Clermont Auvergne v Saracens, 18 April

by **George Carlin** Tue Apr 14, 2015 7:26 am

First topic message reminder :

ASM Clermont Auvergne v Saracens
Saturday 18 April 2015
KO 16:15
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint Etienne

Referee: George Clancy

Live on beIN / BT Sport

Form:

ASM Clermont Auvergne
4/4/15 - ASM Clermont 37 - 5 Saints
25/1/15 - ASM Clermont 18 - 6 Saracens
17/1/15 - Sharks 13 - 22 ASM Clermont

Saracens
5/4/15 - Racing Metro 11 - 12 Saracens
25/1/15 - ASM Clermont 18 - 6 Saracens
17/1/15 - Saracens 33 - 10 Munster

Teams:

ASM Clermont Auvergne
Nick Abendanon; Noa Nakaitaci, Jonathan Davies, Wesley Fofana, Naipolioni Nalaga, Brock James, Ludovic Radoslavjevic; Vincent Debaty, Benjamin Kayser, Davit Zirakashvili, Jamie Cudmore, Sebastien Vahaamahina, Julien Bonnaire, Julien Bardy, Damien Chouly (capt).

Replacements: John Ulugia, Raphael Chaume, Clement Ric, Julien Pierre, Alexandre Lapandry, Morgan Parra, Camille Lopez, Aurélien Rougerie.

Saracens
Alex Goode; Chris Ashton, Marcelo Bosch, Brad Barritt (capt), Chris Wyles; Charlie Hodgson, Richard Wigglesworth; Mako Vunipola, Jamie George, Petrus Du Plessis, George Kruis, Jim Hamilton, Maro Itoje, Jacques Burger, Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: Schalk Brits, Rhys Gill, James Johnston, Kelly Brown, Jackson Wray, Neil de Kock, Owen Farrell, David Strettle

by whocares Fri Apr 17, 2015 1:46 pm

teams out :

Nick Abendanon 15 Alex Goode

Noa Nakaitaci 14 Chris Ashton

Jonathan Davies 13 Marcelo Bosch

Wesley Fofana 12 Brad Barritt (capt)

Naipolioni Nalaga 11 Chris Wyles

Brock James 10 Charlie Hodgson

Ludo. Radoslavjevic 9 Richard Wigglesworth

Vincent Debaty 1 Mako Vunipola

Benjamin Kayser 2 Jamie George

Davit Zirakashvili 3 Petrus du Plessis

Jamie Cudmore 4 George Kruis

S. Vahaamahina 5 Jim Hamilton

Julien Bonnaire 6 Maro Itoje

Julien Bardy 7 Jacques Burger

D. Chouly (capt) 8 Billy Vunipola

Replacements

John Ulugia 16 Schalk Brits

Raphael Chaume 17 Rhys Gill

Clément Ric 18 James Johnston

Julien Pierre 19 Kelly Brown

Alexandre Lapandry 20 Jackson Wray

Morgan Parra 21 Neil de Kock

Camille Lopez 22 Owen Farrell

Aurélien Rougerie 23 David Strettle

by **LondonTiger** Fri Apr 17, 2015 1:47 pm

15. Nick Abendanon; 14. Noa Nakaitaci, 13. Jonathan Davies, 12. Wesley Fofana, 11. Naipolioni Nalaga; 10. Brock James, 9. Ludovic Radoslavjevic ; 1. Vincent Debaty, 2. Benjamin Kayser, 3. Davit Zirakashvili, 4. Jamie Cudmore, 5. Sébastien Vahaamahina, 6. Julien Bonnaire, 7. Julien Bardy, 8. Damien Chouly (c)

16. John Ulugia, 17. Raphael Chaume, 18. Clément Ric, 19. Julien Pierre, 20. Alexandre Lapandry, 21. Morgan Parra, 22. Camille Lopez, 23. Aurélien Rougerie

Parra fit enough to make the bench

by **LondonTiger** Sat Apr 18, 2015 9:25 am

I can see this game has really caught the imagination of 606

by nathan Sat Apr 18, 2015 2:01 pm

Clermont win, end of discussion

by **Notch** Sat Apr 18, 2015 2:34 pm

Well, we only really have one regularly posting Saracens fan tbf.

