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Saracens and Munster have it all to play for when the two sides clash in the second leg of their double-header at Vicarage Road in Watford on Sunday. - 14/12/2012 09:59
Saracens may still have to qualify for the quarter-finals but their destiny is very much in their own hands when they face Edinburgh Rugby at Vicarage Road on Sunday.
The Londoners only need to record a victory over the Scots to ensure they qualify for the last eight of European rugby’s Premier tournament for the second successive season.
Fly-half Owen Farrell’s boot and 11 from 11 shots at goal made sure Saracens recorded an impressive 37-28 over French rugby’s big spenders Racing Metro in Nantes to put them in pole position in the Pool.
The English Premiership side will be confident they can beat Edinburgh and will fancy their chances of a getting the bonus point to help their chances of a home draw in the last eight.
Edinburgh, who reached the semi-finals of last season’s Heineken Cup, have endured a miserable campaign and have yet to record a win this season and only managed their first try in the 26-17 defeat to Munster in the last round.
The Scots will be a major underdogs for their trip to Watford but the manner of their resounding 45-0 defeat to Sarries in the Pool opener between the sides will still be fresh in the memory.
Edinburgh will also feel they have a point to prove with only seven of their players named in the recent Scotland training squad for the Six Nations by interim coach Scott Johnson.
Match Facts
- Saracens’ only defeat in a Round 6 ERC match in the past six seasons was 14-24 at home to ASM Clermont Auvergne in 2010/11.
- This game is scheduled to be Saracens last at Vicarage Road. Their overall record there is P233, W172, D4, L57 whilst their Heineken Cup record at Watford is W14, L5.
- Edinburgh finally scored their first try of the season against Munster after 392 minutes of Heineken Cup action. This is the third longest spell without a try in the history of the competition after Ulster Rugby (465 minutes in 1999-2000) and Swansea (460 minutes in 2001-02).
- Saracens won 45-0 when the two clubs met at Murrayfield in Round 1 – only the third time they had ever been held scoreless at Murrayfield in a competitive match.
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Saracens have managed to evade tackles on just 35 occasions this season; their average of seven defenders beaten per game is a tournament low.
Saracens booked their place in the quarter-finals with this bonus point 40-7 victory over Edinburgh Rugby in the swirling snow at Vicarage Road. - 20/01/2013 14:42
Saracens booked their place in the quarter-finals with this bonus point 40-7 victory over Edinburgh Rugby in the swirling snow at Vicarage Road.
The Londoners only needed a victory to qualify for the last eight of the tournament but this bonus point puts them in the mix of a home tie in the knock-out stages.
The English Premiership side have now reached their second successive tournament quarter-final with England wing Chris Ashton crossing for two tries as they were never really troubled by Edinburgh.
This was the perfect farewell in their final game at their adopted home of Vicarage Road before they move to their new £20m state of the art stadium Allianz Park in Barnet.
Edinburgh, who reached the semi-finals of last season's Heineken Cup, ended their miserable campaign with another defeat and failed to win a game in their Pool this season.
Owen Farrell, playing at centre, slotted over three penalties before England wing Ashton crossed for his 10th Heineken Cup try after a superb grubber kick by scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth.
Farrell missed the touchline conversion of Ashton’s try and in the process his incredible run of 26 successful consecutive kicks at goal came to an end as the ball hit the post.
Wigglesworth then was involved in a comedy of errors in defence when he fumbled the ball and Edinburgh full-back Greig Tonks took full advantage to score the Scots side’s third try in this season’s competition to make it 14-7 at half-time.
Farrell then delivered a superb crosskick from a quick penalty for Ashton to gather after one bounce to score his second try to stretch the home side’s lead just after the break.
Prop Matt Steven scored Sarries third try from a well worked driving lineout which steamrollered the hapless Edinburgh pack and Farrell added the conversion to make it 26-7.
Fly-half Charlie Hodgson crossed for the vital fourth and bonus point try and full-back Chris Wyles sealed the win with their fifth try.
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