Latest
Overview
Season so far
Tournament record
Alex Goode in EPCR Challenge Cup action for Saracens
It’s all to play for when Saracens travel to CA Brive in a Pool C Round 5 decider on Friday night for their first away EPCR Challenge Cup game in France since 2009.
Both teams are level on six points behind London Irish, who have already qualified, and second-placed Edinburgh Rugby, who have 10 points, with probably only one going through in front of the BT Sport and beIN SPORTS cameras.
Other key facts:
- Brive and Saracens have met twice before in the EPCR Challenge Cup, with both sides winning their home legs in the 2004/05 quarter finals. Brive progressed on that occasion with an aggregate score of 37-35.
- Brive have lost six of their last seven EPCR Challenge Cup games against Premiership opponents. However, only one of those six defeats came at home.
- Saracens have the best ruck success rate in the EPCR Challenge Cup this season (98%) and have completed a competition-high 72% of their rucks in under three seconds.
- CA Brive’s Joris Jurand has averaged 16 metres per carry in the EPCR Challenge Cup this season. Only Duhan van der Merwe (18.1) boasts a better average carry distance (min. 8 carries).
Saracens players celebrate after a score against Brive
Saracens claimed a 55-5 victory at CA Brive on Friday night, sealing their qualification for the EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16.
The three-time European champions ran in eight tries at Stade Amédée-Doménech as they earned a third-place finish in Pool C.
That inside pass 👀@elliotdaly spotting the offload to free @IvanVanZyl1 who scores under the posts for @Saracens ⚫🔴
Catch the game live on @btsportrugby 3 📺#ChallengeCupRugby pic.twitter.com/Wy5rHAEkkU
— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) April 8, 2022
Flanker Andy Christie was first over the whitewash for Saracens on 10 minutes, but Brive hit back shortly after through centre Setariki Tuicuvu.
The visitors wrestled control, however, scoring further first-half tries through prop Eroni Mawi and lock Nick Isiekwe, before scores from scrum-half Ivan van Zyl, flanker Ben Earl, wing Rotimi Segun, hooker Jamie George and wing Ben Harris wrapped up their victory after the break.
Saracens will discover their Round of 16 opponents tomorrow as the pool stage concludes, while Brive, who saw full-back Axel Muller sent off late on, exit the competition.
LIVE - TEST - Commentary