As a neutral just hoping to see Clermont put on a similar show to the quarter.

by FecklessRogue Sat Apr 18, 2015 3:23 pm

Brilliant fans

by **Notch** Sat Apr 18, 2015 3:37 pm

Very poor from the TMO, Ashton allowed to make a try-saving tackle with a shoulder charge.

by Rory_Gallagher Sat Apr 18, 2015 3:37 pm

Ashton very lucky there.

by No 7&1/2 Sat Apr 18, 2015 3:38 pm

Really poor decision.

by **Notch** Sat Apr 18, 2015 3:38 pm

Forward pass from Abendanon also missed. Very poor from the TMO all round, to miss both offences!

by **LondonTiger** Sat Apr 18, 2015 3:38 pm

How is that not a penalty try and YC for Ashton?

by Pot Hale Sat Apr 18, 2015 3:41 pm

Because it's an Irish ref and they never favour the French.

So far- only a single drop goal on the scoreboard after 23 minutes.

by **LondonTiger** Sat Apr 18, 2015 3:41 pm

Oh and god this french tv coverage is dire.

by Pot Hale Sat Apr 18, 2015 3:42 pm

Clancy penalises - correctly - two crooked lineout throws from each side, and then seems to ignore them happening again.

by nathan Sat Apr 18, 2015 3:44 pm

Pot Hale wrote:Because it's an Irish ref and they never favour the French.

So far- only a single drop goal on the scoreboard after 23 minutes.

Making amends for it though, what was Ashton penalised for there?

by Pot Hale Sat Apr 18, 2015 3:44 pm

And Clermont might get an equalising 3-pointer after Saracens caught not rolling away in their 22.

by Pot Hale Sat Apr 18, 2015 3:46 pm

And James decides to keep everyone's nerves on end by bouncing it over off the right upright.

3-3 and 27 mins gone.

by quinsforever Sat Apr 18, 2015 3:46 pm

tight so far. ashton should have had a yellow, but abendanon's pass looked clearly forward so shouldnt have been relevant.

clermont do look much more dangerous. if sarries can still be in at around 60 minutes maybe they have a chance.

by Hood83 Sat Apr 18, 2015 3:47 pm

I'm afraid Ashton showing why he can't be recalled for England yet. Top going forwards, but his defence just isn't up to scratch yet.

by Pot Hale Sat Apr 18, 2015 3:48 pm

Hodgson now has a chance to regain the lead with a penalty kick, but it goes left and wide.

by **LondonTiger** Sat Apr 18, 2015 3:49 pm

quinsforever wrote:tight so far. ashton should have had a yellow, but abendanon's pass looked clearly forward so shouldnt have been relevant.

Incorrect. If deemed forward Clermont could not have been awarded a PT, but Ashton could still have been carded for foul play.

by Pot Hale Sat Apr 18, 2015 3:52 pm

Alex Goode absolutely clatters his opposing jumper, Abendanon, for a high ball and knocks the ball forward. But Saracens regain and kick it forward. Clermont reclaim and decides to box-kick it. Saracens wisely decide to run and make metres with the ball in hand. Eventually they're bundled into touch.

Clermont looking quite disjointed, and nothing like the team that dismantled Northampton.

by Pot Hale Sat Apr 18, 2015 3:55 pm

What are the odds on another score before the HT whistle in 4.5 mins?

And as I type, Saracens have another penalty just inside the Clermont half out on the left.

by kunu Sat Apr 18, 2015 3:57 pm

Clermont clearly a nervous bunch, Abendenon really could have done better with the try opportunity. Saracens look likely to win to me.

by Pot Hale Sat Apr 18, 2015 3:57 pm

And Hodgson nails it - just. It sneaks over the bar, and Saracens should take a 3 point lead in at half-time.

6-3 and 2 minutes to play

by **LondonTiger** Sat Apr 18, 2015 4:00 pm

Sarries doing really well to make this a scrappy game.

And shocking scrum penalty. Mako has been boring in before every scrum.

by quinsforever Sat Apr 18, 2015 4:01 pm

itoje looking like the real deal. great to see him really kicking on from winning u20 rwc

by Pot Hale Sat Apr 18, 2015 4:01 pm

Saracens win another penalty from Clancy at scrum time.

Hodgson steps up and....it's wide.

And there's 40 minutes gone from our lives.

