Champions Cup Semi-Finals - 23/24 April

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Saracens  v   Wasps
23/04/2016 15:00 Madejski Stadium Sky Sports / beIN Sports

Officials
Referee - Roman Poite
Touch Judge 1 - Jerome Garces (France)
Touch Judge 2 - Pascal Gauzere (France)
TMO - Eric Gauzins (France)
Citing Commissioner - Stefano Marrama (Italy)


Form

9/4/16 Saracens 29 - 20 Saints 8,050
23/1/16 Toulouse 17 - 28 Saracens 12,498
16/1/16 Saracens 33 - 17 Ulster 9,642


9/4/16 Wasps 25 - 24 Chiefs 23,866
23/1/16 Wasps 51 - 10 Leinster 16,519
17/1/16 Toulon 15 - 11 Wasps 13,344


Teams

Saracens
15. Alex Goode; 14. Chris Ashton, 13. Duncan Taylor, 12. Brad Barritt, 11. Chris Wyles; 10. Owen Farrell, 9. Richard Wigglesworth; 1. Mako Vunipola, 2. Schalk Brits, 3. Petrus du Plessis, 4. Maro Itoje, 5. George Kruis, 6. Michael Rhodes, 7. Will Fraser, 8. Billy Vunipola
16. Jared Saunders , 17. Richard Barrington, 18. Titi Lamositele, 19. Jim Hamilton, 20. Jackson Wray, 21. Neil de Kock, 22. Charlie Hodgson, 23. Marcelo Bosch

Wasps
15. Charles Piutau; 14. Christian Wade, 13. Elliot Daly, 12. Siale Piutau, 11. Frank Halai; 10. Jimmy Gopperth, 9. Dan Robson; 1. Matt Mullan, 2. Carlo Festuccia, 3. Lorenzo Cittadini, 4. Joe Launchbury, 5. Bradley Davies, 6. James Haskell, 7. George Smith, 8. Nathan Hughes
16. Ashley Johnson, 17. Simon McIntyre, 18. Phil Swainston, 19. Sam Jones, 20. Thomas Young, 21. Joe Simpson, 22. Ruaridh Jackson, 23. Rob Miller


Preview
The top two in the AP table meet at the Madj for the first all English semi-final since 2007, when Wasps beat Northampton. Since those heady days Wasps have made little impact on the top tier competition, while their opponents have been on the rise. This will be Sarries 4th semi-final in a row, and 5th in total (first in 2008). Sarries will be all too aware that they have lost all but one of those semi-finals so far and will be desperate to make their second final. To do so they know they have to play much better than they did in the 1/4 final, though it is fair to say that Wasps were not at their best in the 1/4s despite the thrilling come-back.
The last time these two teams met was during the 6Ns when Wasps visited Barnet and thrashed the reigning AP champs. While both teams were missing players, Sarries were worse affected and everything Wasps touched turned to gold that day. We should expect a much tighter game this weekend. Sarries will look to squeeze Wasps up front, then put massive pressure on their opponents back line. Wasps will need to execute their game plan with precision, fail to do so and Saracens will swamp them.





Leicester Tigers  v   Racing 92
24/04/2016 15:15  City Ground BT Sport / FR 2 / beIN Sports

Officials
Referee - Nigel Owens (Wales)
Touch - Judge 1 George Clancy (Ireland)
Touch - Judge 2 Leighton Hodges (Wales)
TMO - Simon McDowell (Ireland)
Citing Commissioner - Jeff Mark (Wales)


Form

10/4/16 Tigers 41 - 13 SF Paris 20,866
24/1/16 SF Paris 36 - 21 Tigers 12,073
16/1/16 Tigers 47 - 7 Treviso 19,076


10/4/16 Racing 92 19 - 16 Toulon 15,340
23/1/16 Glasgow 22 - 5 Racing 92 9,063
17/1/16 Racing 92 64 - 14 Scarlets 6,931


Teams

Leicester Tigers
15. Matthew Tait; 14. Telusa Veainu, 13. Peter Betham, 12. Manu Tuilagi, 11. Vereniki Goneva; 10. Freddie Burns, 9. Ben Youngs; 1. Marcos Ayerza, 2. Harry Thacker, 3. Dan Cole, 4. Dom Barrow, 5. Graham Kitchener, 6. Michael Fitzgerald, 7. Lachlan McCaffrey, 8. Opéti Fonua
16. Greg Bateman, 17. Logovii Mulipola, 18. Fraser Balmain, 19. Ed Slater, 20. Tom Croft, 21. Sam Harrison, 22. Owen Williams, 23. Adam Thompstone

