reached the semi-finals for the past three years in a row and will be gunning for revenge following last season’s remarkable 46-6 defeat to Saracens that cost them a place in the final.
Fly-half Brock James said: “That was our last game in the European Cup so it’s good that it’s the first of this season. It’s was a difficult time and we learned from that so this time we will show our true colours.”
Jean-Marc Lhermet is now in sole charge after Vern Cotter left for the Scotland job and has continued Clermont’s domestic form, having taken top spot in the Top 14 with seven wins from their nine games.
James added: “It’s always exciting to ply in Europe. We know we only have six games to do something and every point will be crucial.”
Match Facts
- ASM Clermont Auvergne have won three of their four Heineken Cup games against Saracens.
- Saracens’ only victory over Clermont in the European Cup came in last season’s semi-final.
- Clermont on average spent more time in possession (19m 41s) per game than any other team in last season’s tournament.
- Saracens averaged the most points (31.8) and tries (4.2) per game of any team in last season’s Heineken Cup.
- Clermont’s record defeat in this competition was inflicted by Saracens in last season’s semi-final (6-46).
- The average margin of victory in the four games contested by these two sides is 21 points.
- Saracens’ Alex Goode (614) ranked first for metres gained in last season’s Heineken Cup.
- Billy Vunipola (110) was the only player to make over 100 carries in the Heineken Cup last year.
- Billy Vunipola beat 28 defenders in the Heineken Cup last season – no player beat more.
- Saracens’ Alex Goode and Clermont’s Wesley Fofana ranked third and fourth, respectively, for defenders beaten in the Heineken Cup last year.
Clermont est passé près de l'exploit à l'Allianz Park face au vice-champion d'Europe (23-30). Deux doublés des ailiers Strettle et Ashton ont privé les Auvergnats d'un succès à leur portée. Le bonus défensif glané à Londres est une maigre consolation. - 18/10/2014 17:46
Saracens prevailed in an almighty European Rugby Champions Cup arm-wrestle at Allianz Park with a 30-23 victory over Clermont Auvergne.
They were made to work a lot harder than their 46-6 Twickenham semi-final triumph last season, as Chris Ashton sealed a bonus-point Pool 1 win.
The England wing kicked off the try fest as both sides battled for supremacy. Zac Guildford snatched a levelling try before David Strettle raced in before the break.
The Anglo-French clash was locked at 10-10 at half-time before the match was set alight by the wingers. Guildford and Strettle traded scores before Ashton pounced to clinch their maiden Champions Cup triumph.
The hosts got off to a flying-start when last season’s top European try scorer Chris Ashton pounced to claim a try at the corner.
The man who scored 11 tries in last season’s competition got his first of the new campaign after Saracens’ outside backs were set in motion. Alex Goode released Strettle on the left wing before he fed Ashton inside, his pass was knocked to the ground but the England wing collected and crashed over.
Man-of-the-match Charlie Hodgson missed the conversion and he was made to pay five minutes later when former All Black Guildford squirmed over. Noa Nakaitaci showed electric pace to carve through the Sarries defence, he was brought down just short and Guildford was on hand to pick up and squeeze over for the score. Camille Lopez slotted the conversion from the touchline to give his side a 7-5 lead.
Petrus du Plessis was guilty of handling in the ruck five minutes later and Lopez knocked over his first penalty to extend Clermont’s lead.
The French side had their tails up in search of a second try before half-time, but Strettle had other ideas. Richard Wigglesworth injected pace with a cheeky quick tap, he gained 10 metres before feeding Strettle who dived under a covering tackle to level the scores at the break.
The game sprung into life after a Hodgson penalty was cancelled out by a Lopez drop-goal five minutes into the second period.
Guildford gave his side a seven-point advantage as he showed great athleticism to race onto Ludovic Radoslavjevic’s box-kick. He out-leaped Ashton and strolled over to claim his second converted try of the game.
But Strettle replied two minutes later to breathe new life into the Allianz Park crowd. He avoided a covering tap-tackle to finish in the corner once more.
Lopez hit his second penalty of the day before the pendulum swung back into Saracens’ favour. Hodgson hit an up and under into the swirling breeze, and when Guildford failed to claim it, Ashton was on hand to claim the decisive score.
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