22-1-17 CHAMPIONS CUP
EUROPEAN RUGBY
CHAMPIONS CUP
SATURDAY
POOL 2
SARACENS 62-14
NORTHAMPTON
KOSH KLIMBS LADDER
Saints led twice in the opening exchanges as Cobus Reinach
and Nafi Tuitavake scored either side of Mako Vunipola's try for the hosts.
But from 20 minutes, and the introduction of winger Nathan
Earle for the injured Chris Wyles, the European champions were rampant.
Earle made metres down the middle for Alex Goode's score,
before Owen Farrell's side-step put in Marcelo Bosch.
Earle, who will join Harlequins at the end of the season,
was then involved again as he broke down the left to set up Richard
Wigglesworth.
Saracens added their fifth score of the half as Vincent Koch
drove over for a soft try with Jamie Gibson in the sin-bin.
Maitland and Vailanu added second-half tries, while Saints
failed to add to their tally.
MY
OPINION
At the time Saracens had no clue
in how important this win was for Saracens in getting the bonus point as it
gave them that extra point needed to reach that quarter final. I think they
will be ecstatic but fearful of playing Leinster in the quarters.
CLERMOUNT 24-7 OSPREYS
MIGHTY MC ALISTER
Nick Abendanon's first-half try, plus the kicking of Morgan
Parra and Greig Laidlaw put Clermont in command before Luke McAlister crossed
late on.
Ospreys points came from Ashley Beck's try and Dan Biggar's
conversion.
MY
OPINION
This was a play off for top spot
in the group and if Ospreys had had played to get the try against Saracens they
might have had the belief to do something in this match but I think that they
beat themse4lcves because of that choice. I think that Clermont can show the
quality in the knockouts that they have in this group.
POOL 3
MONPELLIER 14-23
LEINSTER
BRILLIANT BYRNE
After relinquishing an early lead to the hosts before the
half-time break, Leinster reclaimed the advantage in the second half through
tries from Seán Cronin and Robbie Henshaw as well as a conversion and penalty
from the boot of Ross Byrne.
A try and a penalty from Byrne gave Leinster the early
initiative in the first half, but the hosts quickly recovered to cross over the
whitewash twice through Bismarck Du Plessis Yacouba Camara, putting them 14-8
in front at the half-time whistle.
Leinster needed a strong second half-start and Henshaw's try
on 45 minutes provided the platform for them to work their way back into
contention. They capitalised on that momentum less than six minutes later, and
put Seán Cronin over the try-line.
MY
OPINION
In group play Leinster look to
be on fire but you do wonder what things will be liker for them in the knockout
as they do play Saracens but the Irish side do look to have the most strength
in depth of any Irish side when the IRF should be about development of all provinces
GLASGOW 28-21 EXETER
FAGERSON FINDS FINAL FLOURISH
Hogg crossed within two minutes, before Sam Simmonds' try
brought Chiefs level at half-time.
Warriors took control with a penalty try and
length-of-the-field scores from Tommy Seymour and Matt Fagerson.
Exeter refused to give up, tries from Don Armand and Ian
Whitten bringing them to within a score.
MY
OPINION
Exeter could not show the type
of quality in Europe that they do in the Premiership and I think that they need
to learn how to compete in Europe otherwise they will find that sense of needing
to improve not really working
POOL 5
SCARLETS 30-27 TOULON
PARKES GIVES WELSH A
CHANCE
The home side started superbly and, after running Toulon
ragged, crossed for the opening try in the third minute when Rhys Patchell's
long pass found Prydie to score. Dan Jones converted.
Toulon responded immediately when South African number eight
Duane Vermeulen scored following a well-worked lineout move.
Jones kicked a penalty after Toulon were caught offside,
with a Vermeulen tackle on James Davies also going unpunished.
MY
OPINION
This was a good match and
Scarlets have shown how good they can be and that Welsh club rugby is improving.
I think that it is good that another nation can reach the quarter final of the champion’s
cup.
TREVISO 28-47 BATH
BURNS BATH
Despite falling behind to an early Benetton score from Luca
Sperandio, they were outstanding in attack in the first half.
