Toulon sweep all aside for back to back Heineken Cups

 

The big one of the weekend was Saracens v Toulon. For once this season, Saracens came up against a team where their physicality didn’t count. Big players for them like Burger and Britz just didn’t feature, Toulon had size on the pitch, and size on the bench, and they murdered Saracens at the breakdown. And playmakers for Touolon  like Giteau, Basteraud, Mitchell, Fernandez and Smith combined to make tries that overcame the stout Saracens defense. Saracens are really good team, but Toulon are a class above – they need to develop a more rounded game to have a plan B for when they don’t dominate physically.

Toulon are the modern team of all nations, but Saracens aren’t far behind. There were a huge number of South Africans on the pitch – Burden, Botha, Rousssow , Smith, Claassens and Habana for Toulon, and Britz, Hargreaves, De Cock, Stevens, Botha and Barett for Saracens (OK, some of them are English now!). And even some English and French players! Jonny Wilkinson is a total professional, and a regular down to earth guy too, one of the best players of all time. But unlike Sky commentator Stuart Barnes, I wouldn’t bear his babies without anesthetic. A word too for Alain Rolland, signing off on a high , one of the greats of the game.

Northampton v Bath wasn’t quite the free flowing event it might have been, but it was decent contest for most of the match. Bath took their chances well in the first half, but just couldn’t live with Northampton’s power in the second half, as the Saints claimed their first cup of the season.

Wasps made hay against a flaky Stade Francaise team, who pressed the panic button way too early in the match, and at the end handed the win and the final spot in the new European on a plate to Wasps. There’s a lot of quality in that Wasps team, my man of the match was Joe Simpson, who ran the show superbly from scrum half.

Finally Leinster  A retained the British and Irish Cup with a 44 – 17 wins over Leeds Carnegie.

Heineken Cup

Saturday , May 24

Stade Francais 6 - 20 Wasps 

Toulon 23 - 6 Saracens 

Amlin Challenge Cup

Friday , May 23

Bath 16 - 30 Northampton

Amlin and Heinken...Bath, Stade and Toulon...

 

 With the Rabo taking a break this weekend, there’s a few top matches to catch across in Europe.

The final of the Amlin Challenge Cup takes place tonight, an all English affair between Bath and Northampton.  Bath had a pretty decent season this year, just missing out on a playoff spot for the Premiership, but they can still end their season on a high tonight. Northampton, meanwhile, are in the Premiership final already, and did that with 14 men for a good chunk of the match. Just to spread the wins around, I’ll be supporting Bath, even though I reckon Northampton will win. I’m not against the Saints, I hope they win the Premiership. I’m hoping for an open match, there’s not the pressure you get from playing in a HC final.

Wasps travel to Paris to take on Stade Francaise, after taking the home leg of the tie, for the last spot in the imaginatively named European Cup. They did well, because Stade have a much better season than of late, although there is always the brutal away form of French clubs to think of. They start with a great line up, as do Wasps, but Stade have 4 internationals on the bench, so over the 80 minutes I reckon that will tell, and I expect Stade to be in Europe next year.

Finally, it’s the big one, Saracens v Toulon in the final of the last ever Heineken Cup, also notable for last European appearance of Mr. J.Wilkinson. And no doubt his kicking prowess, while not what it used to be, will have a big say in the final outcome. The packs will be like two panzer divisions facing off, and the breakdown is going to be lethal, as 6 of the best loose forwards in the world get stuck in. Toulon’s edge is in the backs, with just an edge in power and skill, and they have a better bench. It’ll probably only be a few points either way, but the right side I think for Toulon.

Heineken Cup
Saturday , May 24
Toulon vs Saracens 
Stade Francais vs Wasps 
Amlin Challenge Cup
Friday , May 23
Bath vs Northampton 

Saracens mash, and Toulon survive...

 

 ( picture http://bit.ly/1mNXgQW )

Well. It’s possible that I might have been a little out on my prediction for a Clermont win. And it turns out that in their own way, Saracens can actually play pretty entertaining rugby, scoring multiple tries as they monstered Clermont. You certainly can’t fault their defense, with Burger and Brtiz on fire. . Clermont didn’t start well, and got a harsh decision (Nigel Owens won’t be getting too may offers for sets of Michelin tyres). But once their heads were down, they never really came back, and although they were tying and playing until about 60 minutes, after that they pretty well gave up. When they couldn’t bust a way through, or use Sivivatu and Fofana to make a hole, they were out of ideas. Whatever you think about Chris Ashton, this was his day, pouncing on everything, and surely putting himself back into contention for an England jersey.

