EPCR Champions Cup Final

First topic message reminder :

Leinster Rugby  v  Saracens

Date: Sat 11 May 2019  17:00 (BST)
Venue: St James' Park


Leinster
15. Rob Kearney, 14. Jordan Larmour, 13. Garry Ringrose, 12. Robbie Henshaw, 11. James Lowe, 10. Johnny Sexton (c), 9. Luke McGrath, 1. Cian Healy, 2. Sean Cronin, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Devin Toner, 5. James Ryan, 6. Scott Fardy, 7. Sean O'Brien, 8. Jack Conan.

Replacements: 16. James Tracy, 17. Jack McGrath, 18. Michael Bent, 19. Rhys Ruddock, 20. Max Deegan, 21. Hugh O'Sullivan, 22. Ross Byrne, 23. Rory O'Loughlin,


Saracens

15. Alex Goode, 14. Liam Williams, 13. Alex Lozowski, 12. Brad Barritt (c), 11. Sean Maitland, 10. Owen Farrell, 9. Ben Spencer, 1. Mako Vunipola, 2. Jamie George, 3. Titi Lamositele, 4. Will Skelton, 5. George Kruis, 6. Maro Itoje, 7. Jackson Wray, 8. Billy Vunipola.

Replacements: 16. Joe Gray, 17. Richard Barrington, 18. Vincent Koch, 19. Nick Isiekwe, 20. Schalk Burger, 21. Richard Wigglesworth, 22. Nick Tompkins, 23. David Strettle,


Referee: Jérome Garcès (France)
AR1: Romain Poite (France)
AR2: Pascal Gauzère (France)
TMO: Philippe Bonhoure (France)

Broadcasters: BT Sport 2 / beIN SPORTS / FR2 / Channel 4 / Virgin Media

formerly known as Sam wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Cant believe Quins nearly beat that Clermont side. They are so changeable. They just dont have the professionalism od Leinster or Sarries, but they have some amazing players.

I'm not sure how well the halfback pairing works. Lopez doesn't take control of the game from 10 and Parra is flakey. Laidlaw isn't one to set the world alight either. If they can get their hands on a quality 10 then they'd be transformed. Can you imagine what Ford or Cipriani would do with that backline and pack.

Thats true. Lopez almost always butchers something as often as he creates. As you say Ford or Cips would cause havoc with that team around them.

Parra was once great and has been for Clernont, hes still never quite lived up to his potential though but that may be due to all the time he wastes shouting at refs and play acting injuries. Again imagine Faf de Klerk (sp) or Reinach at 9 for them.

No not even about winning the tournament just would much prefer it the be held in Rome because it has never been there and Italy is a good rugby country. Playing it in Newcastle and Spurs stadia seems a bit of a sell out.

I wonder if the flights from Dublin to Newcastle are the same price as London to Madrid next weekend. probably just as many Irishman coming over as there will be Spurs or Liverpool supporters going to Madrid.

One thing is for certain, the Geordies will give them a big hearty welcome. probably more so than the Sarries supporters, always found the Geordies a bit cagey about Londoners. My family are from up there and I get regarded as "one of them" by their friends and I don't come from London; Sussex born and bred. Still South of Watford Gap and therefore London. My aunts think that Darlington is in the South.

yappysnap wrote:

formerly known as Sam wrote:

yappysnap wrote:Cant believe Quins nearly beat that Clermont side. They are so changeable. They just dont have the professionalism od Leinster or Sarries, but they have some amazing players.

I'm not sure how well the halfback pairing works. Lopez doesn't take control of the game from 10 and Parra is flakey. Laidlaw isn't one to set the world alight either. If they can get their hands on a quality 10 then they'd be transformed. Can you imagine what Ford or Cipriani would do with that backline and pack.

Thats true. Lopez almost always butchers something as often as he creates. As you say Ford or Cips would cause havoc with that team around them.

Parra was once great and has been for Clernont, hes still never quite lived up to his potential though but that may be due to all the time he wastes shouting at refs and play acting injuries. Again imagine Faf de Klerk (sp) or Reinach at 9 for them.

Yeah de Klerk and Cipriani in that team would not only dominate but entertain as well.

Know what you mean WPI, the geordies I knew at Uni thought I was a southerner despite being born in Leicester and being raised in North Leicestershire.

Collapse2005 wrote:Cant figure out why this game is in Newcastle. Organisers of the old Heineken cup had scheduled for it to be played in Italy before the French and English leagues had a strop. Why do relegated Newcastle get to host it and Italy still dont? W hy are most finals in England or France?

Bumper crowds and great buzz in the city - look like a good decision!

I do like Newcastle but Id question whether its fair

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:I wonder if the flights from Dublin to Newcastle are the same price as London to Madrid next weekend. probably just as many Irishman coming over as there will be Spurs or Liverpool supporters going to Madrid.

One thing is for certain, the Geordies will give them a big hearty welcome. probably more so than the Sarries supporters, always found the Geordies a bit cagey about Londoners. My family are from up there and I get regarded as "one of them" by their friends and I don't come from London; Sussex born and bred. Still South of Watford Gap and therefore London. My aunts think that Darlington is in the South.

We have a Construction site currently in progress near Loch Lomond. Even the Weegies (who are mocked as southerners by many of the workmen) laugh at the Geordie electricians viewing themselves as northerners.