Fairly drab match from both sides. Based on the performance in the first half, neither side a compelling finalist.

by carpet baboon Sat Apr 18, 2015 4:02 pm

Well the highlight for me so far has been the bottle of rioja I opened at kick off

by quinsforever Sat Apr 18, 2015 4:04 pm

i do think clermont will tire quicky in the 2nd half. great gameplan of sarries to keep the ball infield and keep turning around the forwards. even goode managed a couple of great mazy runs towards the end of the first half, so clermont must be tiring already!

by No 7&1/2 Sat Apr 18, 2015 4:04 pm

LondonTiger wrote:Sarries doing really well to make this a scrappy game.

And shocking scrum penalty. Mako has been boring in before every scrum.

Not too sure he can do much given the angle the tight heads taking.

by **Rugby Fan** Sat Apr 18, 2015 4:04 pm

TMO getting slated for missing that no-arms tackle. Richard Cockerill has retweeted a vine, while Flatman thinks the TMO must have been otherwise occupied trying to enjoy a ham roll.

by nathan Sat Apr 18, 2015 4:05 pm

Have the f1 on in the background and this game on the iPad, couldn't bring myself to just watch the game

by quinsforever Sat Apr 18, 2015 4:06 pm

quelle surprise, tigers fans wanting an english side to lose...classy.

by **LondonTiger** Sat Apr 18, 2015 4:07 pm

No 7&1/2 wrote:
LondonTiger wrote:Sarries doing really well to make this a scrappy game.

And shocking scrum penalty. Mako has been boring in before every scrum.

Not too sure he can do much given the angle the tight heads taking.

Mako is, other than very first scrum where he correctly won the penalty, going in first to try and twist the CA guy. When the clermont TH manages to stay straight he then drives straight through Mako.

by **LondonTiger** Sat Apr 18, 2015 4:08 pm

quinsforever wrote:quelle surprise, tigers fans wanting an english side to lose...classy.

Actually i want Sarries to win, so go shove your head up your oversized arse.

by nathan Sat Apr 18, 2015 4:08 pm

quinsforever wrote:quelle surprise, tigers fans wanting an english side to lose...classy.

Generalising...... Classy

by quinsforever Sat Apr 18, 2015 4:09 pm

why do you assume everyone is always talking about you? fairly egotistical

by **LondonTiger** Sat Apr 18, 2015 4:11 pm

As the only two tigers fans posting, who else woudl you be talking about?

by **LondonTiger** Sat Apr 18, 2015 4:15 pm

So, one part of me wants the rugby to improve in the second half. However wanting to see an English side progress staying scrappy is better.

by nathan Sat Apr 18, 2015 4:15 pm

quinsforever wrote:why do you assume everyone is always talking about you? fairly egotistical

Because I'm 1 of 2 tigers fans posing in here, who else would you be talking about?

In fact don't answer that as we'll all be treated to some cowpat, let's just talk about the game

by No 7&1/2 Sat Apr 18, 2015 4:17 pm

LondonTiger wrote:
No 7&1/2 wrote:
LondonTiger wrote:Sarries doing really well to make this a scrappy game.

And shocking scrum penalty. Mako has been boring in before every scrum.

Not too sure he can do much given the angle the tight heads taking.

Mako is, other than very first scrum where he correctly won the penalty, going in first to try and twist the CA guy. When the clermont TH manages to stay straight he then drives straight through Mako.

Clermont at fault for me.

by **LondonTiger** Sat Apr 18, 2015 4:19 pm

7.5, we will have to agree to disagree. Very Happy

by nathan Sat Apr 18, 2015 4:19 pm

Did we just get a replay of the changing room lol

by Pot Hale Sat Apr 18, 2015 4:19 pm

And Clermont win an attacking scrum in the Sarries 22 from the kick-off. Burger knocks on the ball from the scrum half's hands. Another scrum.

by Pot Hale Sat Apr 18, 2015 4:21 pm

Wow - Saracens get the push on in the scrum but Clermont No 8 takes and powers forward. Clermont attack and Brock James does a lovely chip over the uprising Sarries line and Fofana takes cleanly and dives over the line.

Lovely little try. James converts and it's 10-6. Game has woken up.

by quinsforever Sat Apr 18, 2015 4:22 pm

chouly created that try by knocking over wigglesworth, hodgson and ashton before being brought down, so there were no sarries catchers coming across for the chip kick. beautifully executed by james.

by maestegmafia Sat Apr 18, 2015 4:23 pm

Nice back foot try

by **LondonTiger** Sat Apr 18, 2015 4:23 pm

Arse.

Good play, but lazy by Sarries back row to not cover.

by kunu Sat Apr 18, 2015 4:23 pm

Lovely simple try

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