Sunday’s match with Munster travelling to take on Toulon, was a far more even contest, and a much better match. Toulon went into half time with a deserved lead, having managed to keep and extend their lead, through a 10 min sin binning. But Munster, after surviving a horrendously hot opening 10 minutes, miraculously not conceding a try ( someone must have been saying their hail Mary’s) came roaring back into the match. They worked their way back up the field with penalties, turned down three points, and scored a try through the lethal finishing of Zebo, surely looking to return for Ireland.  They played proper 15 man rugby, and gave Toulon an almighty fright, but made enough basic errors through the match to just lose it in the end. The red of Munster is on the rise again.

Heineken Cup
Sunday , April 27
Toulon 24 - 16 Munster 
Saturday , April 26
Saracens 46 - 6 Clermont Auvergne 

This weekend...I'm going Clermont and Toulon

 

Semi final time in the Heineken Cup, and four teams 80 minutes away from a Heineken Cup final.

First up is Saracens taking on Clermont Auvergne at Twickenham Stadium. Saracens build their play on massive physicality, and organised defense, then thye have some good strike runners in back play. Then of course they have Owen Farrell to knock the penalties over. They may not be the most exciting team to watch, dull you could say, but awesomely effective. Clermont are European royalty – stuffed with French internationals, and a pick and mix of the best international players. As well as a bringing their own impressive physicality, they have players like Fofana, Nalaga and Sivivatu that can turn a match on it’s head. For the sake of rugby, I hope Clermont win, I always enjoy watching them, and I’m going with them by 5.

Then on Sunday, Munster go to Marseille to take on champions Toulon. Munster have a huge pedigree in this competition, it’s their 10th semi, following on from a semi appearance last year. Munster have a very balanced team, and brought unmatched physicality and energy in their win over Toulouse. They’ll have to bring that and more to Marseille though, as they don’t get bigger and badder than Toulon, who can just crush the life out of you. It’s the million euro question, can Munster come up with the kind of form from the quarter finals, and pick the champions pocket. It’s not impossible, but on this occasion, I think they may just come up short, as the away venue will count against them.

Heineken Cup
Saturday , April 26
Saracens vs Clermont Auvergne
Sunday , April 27
Toulon vs Munster

Munster shine, Ulster bust a gut, and Leinster don't shine.

 

Ireland’s only reason to cheer this weekend was the stunning form that Munster showed as they chewed up Toulouse and spat them out. They out muscled them, and found their attacking prowess out wide again, scoring 6 tries in the process. It was a complete performance, with CJ Stander in awesome form, but really, it was a 15 man effort. They were absolutely the form team of the weekend. They travel to Marseille now.

Leicester pushed Clermont right to the end, but playing the French sides on their home turf is tortuous stuff, the crowd is like a 16th and 17th man. Clermont got out of the blocks fast, got a good lead, and then defended it, holding off a late Tigers comeback. They travel to Twickenham next.

Ulster ran Munster close performance wise, after they had to play with 14 men for 75 minutes, with the red carding by Jerome Garces (the same man who sent off Stuart Hogg) of Jared Payne. The Ulstermen got far closer to win than they should ever have, also losing Rory Best, and eventually Ruan Pienaar, who played through an injury. Hearts like Lions. Saracens were efficient, but would have struggled against 15 you’d think, and will have to play better than that to beat Clermont at Twickenham.

Finally, Leinsters hopes of a fourth title slipped down the tube  at the Stade Félix Mayol. They looked off the pace from the start, their passing was atrocious, and only excellent defense, and a bit of luck kept them in the game in the first half. In the second, they were simply blown away by Toulon’s power. It’s a pity, because when they could string a few phases together, the gaps were there. They still look short of another world class lock, and are still not sure who the best 10 is. Another year! Toulon will play Munster now in Marseille.

Heineken Cup
Sunday , April 6
Toulon 29 - 14 Leinster 
Saturday , April 5
Munster 47 - 23 Toulouse 
Clermont Auvergne 22 - 16 Leicester 
Ulster 15 - 17 Saracens