Saracens vs Clermont

First topic message reminder :

This match needs a thread. I feel like this game has been brushed under the carpet by many.

Two of the teams on the rise.

The 2010-11 Aviva Premiership champions vs the 2009-10 Top 14 champions.

Both 2nd respectively in their domestic leagues.

Both with a fair few players who featured in the 6 nations.

Some very fascinating battles to look forward to such as Barritt vs Fofana, Strettle vs Malzieu, Goode vs Byrne, Borthwick vs Hines, Farrell vs Rougerie etc.

There is so much class in the Clermont squad but if Parra doesn't play what do they do at scrum half?

I feel that if Saracens are to win they need Brits and Joubert in particular to fire on all cylinders and Barritt to shut down the Clermont attack.

If Parra is injured they need to put as much pressure as possible on the Clermont halfbacks.

Thoughts?

did stevens just win a pen!!!! wow lol

nathan wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:Oh god, like Quins the other day another English team are getting buried.

I worry ths our prem is just too weak, nobody is good enough at the mo.

which is the same after every world cup....

It's impressive the young side we we building when we have no really good sides at the mo. let's hope they can fix it.

I actually hope the French sides start to go bust and level the playing field as nobody can match their pie in the sky money at the mo.

nathan wrote:did stevens just win a pen!!!! wow lol

Like christmas it comes but once a year.

LondonTiger wrote:

nathan wrote:did stevens just win a pen!!!! wow lol

Like christmas it comes but once a year.

Superb kick

haven't noticed the off the ball stuff myself Billy.

And an even better one...

wow, what a kick by James!

rugbydreamer wrote:haven't noticed the off the ball stuff myself Billy.

Just keep your eye on Farrell. There has been a little even the French commentary have said it

eirebilly wrote:

rugbydreamer wrote:haven't noticed the off the ball stuff myself Billy.

Just keep your eye on Farrell. There has been a little even the French commentary have said it

do you mean illegal of the ball stuff?

Farrell's eyes aren't as bad as Mieres'. His really freak me out.

at least you can tell cudmore isn't french as he's not rolling around the floor.

Risca Rev wrote:Farrell's eyes aren't as bad as Mieres'. His really freak me out.

Mylers for NH are pretty bad too, looks like he should be licking windows.

nathan wrote:

eirebilly wrote:

rugbydreamer wrote:haven't noticed the off the ball stuff myself Billy.

Just keep your eye on Farrell. There has been a little even the French commentary have said it

do you mean illegal of the ball stuff?

Yes, there has been a bit. The French commentators have said that it appears as if they are trying to rough him up to put him off his game

Jamie Cudmores brother is Colossus in the X-Men apparently.

eirebilly wrote:

nathan wrote:

eirebilly wrote:

rugbydreamer wrote:haven't noticed the off the ball stuff myself Billy.

Just keep your eye on Farrell. There has been a little even the French commentary have said it

do you mean illegal of the ball stuff?

Yes, there has been a bit. The French commentators have said that it appears as if they are trying to rough him up to put him off his game

ah i see, always wondered why the captain doesn't mention these things to the ref. He might look out for it then.

Farrell also threw a punch so he hasnt been that affected LOL

Hodgson

Blatant blocking ignored, good old frenchy Rolland as bad as ever.

really not going well for sarries today, very sloppy play by them.

got to say, this has been the most enjoyable QF of the weekend to watch so far.

trebellbobaggins wrote:Blatant blocking ignored, good old frenchy Rolland as bad as ever.

surely the touch judge should of seen it...

rugbydreamer wrote:got to say, this has been the most enjoyable QF of the weekend to watch so far.

nathan wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:Blatant blocking ignored, good old frenchy Rolland as bad as ever.

surely the touch judge should of seen it...

The sky guys saw it but the touchies didn't it seems.

stevens lucky to get that!! neither had a bind!

trebellbobaggins wrote:

nathan wrote:

trebellbobaggins wrote:Blatant blocking ignored, good old frenchy Rolland as bad as ever.

surely the touch judge should of seen it...

The sky guys saw it but the touchies didn't it seems.

well they probably have a better view!!

Sarries still very much in this

Only in France can players get interviewed on their way to the dressing rooms at half time.

eirebilly wrote:

rugbydreamer wrote:got to say, this has been the most enjoyable QF of the weekend to watch so far.

why ?

Some great runs by both sets of backs, really high paced game, am really enjoying it!

Mun v Uls and Edi v Tou were great but for other reasons, more tense and nervy then this one. And the Leinster one was too one sided for me

Ok, i think that its been rather ordinary if i may be honest dreamer. All 3 other matches have had much more in them. The headscratch was a bit rude so i apologise

I think it's because I'm more of a neutral in this one Billy, don't really have anything invested in it.

there's been some lovely bits of skill, and I feel it's more end to end then any of the others.

Shows how differently we can all see games I guess!

Just admit that you're wrong and i am right dreamer and we can all move forward

Girlfriend just mentioned that Will Greenwood sounds like Mathew Kelly. Didn't even cross my mind before but it does!!

Ok, come on Sarries

What a dive by the Clermont player...

eirebilly wrote:Just admit that you're wrong and i am right dreamer and we can all move forward

no chance of that I'm afraid

oh come on parra!! lol

rofl @ Parra

It was Parra taking the dive and even the Fench commentators are laughing about it.

That dive by Parra was amazing

Good try by Clermont

eirebilly wrote:It was Parra taking the dive and even the Fench commentators are laughing about it.

what annoys the hell out of me is nothing is done about it. the ref's job is hard enough as it is. He should of been binned.

Parra's a world class jeb. Should be some form of citing or punishment against this.

waheeeey Lee Byrne!!

nathan wrote:

eirebilly wrote:It was Parra taking the dive and even the Fench commentators are laughing about it.

what annoys the hell out of me is nothing is done about it. the ref's job is hard enough as it is. He should of been binned.

It was shocking, really they should look at this as well. Its the height of bad sportsmanship.

Well that's sealed it. Shame but English rugby needs a long hard rethink I think.

Dumped out of every level in Europe, not even able to compete in the challenge cup now the French have woken up to it. Dark times ahead.

But Lancaster showed home grown talent is there in the kids, so where is it going wrong?

Why did the IRFU prevent Leinster from re-signing Hines? He's class. The fact that we've brought in an equally foreign and even older Brad Thorn now, makes it even more baffling.

Good DG, it has to be said

It was, it's a mauling,

These guys will be tough for Leinster at home.

Sarries need points here

eirebilly wrote:

nathan wrote:

eirebilly wrote:It was Parra taking the dive and even the Fench commentators are laughing about it.

what annoys the hell out of me is nothing is done about it. the ref's job is hard enough as it is. He should of been binned.

It was shocking, really they should look at this as well. Its the height of bad sportsmanship.

i hope he gets cited.