Saracens vs Toulon

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Saracens vs Toulon


The English league leaders backed by South African and English financial muscle vs the French team 2nd in the Top 14 backed by comic book financial muscle (Mourad Boudjellal).

3 of the English backers of Saracens are on the times rich list - Nigel Wray (230m), Nick Leslau (200m) Dominic Silvester (150m)

Anyone know the wealth of Mourad?

Head to heads to look out for:

Farrell vs Wilkinson - the obvious one.

Borthwick vs Kennedy - the lineout battle.

Tomkins vs Bastearaud - the ex rugby league offloading machine vs the ultimate french battering ram

Vunipola vs Hayman - daunting challenge for the young Englishman vs the experience of one of the best tightheads in the world.

Brown vs Lobbe - two of the best backrowers in the world will duel.

Shame Fraser is likely to miss out because S.Armitage vs him would have been really interesting.

I could go on and on.



Alain Rolland has been picked as officiating the game.

After his last match my feelings are mixed. Should have red carded a racing metro player in the HC group match he officiated after just 4 minutes but he penalised Racing Metro a lot after that.


Both sides lost their recent matches on the weekend but neither will be too fussed. Obviously both have eyes on this match.

I really dont get why people are so impressed with this Toulon team. They would be nothing without Johnny's kicking.

Apart from the speed, the work at the breakdown, the well organised defense, they have made more yards and no obvious weaknesses?

I think that lineout was probably Sheridans fault. Looks like he got the call wrong!

Sarries have kicked away far too much ball as well

Zzzzzzzzz

Linebreaker wrote:So you think it would be a political appointment, Notch?

Nah, just Farrell is robotic and by the numbers. He has no flair or creativity. It's a Lions tour, we should represent the best rugby talent of Britain and Ireland- I just I just think with the talent we have we can set our sights on a more positive style of rugby. I hope so. A romantic view maybe, but if there's a place for rugby romance its on a Lions tour. Hopefully we can have a classic test series win or lose.

I think it's worth noting that Hodgson has been a big improvement on Farrell in terms of his all round play.

TJ wrote:Apart from the speed, the work at the breakdown, the well organised defense, they have made more yards and no obvious weaknesses?

Their work at the breakdown looks good because Sarries offer nothing in attack

Why did Farrell kick there?

Notch wrote:
I think it's worth noting that Hodgson has been a big improvement on Farrell in terms of his all round play.

Really? - just keeps kicking the ball away as well

Notch wrote:

Linebreaker wrote:So you think it would be a political appointment, Notch?

Nah, just Farrell is robotic and by the numbers. He has no flair or creativity. It's a Lions tour, we should represent the best rugby talent of Britain and Ireland- I just I just think with the talent we have we can set our sights on a more positive style of rugby. I hope so. A romantic view maybe, but if there's a place for rugby romance its on a Lions tour. Hopefully we can have a classic test series win or lose.

the trouble is we have no creative 10s around - unless you want flaky - you could have Rhubarb Jackson or Preistland I guess

Beautiful touch by JW on Farrell there.

Zzzzzzzzz end of snooze fest

Sexton isnt creative?

Golden wrote:Sexton isnt creative?

Na he is fine - not the most exciting but the best we have - taken as read he is no 1

Toulon are muck I hope Clermont destroy them

Gatland is off seen enough Farrell should stay at home

TJ wrote:

Notch wrote:

Linebreaker wrote:So you think it would be a political appointment, Notch?

Nah, just Farrell is robotic and by the numbers. He has no flair or creativity. It's a Lions tour, we should represent the best rugby talent of Britain and Ireland- I just I just think with the talent we have we can set our sights on a more positive style of rugby. I hope so. A romantic view maybe, but if there's a place for rugby romance its on a Lions tour. Hopefully we can have a classic test series win or lose.

the trouble is we have no creative 10s around - unless you want flaky - you could have Rhubarb Jackson or Preistland I guess

Flood is creative - trouble is he sometimes goes over the top.

Gats is nodding. "Yeah... let's take Johnny."

Jonny Wilkinson... What a player. He has kicked, defended and controlled his team to yet another Final.

He really is still so Special. As a player and a man.

Id take him for the Lions. Great experienced backup for Sexton.

Dream Team at 10.

