Alex Goode
This year's Champions Cup final had an air of inevitability from early on. Saracens form a wall on attack and defense, a big meaty, powerful, physically dominating wall. You wouldn't want it in your garden with some ivy growing up it though. That wall kept a cap on the undoubted flair of Clermont, which only managed to surface every so often. Saracens played absolutely brilliant field position, most of the match was in the French 22, and Clermont had to toil manfully away, repelling the massive Saracens runners, or trying vainly to get down the pitch. Man of the match for me was Alex Goode, looking dangerous every time he had the ball. How he's not starting for England is a mystery.
To beat Saracens, you have to work out how to deal with that rush defense, chipping over it or passing your way through it.There's probably also room through the ruck as they don't really contest it. But fair play to Saracens, worthy retainers of the trophy.
On Friday night, Gloucester and Stade Francais played out an enjoyable match. Gloucester played pretty conservatively, their standard play was the box kick chased well by May and Sharples - or was that their only play? Far from fading away, Stade seemed to get stronger as the match went on, until Doumayrou finally delivered the coup de grace. That, amazingly, is Stade's first European title, and it looks like there is something of a revival in the Paris team.
Friday 12th May
Gloucester 17 25 Stade Francais
Saturday 13th May
Clermont Auvergne 17 28 Saracens
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