Collapse2005 wrote:I do like Newcastle but Id question whether its fair

Bilbao was good, but flights and hotels an absolute nightmare. Newcastle much cheaper to get to, stay at and saw a big crowd for the lesser cup yesterday.

Collapse2005 wrote:I do like Newcastle but Id question whether its fair

Do EPCR have a remit to grow the game? Genuine question.

Like it I not I see them as a business entity who wants to put on a showcase final that is commercially successful. They had their 'development' venue last year and, like the world cup, the would want s commercial banker the following year.

Also on the topic of of fair, do Italy have much to complain about given they have one team in the entire competition (at best) and struggle to win a game in it?

I get rugby can be much better at growing the game, I just don't think lessoning the value of the final is the way to do it.

Newcastle just got relegated. Where is the value in growing the game there?

The only reason I can see for putting it in Spurs' new stadium is for financial reasons.

Collapse2005 wrote:Newcastle just got relegated. Where is the value in growing the game there?

The only reason I can see for putting it in Spurs' new stadium is for financial reasons.

When was the decision to play in Newcastle made? Falcons were not relegated then.

WELL-PAST-IT wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:Newcastle just got relegated. Where is the value in growing the game there?

The only reason I can see for putting it in Spurs' new stadium is for financial reasons.

When was the decision to play in Newcastle made? Falcons were not relegated then.

So you reckon they deserve to host a final more the the country of Italy?

We do need to remember that semis and finals not involving Irish teams have not been so well attended.

Yesterday's attendance was all about the Yellow army rather than great planning and execution by the organisers.  If it had been a Munster v Leinster final they could fill the Nou Camp.  I think the number of fans who go for the occasion is still lacking because prices (especially for the semis) are about making money not building the brand. When we get big attendances regardless of who plays then the organisers did ok.

Still can’t decide who I want to win this. Both teams have the two most petulant 10s in world rugby.

Ha maybe so

Great run from Kearney

Itoje sent for 10 mins.

I clap enthusiastically

That is what you call a power play!

Kruis on Sexton, not a very even contest!

What a try, did not see that one coming a few mins ago

Good finish alright.

That try was entirely Leinsters own fault, if you are going to kick the ball after time is up then kick it out don't box kick it and stupidly hand possession over to the opposition when you are 10-3 up.

10-10 at FT

Can't really argue with the score, complete nip and tuck

Absolutely unforgivable from the Leinster scrum-half. Needed to put the ball out for half-time, got the shout that it was "time", but kept it in play with the box kick.

Saracens score a try because of that rubbish game management. Doubt Leinster will recover from that.

Luke McGrath's utter stupidity could well be immeasurable.

neilthom7 wrote:That try was entirely Leinsters own fault, if you are going to kick the ball after time is up then kick it out don't box kick it and stupidly hand possession over to the opposition when you are 10-3 up.

You win some you lose some. The penalty on Kearney was harsh. Ambition wins finals.

Have Sarries got the upper hand, though it seemed Leinster were just playing for half time.

Having their back up props so early might hurt them.

Leinster still looking the better team at the moment. Good game so far. Proper test match stuff this.

Collapse2005 wrote:

neilthom7 wrote:That try was entirely Leinsters own fault, if you are going to kick the ball after time is up then kick it out don't box kick it and stupidly hand possession over to the opposition when you are 10-3 up.

You win some you lose some. The penalty on Kearney was harsh. Ambition wins finals.

Not when you are a up by 7 points, it is half time. You either keep the ball in your hands and try and work something or kick it out. Its bad game management if you kick the ball as a box kick you are going to give the ball back to the opposition more times than not. Once you give it back to the opposition you give them a chance.
Then Sarries go in at 10-10 rather than down a try, that's an entirely different dressing room atmosphere for them
Ambition may help win finals, good game management and knowing when to curb that ambition is key.

Immense defence from Saracens. Exceptional turnover from Williams.

Itoje  lucky not to get penalised for the elbow. Next try wins I reckon.

That looked like a try

Maybe not

Jamie heaslip is an utterly one eyed bore

Hopefully channel 4 punt him at the end of the season

That was a YC if BV had missed that one!

BigGee wrote:That was a YC if BV had missed that one!

Aye, massive moment. 13-13 and 14 each if he spilled that.

Vunipola scores the match-sealing try.

A relief, actually, because he missed two opportunities earlier.

10 points should do it with 10 mins to play

BV interception, he may well be the genuine MoM this time!

Doh... the Irish will do anything to spoil welsh teams chances of playing in the Champions cup... cmon Leinster stop throwing this game just to stop Wales getting 2 teams next year...

Saracens by far the better team. Fair play they are absoultle quality.

Aye you’ve got to tip your hat to the Sarries defence. Rather ferocious

Immense defence, superior game management, and one costly error by Luke McGrath, have all led to a great win for Saracens. Leinster shut out for the entirety of the second half.

Congrats Saracens... best side.

Hard lines Leinster.

Not a bad final. Enjoyed it.

Very good that, excellent stuff from Sarries!

What ever happened to Beshocked? He’ll be happy wherever he is.

Brilliant win by Sarries. Could be the best ever side to grace this tournament soon. Fantastic.

Excellent stuff. Superb for Saracens to play like that against a team with the resources of Leinster.

Great day for rugby.

Good game and congrats, Sarries. Well deserved.
Some poor decisions didn't help Leinsters cause.