Saracens 15 Alex Goode, 14 David Strettle, 13 Owen Farrell, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 Chris Wyles, 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Will Fraser, 6 Justin Melck, 5 Mouritz Botha, 4 Steve Borthwick (c), 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Rhys Gill. Replacements: 16 Jamie George, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Carlos Nieto, 19 George Kruis, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Neil de ****, 22 Adam Powell, 23 James Short.
Clermont: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Sitiveni Sivivatu, 13 Aurélien Rougerie, 12 Wesley Fofana , 11 Julien Malzieu, 10 David Skrela, 9 Morgan Parra, 8 Elvis Vermeulen, 7 Alexandre Lapandry, 6 Julien Bonnaire, 5 Nathan Hines, 4 Jamie Cudmore, 3 Davit Zirakashvili, 2 Benjamin Kayser, 1 Lionel Faure. Replacements: 16 Ti'i Paulo, 17 Vincent Debaty, 18 Daniel Kotze, 19 Julien Pierre, 20 Julien Bardy, 21 Ludovic Radoslavjevic , 22 Brock James, 23 Jean-Marcel Buttin,
rain doesn't look set to last - though of course things will be wet now.
Leaving this one to in-play though overall I think the French are the better team.
Fofana anytime at 3/1 under the PP offer is my try scorer interest.
rain doesn't look set to last - though of course things will be wet now.Leaving this one to in-play though overall I think the French are the better team.Fofana anytime at 3/1 under the PP offer is my try scorer interest.
Joubert 13/2, lapandry 11-1 and Kayser 12-1 anytime for me.
Sarries/Clermont 8-1
Under 37.5 10/11
Sarries try before 38 5/6
Sarries 10/11 as a starting position.
Joubert 13/2, lapandry 11-1 and Kayser 12-1 anytime for me.Sarries/Clermont 8-1Under 37.5 10/11Sarries try before 38 5/6Sarries 10/11 as a starting position.
Clermont firing so far. Only team I can imagine beating Leinster in this comp, but they are in serious debt to their fans so far in the Heineken. Maybe this is the year.
Clermont firing so far. Only team I can imagine beating Leinster in this comp, but they are in serious debt to their fans so far in the Heineken. Maybe this is the year.
Gill, Brits and Stevens certainly isn't a scrummaging trio to be scared by.
Shows up the fact that Sarries dont quite have the finances of some teams. Props cost a lot and I dont think they can afford the very best.
Gill, Brits and Stevens certainly isn't a scrummaging trio to be scared by.Shows up the fact that Sarries dont quite have the finances of some teams. Props cost a lot and I dont think they can afford the very best.
Gill has always been an imposter. Nieto might not offer much around the park and probably wouldn't last the 80, but I'm amazed they didn't start him today given how strong Clermont are at the set piece.
Gill has always been an imposter. Nieto might not offer much around the park and probably wouldn't last the 80, but I'm amazed they didn't start him today given how strong Clermont are at the set piece.
No great surprises here. Greasy surface, more rain falling, two very strong defences, only 3-9.
Quite possible that the deciding factor will be the scrum and very little else.
No great surprises here. Greasy surface, more rain falling, two very strong defences, only 3-9.Quite possible that the deciding factor will be the scrum and very little else.
It's not too surprising, they've looked out of their depth whenever they've come up against the top European sides before and Clermont are a power house who have felt the pain before. Sarries don't have the experience of Leicester and Northampton in this comp yet.
It's not too surprising, they've looked out of their depth whenever they've come up against the top European sides before and Clermont are a power house who have felt the pain before. Sarries don't have the experience of Leicester and Northampton in
Big step up to take on Clermont. Extraordinary amount of talent in that French team. Got a bit of Clermont -7.5 at a nice price, so got to hope they dont do a French thing and shut down now.
A step too far again for Sarries I think.Big step up to take on Clermont. Extraordinary amount of talent in that French team. Got a bit of Clermont -7.5 at a nice price, so got to hope they dont do a French thing and shut down now.
I wouldn't say Byrne is back to his best CC, but he's certainly playing better than he did in his last year at the Ospreys.
Not kicking pens to touch probably helps!
I wouldn't say Byrne is back to his best CC, but he's certainly playing better than he did in his last year at the Ospreys. Not kicking pens to touch probably helps!
Where is it going to be Vis, or do Clermont get the choice now?
Can't be their main stadium can it? But still essentially a home game.
Definitely the final as far as it matters. Be funny if the winner lost in the final, but I cant see it.
Where is it going to be Vis, or do Clermont get the choice now?Can't be their main stadium can it? But still essentially a home game.Definitely the final as far as it matters. Be funny if the winner lost in the final, but I cant see it.
Leinster are without doubt an excellent side, but they were up against trees yesterday. 3 players in that Cardiff pack that are bad at Pro12 level and 2 ancients in the back row.
Clermont just dont give an inch and some of their performances at home in recent years have been mesmeric. Hell of a clash.
Leinster are without doubt an excellent side, but they were up against trees yesterday. 3 players in that Cardiff pack that are bad at Pro12 level and 2 ancients in the back row.Clermont just dont give an inch and some of their performances at home i
Poor, poor pwerformance from Sarries. At home and being bossed like they area colts team against the senior side.
All lookign shell shcoked and this was over at half time. I feel like I haven't even had a run for my money. Utter garbage. Changes should have been made methinks.
Poor, poor pwerformance from Sarries. At home and being bossed like they area colts team against the senior side.All lookign shell shcoked and this was over at half time. I feel like I haven't even had a run for my money. Utter garbage. Changes shoul
Change who though? Sarries cant afford back-up like these French teams can. Saull, Burger and Brown all injured in the back-row and that is showing up badly here. Fraser and Melck are out of their depth.
Change who though? Sarries cant afford back-up like these French teams can. Saull, Burger and Brown all injured in the back-row and that is showing up badly here. Fraser and Melck are out of their depth.
I've turned around a poor weekend from yesterday morning. Have had Clermont onside throughout and topped up on the 7s this week along with the cap today. And with the possibility of a home semi, I took the route of 20s Ulster outright this week as opposed to the match odds v Munster.
I've turned around a poor weekend from yesterday morning. Have had Clermont onside throughout and topped up on the 7s this week along with the cap today. And with the possibility of a home semi, I took the route of 20s Ulster outright this week as op
I think Ballaman mentioned this in the Munster game with Best - Bardy rips off Borthwicks head gear and throws it in his face. Rolland watches and does nothing.
I think Ballaman mentioned this in the Munster game with Best - Bardy rips off Borthwicks head gear and throws it in his face. Rolland watches and does nothing.
Cheers. As a neutral, does anyone know how easy it might be to get a ticket? And how much they'd go for? I'm in the area that weekend and have Clermont for a few quid!
Cheers. As a neutral, does anyone know how easy it might be to get a ticket? And how much they'd go for? I'm in the area that weekend and have Clermont for a few quid!