Racing 92
15. Brice Dulin; 14. Joe Rokocoko, 13. Johannes Goosen, 12. Alexandre Dumoulin, 11. Juan Imhoff; 10. Dan Carter, 9. Maxime Machenaud; 1. Eddy Ben Arous, 2. Virgile Lacombe, 3. Ben Tameifuna, 4. Luke Charteris, 5. Francois van der Merwe, 6. Wenceslas Lauret, 7. Bernard Le Roux, 8. Chris Masoe
16. Camille Chat, 17. Khatchik Vartanov, 18. Luc Ducalcon, 19. Manuel Carizza, 20. Antonie Claassen, 21. Mike Phillips, 22. Remi Tales, 23. Louis Dupichot

Preview
It is over 90 years since Leicester last met Racing. Fair to say things have changed just a little since the 1920's, and it is extremely doubtful that either side will warm up with a visit to a strip club as Tigers did on their first visit to France. Jacky Lorenzetti has spent big money assembling the star-studded Racing team, with Dan Carter surely the jewel in the crown. Even on one leg his class was enough to guide the Parisians to a narrow win over three-time champs Toulon. However they are far from a one man team with stardust sprinkled throughout the side. Racing's T14 form has stuttered in recent weeks and a largely second string team went down to Toulouse last week. With the big names coming in though, they are - on paper at least - far stronger than their English rivals. It is hard to see weaknesses in the Racing pack with an excellent second row pairing sandwiched by very powerful back and front rows. Tigers will be hoping that they can exploit a possible lack of speed in the back row, but cannot assume that their opponents will tire - or be as poor as their city rivals Stade were. It is to be hoped that Castro can keep his cool in any post match interviews this time.
Leicester have been like the little girl, when they are good they are very, very good but when they are not they are awful. This will be a huge test physically. The front five cannot give an inch while the back row have to win the battle of the breakdown. Secure a decent amount of possession and they have the backs to score tries from anywhere. However they need to be clinical both in attack and defence. Racing will exploit any dropped passes or defensive dog-legs.
This is Leicester's first semi-final since the unforgetable game in Cardiff in 2009, and Racing's first ever semi.

Beshocked

I agree, all teams do it, however Sarries do it just as much as they do anything else, and have taken it to a level previously unseen in rugby, although I agree to point Leicester and Munster teams both had fierce packs, most of what they did was physically assault the opposition, intimidate them, and dominate them. Remember the game has changed massively in the last few seasons and neither team would be able to get away with that today.

Sarries on the other hand do more illegal stuff than anyone else, and have exploited the TMO culture today, by winding players up into reactions, knowing the initial offence will always be overlooked.

Wasps did very little they didn't get pinged for, and they are certainly not coached to be 'streetwise' like Sarries clearly are.

Like I said, as a neutral I shouldn't dislike Sarries style of play, their set peice is world class, their breakdown work is superb, and they play to their strengths, however a bad taste is left in the mouth everytime they eak a win without playing much rugby, and by doing what they do to gain an advantage.

Sarries style of play will influence other teams to emulate it, and the game will slow down, and become dominated by replays of TMO's for grabs, pulls, shepharding, holds, and hands where they shouldn't be.

Eeeeek

I like Fanster's idea - YC for the instigator too and let the penalty stand ....

Fanster wrote:Beshocked

I agree, all teams do it, however Sarries do it just as much as they do anything else, and have taken it to a level previously unseen in rugby, although I agree to  point Leicester and Munster teams both had fierce packs, most of what they did was physically assault the opposition, intimidate them, and dominate them. Remember the game has changed massively in the last few seasons and neither team would be able to get away with that today.

Sarries on the other hand do more illegal stuff than anyone else, and have exploited the TMO culture today, by winding players up into reactions, knowing the initial offence will always be overlooked.
please back this up with some form of evidence. according to here sarries cheat from the moment they open their eyes till they go to sleep, this includes the tea lady

Wasps did very little they didn't get pinged for, and they are certainly not coached to be 'streetwise' like Sarries clearly are.