TJ wrote:

Notch wrote:

Linebreaker wrote:So you think it would be a political appointment, Notch?

Nah, just Farrell is robotic and by the numbers. He has no flair or creativity. It's a Lions tour, we should represent the best rugby talent of Britain and Ireland- I just I just think with the talent we have we can set our sights on a more positive style of rugby. I hope so. A romantic view maybe, but if there's a place for rugby romance its on a Lions tour. Hopefully we can have a classic test series win or lose.

the trouble is we have no creative 10s around - unless you want flaky - you could have Rhubarb Jackson or Preistland I guess

Well Sexton will obviously shoulder the burden- there's also Madigan, Flood, Hook and even Hodgson (he's done well today) but I would have no problem with Wilkinson who can mix his game up and has massive experience and leadership qualities.

I think we desperately need Sexton to stay fit in all honesty.

Notch - a panicky bit of rubbish from Farrell there tho - what was that chip?

Linebreaker wrote:Gats is nodding. "Yeah... let's take Johnny."

Gatland "Does O'Connor have a UK grandmother?"

Gibson wrote:Jonny Wilkinson... What a player. He has kicked, defended and controlled his team to yet another Final.

He really is still so Special. As a player and a man.

Id take him for the Lions. Great experienced backup for Sexton.

Dream Team at 10.

And killed all the backs on his side by sitting deep and being slow. He still hasn't changed. He can't get the backs going. He must not go - he is way way down the list

Biltong wrote:

Linebreaker wrote:Gats is nodding. "Yeah... let's take Johnny."

Gatland "Does O'Connor have a UK grandmother?"

Gatland: "OK, then, we'll take Owen as Sexton's food taster...."

Sarries are so limited. Toulon are too, but they have Wilko. That's the main differ here.

Thank Christ ASM are in the Final.

The outhalves that have come out of this game better off are Biggar, Madigan and Laidlaw

What a sure game.

Farrell has again been shown up. Has wilkinson done enough to make the squad. Sky sports think so but to be honest bit a chance. He has done nothing to get the Toulon backline moving.

Clermont Auvergne are going to be the winners easily.

Get Wilko on that plane, he's scored every point for Toulon in their quarter-final and semi-final. Would be great back-up for Sexton to come off the bench for the last 20 minutes, or if Sexton got injured. Saracens have just one real chance to win this game, they didn't take it, Toulon too good in the end.

Thanks again for that link you sent me ages ago, Gibbo. Smooth az.

British and Irish rugby taught a lesson?

Talk about being dragged down by association

Golden wrote:The outhalves that have come out of this game better off are Biggar, Madigan and Laidlaw

were they playing then?

Sarries just didn't front up today. Good work by Toulon - the better team won.

Farrell was bad in that 2nd half.

maestegmafia wrote:What a sure game.

Farrell has again been shown up. Has wilkinson done enough to make the squad. Sky sports think so but to be honest bit a chance. He has done nothing to get the Toulon backline moving.

Clermont Auvergne are going to be the winners easily.

it depends on what your game plan is. If your going to play attacking rugby, Wilko isn't your man. Playing a more structured game then yeah he's up there.

For the lions we might need someone like Wilkenson to close games out.

Might be wrong - but didn't Clermont play Toulon recently and draw?

Well there was one decent OH in that game.............. Charlie Hodgson. If you swapped JW and OF into each others teams, there would be no difference. They're both place kicking machines and very little else.

nathan wrote:

Golden wrote:The outhalves that have come out of this game better off are Biggar, Madigan and Laidlaw

were they playing then?

No - but Farrell is playing his way out of the squad - looked poor this game so good for them

Linebreaker wrote:Thanks again for that link you sent me ages ago, Gibbo. Smooth az.

NP buddy. Hope all is grand in Oz mate. My son is loving it, now he has found his niche. He is even playing soccerball for a local team now. Dutch Mastery Down Under.

When JW speaks, I listen. Big Man-Love.

Why are Saracens doing a lap of honour? Such a loser mentality.

Wilkinson is a boss and a legend. Excellent character on display in the post match talk and throughout the game.

Wilkinson is a model pro and has been all his career - made the best of his talents and played the game in the right spirit. If only Cipriani behaved as Wilko dies!

mikey_philVIII wrote:Why are Saracens doing a lap of honour? Such a loser mentality.