Tom Dunn crossed first from a driving maul before further
dominance in the pack saw a penalty try awarded.
With Benetton scrum-half Edoardo Gori in the sin-bin, Matt
Banahan found space on the wing from Anthony Watson's pass, before the England
international picked up on the left wing to finish another try.
Fly-half Freddie Burns, in for the injured Rhys Priestland,
then put Jonathan Joseph into space, with Bath building a healthy 35-7 lead by
the break.
MY
OPINION
This is a non-event and Treviso
should not and an Italian side be guaranteed a spot in the Champions cup. This
another easy win and another humiliation to the Italians. They should be
learning match on match but you do not see that every day.
SUNDAY
POOL 1
WASPS 26-7 ULSTER
COOPER WOLLEY
WALLEYS ULSTER
he quagmire of a pitch lent itself to a forward-oriented
game, and that’s how Wasps got their first try after 12 minutes, openside
flanker Guy Thompson steering a maul over the line and getting the touchdown.
From nothing, Ulster got a score of their own just after the
midway point in the half, Louis Ludik stealing in on a loose pass from
Christian Wade and setting away Darren Cave, with the centre releasing Sean
Reidy to take it the rest of the way.
But the English side would lead at the break as they grabbed
a second score, le Roux dinking a kick in behind and hooker Tom Cruse racing
onto it in the corner to slide in just in time for the converted try,
Six minutes into the second half and Wasps had their third,
turning Nick Timoney over on his own line, and the dangerous Le Roux had the
pace out wide to burn past Johnny McPhillips and score in the corner.
The fourth, and bonus point score, followed soon after, prop
Jake Cooper-Woolley taking the ball at the five metre line and riding a tackle
to stretch out and slam the ball across the whitewash.
MY
OPINION
This was a disaster as Ulster
had no control of the match whatsoever and I think that the loss of Jacob
Stockdale before the match was of huge importance as it demoralised the squad
before the match begun.
STADE ROCHELLE 16-7
HARLEQUINS
AGUILLON TRY PUTS
STADE ROCHELLE INTO QUARTERS
The French side's win, combined with Wasps' bonus-point
victory over Ulster, meant they leapfrogged the Irish side to take top spot in
Pool One.
Tries from Pierre Aguillon and Kini Murimurivalu had put the
home side in control at the break.
MY
OPINION
This result was predicted as Harlequins
were the whopping boys of the group. But the game was a very tight affair and
they knew how to get over the line when needed.
POOL 4
LEICESTER 20-23 RACING
CHAVANCY KEEPS IT
COOL
The Tigers, bottom of their pool and already eliminated,
were outplayed in the first half, but stayed in touch through three George Ford
penalties.
Brendon O'Connor scored the only try of the second period
but Maxime Machenaud won the game with five minutes to play.
Leicester were without centre Manu Tuilagi, who withdrew
through injury.
MY
OPINION
This shows that French rugby
when played well can be one of the toughest things to beat but I was surprised
when the game was close. I think that Racing are too good not to have a shot at
Europe in the next few years and Leicester will improve
MUNSTER 48-3 CASTRES
EARLS SHOWS HIS
EXPERIENCE
Man-of-the-match Keith Earls' third try in as many games
made it 13-3 at half-time, with the hosts taking advantage of Thomas Combezou's
yellow card after a slow start.
Rhys Marshall's maul effort and a scintillating bonus-point
score from Simon Zebo, either side of a penalty try, had Castres out for the
count and replacements Alex Wootton and James Cronin made it five unanswered
tries in the second half.
MY
OPINION
Munster were able to tear Casters
apart when they wanted to and I think that the Irish side will be a team to
watch out for in the knockout stage. Zebo going to France made his mark as he
showed what the Irish side will lose next season with a try.
CHAMPIONS
CUP QUARTER FINAL DRAW
LEINSTER (Ire) v SARACENS (eng)
SCARLETS((wal) v LA ROCHELLLE
(Fra)
MUNSTER (Ire) v TOULON (Fra)
CLERMONT (Fra) v RACING (Fra)
CHALENGE CUP QUARTERS
Comments
Post a Comment