Like I said, as a neutral I shouldn't dislike Sarries style of play, their set peice is world class, their breakdown work is superb, and they play to their strengths, however a bad taste is left in the mouth everytime they eak a win without playing much rugby, and by doing what they do to gain an advantage.
You mean like Munster, Ulster, Wales, SA, Tigers and any side with a big strong pack

Sarries style of play will influence other teams to emulate it, and the game will slow down, and become dominated by replays of TMO's for grabs, pulls, shepharding, holds, and hands where they shouldn't be.

This season currently 3rd most trys scored, previous two seasons 2nd most trys scored. So what's so wrong with emulating sarries? and maybe stop thinking of sarries from 5 years ago when it was low try count high penalty kick games as its not such a slow game is it

Hope we are not going to hear about Carter all game. I know he's a great player but there's 29 other players on the pitch. Not a great start for us

Ominous how easy that Racing made easy yards through Tigers there. Could be a long day if they don't tighten up their defence, Barrow was in no mans land.

Schoolboy defense there, no chance if they play like that.

How come the ground is half empty. Shocking for a semi final

Because it involves a French team, but you already knew that didn't you....

Owens is killing us, racing player in at the side and off his feet.

I know it's fashionable to knock Owens....but hearing the ref tell the 9 to play the available ball from a collapsed scrum rather than blowing for a lottery penalty is something I wish we saw more.

Mid_gen, me too. Let's just get on with the game

Ago, not getting the rub of the green here

nathan wrote:Because it involves a French team, but you already knew that didn't you....

Ah one of the two unions that held the rest to ransom

Finally spotted a forward pass after about 3 went unnoticed ...

Leicester need to up there pace a bit here

In the tackle my arse

Haven't been impressed with fonua so far

clearly deliberate knock on - wasn't the tackler

Mr Owens needs to put his glasses on

I always thought that if the players knees were on the floor you were tackled and the tackler had to release

Racing defence is ferocious.

So we are going to be watched even more...

Again, one team is dominant early on. Unlike yesterday, they've also scored the points.

Fonau is struggling to be the primary ball carrier so far. We need to start bringing Goneva off his wing more to take some pressure off.

Masoe is playing brilliantly in defence.

Again at work guys, hows it looking for tigers?

Not good! Physically we are being fecked

Few dodgy decision going ravings way but I'm sure they'll even themselves out

Excellent disrupting work by Thacker there.

Racing dominant so far but Mr Owens missing forward passes, deliberate knock-on and a questionable shoulder in the face ...  arguably Tigers should have had a couple of kickable penalties

That's smarter play there. Goneva, Manu and Fonau all running different lines to take the pressure of the one who gets the crash ball.

3 - 10 with Burns penalty.

There's a foot hold in the game.

Serial handling errors by Leicester are making life easy for Racing.

Handling errors are killing Leicester.

Ah youngs, crap pass

Youngs game is being shown up. Slow in thought and action with poor execution to boot.

Can we learn to Frak catch

Feel sorry for burns, he's been playing well

If Leicester can go into half-time 10-6 down, then that would be...oh, a penalty to Racing.

What about the racing player on the floor!

Dumb Barrow.

I thought Barrow had learnt to stop those silly penalties

Racing are getting away with some dubious tactics at the breakdown but Leicester aren't playing well. Their ball carriers are making little headway, Youngs looks laboured, and everyone has concrete hands.

What do people think to the tackle on kitch?

so whats the halftime verdict?
Racing that strong and dominating?
Tigers playing poorly, being bullied?
tigers being outsmarted by dubious play?
owens having a mare?

\come on tigers I want an all English final!!!

Tigers not at the races here

Youngs passing has been poop and their handling is way off the mark. Still not out of it but they really need a kick up the ass.

The reason we are behind isn't owens. We've been bullied and our handling skills are rubbish

nathan wrote:The reason we are behind isn't owens. We've been bullied and our handling skills are rubbish

Big game nerves maybe? or need some time to get heads sorted from early try?

nathan wrote:The reason we are behind isn't owens. We've been bullied and our handling skills are rubbish

Couldn't agree more.

Don't think it's nerves, we've had games this season where we couldn't catch the ball. I thought they were behind us though

The quality difference in the back 5's is quite a gap and it's showing.

Dom Barrow, Graham Kitchener, Mike Fitzgerald, Lachlan McCaffrey, Opeti Fonua.

Luke Charteris, Francois van der Merwe, Wenceslas Lauret, Bernard Le Roux, Chris Masoe.