Wilkinson is a boss and a legend. Excellent character on display in the post match talk and throughout the game.

Don't think Wilkinson would say the first bit though, mikey?

Gibson wrote:

Linebreaker wrote:Thanks again for that link you sent me ages ago, Gibbo. Smooth az.

NP buddy. Hope all is grand in Oz mate. My son is loving it, now he has found his niche. He is even playing soccerball for a local team now. Dutch Mastery Down Under.

When JW speaks, I listen. Big Man-Love.

Glad to hear he's part of the fabric.

Have you dusted off your snorkelling gear yet? You coming down to visit soon?

TJ wrote:Wilkinson is a model pro and has been all his career - made the best of his talents and played the game in the right spirit. If only Cipriani behaved as Wilko dies!

Steady! He's only getting on a bit. Still a young man.

SecretFly wrote:

mikey_philVIII wrote:Why are Saracens doing a lap of honour? Such a loser mentality.

Wilkinson is a boss and a legend. Excellent character on display in the post match talk and throughout the game.

Don't think Wilkinson would say the first bit though, mikey?

The first part is the bit I'm saying.

mikey_philVIII wrote:Why are Saracens doing a lap of honour? Such a loser mentality.

Wilkinson is a boss and a legend. Excellent character on display in the post match talk and throughout the game.

Going to guess there saying thank you to all there fans...

nathan wrote:

mikey_philVIII wrote:Why are Saracens doing a lap of honour? Such a loser mentality.

Wilkinson is a boss and a legend. Excellent character on display in the post match talk and throughout the game.

Going to guess there saying thank you to all there fans...

As in "thanks for the lack of atmosphere"?

mikey_philVIII wrote:

SecretFly wrote:

mikey_philVIII wrote:Why are Saracens doing a lap of honour? Such a loser mentality.

Wilkinson is a boss and a legend. Excellent character on display in the post match talk and throughout the game.

Don't think Wilkinson would say the first bit though, mikey?

The first part is the bit I'm saying.

Oh I knew that. My point was a different one.

Linebreaker wrote:

Gibson wrote:

Linebreaker wrote:Thanks again for that link you sent me ages ago, Gibbo. Smooth az.

NP buddy. Hope all is grand in Oz mate. My son is loving it, now he has found his niche. He is even playing soccerball for a local team now. Dutch Mastery Down Under.

When JW speaks, I listen. Big Man-Love.

Glad to hear he's part of the fabric.

Have you dusted off your snorkelling gear yet? You coming down to visit soon?

I will dive off the Barrier Reef pal. Its been my dream since I was a kid watching Jacques Cousteau. Looks like it will be later in the year. Summer there is too hot for me. I take 2 weeks to get white, never minded tanned.

I will be sure to meet up for pints in Sydney, mo chara.

Then there were 2 in the HC. 3 French teams and 1 Irish team in the Finals. 1 is in the wrong Final. Ah well... next year.

mikey_philVIII wrote:

nathan wrote:

mikey_philVIII wrote:Why are Saracens doing a lap of honour? Such a loser mentality.

Wilkinson is a boss and a legend. Excellent character on display in the post match talk and throughout the game.

Going to guess there saying thank you to all there fans...

As in "thanks for the lack of atmosphere"?

as in thanks for coming to twicks and supporting us.

Aelandor wrote:Well there was one decent OH in that game.............. Charlie Hodgson. If you swapped JW and OF into each others teams, there would be no difference. They're both place kicking machines and very little else.

I agree I thought Charlie Hodgson looked superb.

Wilkinson can't and doesn't attack. Fine to play for Toulon where he has Giteau to step up and do all he can't, but we don't have a lions contending centre to play that Giteaux roll.

Duty281 wrote:Get Wilko on that plane, he's scored every point for Toulon in their quarter-final and semi-final. Would be great back-up for Sexton to come off the bench for the last 20 minutes, or if Sexton got injured. Saracens have just one real chance to win this game, they didn't take it, Toulon too good in the end.

that's just not a good thing though is it

You definitely don't want your 10 to be the only person to score a point in two huge games

Sexton looked almost back to his best yesterday. Yes, he kicked 5 from 6, but his team also scored 5 tries, one scored by him most of the others involving him.

I feel depressed about the future of European rugby when I watch Toulon play.