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| Saracens’ Chris Ashton and David Strettle shine in win over Clermont | Saracens’ Chris Ashton and David Strettle shine in win over Clermont |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The new order began with a repeat of the semi-final of last season’s old. The result was the same, a victory for Saracens and with a bonus point to boot, but the manner was not the same. Instead of a terrible rout, this was a rip-roaring contest between two evenly matched contenders. | The new order began with a repeat of the semi-final of last season’s old. The result was the same, a victory for Saracens and with a bonus point to boot, but the manner was not the same. Instead of a terrible rout, this was a rip-roaring contest between two evenly matched contenders. |
| Clermont’s head coach, Franck Azéma, had refused to talk of revenge for what happened in the semi-final of the old Heineken Cup last season at Twickenham. New coach, new team, new season; time to move on. But the memory of his team’s fearful 46-6 drubbing that day seemed to be lingering, because new Clermont sprang a leak all too early in the proceedings. | |
| To be fair to the visitors, Saracens imparted a fair squeeze on their pipework, first through Alistair Hargreaves at the lineout, the second-row dropping the ball swiftly down to Richard Wigglesworth. For a change, the scrum-half passed the ball rather than lifting it high with his boot, his preferred option for much of the first half. Out in midfield on this occasion was big Billy Vunipola who, with nothing less than a full pirouette, gave a delicious pop-up pass that created the space for David Strettle to stretch his legs on the wing. | |
| Saracens are obviously working on expanding big Billy’s repertoire, and this was perhaps a sign of things to come – and a delightful moment it was, too. At the same time, however, Vunipola looked a little less involved than usual, a little too keen to give the ball to others. Increase his skills by all means, but the value of Billy on the burst and at full tilt must be respected too. | Saracens are obviously working on expanding big Billy’s repertoire, and this was perhaps a sign of things to come – and a delightful moment it was, too. At the same time, however, Vunipola looked a little less involved than usual, a little too keen to give the ball to others. Increase his skills by all means, but the value of Billy on the burst and at full tilt must be respected too. |
| Still, his ballet worked here, and no one senses a possibility created better than Chris Ashton. The right-wing stayed in support of the left to scoop up the ball knocked back by Wesley Fofana. It looked as if Saracens and Ashton were going to enjoy a day in full flow, and they did indeed end the first period with a second try. Wigglesworth took a penalty on the Clermont 22 to himself, ran in and out of defenders not allowed to touch him and then delivered the sweetest of passes to Strettle who scored. Two passes from Wigglesworth and two tries. What made him kick so much? | Still, his ballet worked here, and no one senses a possibility created better than Chris Ashton. The right-wing stayed in support of the left to scoop up the ball knocked back by Wesley Fofana. It looked as if Saracens and Ashton were going to enjoy a day in full flow, and they did indeed end the first period with a second try. Wigglesworth took a penalty on the Clermont 22 to himself, ran in and out of defenders not allowed to touch him and then delivered the sweetest of passes to Strettle who scored. Two passes from Wigglesworth and two tries. What made him kick so much? |
| The old All Black Zac Guildford was not immaculate under the aerial test but the former Bath full-back Nick Abendanon was and the more he caught, the more Camille Lopez came into play. Not so long ago he was playing down in Federale 1, the third division, with Mauleon, a Basque boy in a lowly Basque team. Last season he went down with Perpignan, relegated from the Top 14 to the Pro D2, but was lifted back up with a transfer to Clermont. | The old All Black Zac Guildford was not immaculate under the aerial test but the former Bath full-back Nick Abendanon was and the more he caught, the more Camille Lopez came into play. Not so long ago he was playing down in Federale 1, the third division, with Mauleon, a Basque boy in a lowly Basque team. Last season he went down with Perpignan, relegated from the Top 14 to the Pro D2, but was lifted back up with a transfer to Clermont. |
| The 25-year-old played with assurance here, stroking the ball to the corners with his preferred left boot. Another player stood out, the Fijian Noa Nakaitaci, who has been capped once by France. He burst into midfield, one wing’s good work leading to a try for the other, Guildford. | |
| Lopez converted, added a penalty and gave a short pass to Fofana that the centre dropped even as he was crossing the line. Clermont should have been ahead, but Strettle then scored and all was square at half-time. | Lopez converted, added a penalty and gave a short pass to Fofana that the centre dropped even as he was crossing the line. Clermont should have been ahead, but Strettle then scored and all was square at half-time. |
| Hodgson landed his first kick early in the second half, only to be upstaged by Lopez who dropped a sweet goal. Nothing separated the teams again. | Hodgson landed his first kick early in the second half, only to be upstaged by Lopez who dropped a sweet goal. Nothing separated the teams again. |
| Having had plenty of catching practice in the first half, Guildford now chased a more offensive effort. He leapt, beat Alex Goode to the ball and ran away to score. Almost immediately, Saracens responded, Goode quickly sweeping the ball out of trouble, allowing Strettle to beat Fritz Lee and the touchline in very swift order. It was a deft finish in the tightest of spots, and brought the scores level yet again. | Having had plenty of catching practice in the first half, Guildford now chased a more offensive effort. He leapt, beat Alex Goode to the ball and ran away to score. Almost immediately, Saracens responded, Goode quickly sweeping the ball out of trouble, allowing Strettle to beat Fritz Lee and the touchline in very swift order. It was a deft finish in the tightest of spots, and brought the scores level yet again. |
| Clermont thought they had gained the upper hand again when their giant second row, Sébastien Vahaamahina, romped over from a lineout, the ball bouncing to him from a flap. On review, however, Damien Chouly had done a little obstructing to open up the pathway to the line. Still all square. | Clermont thought they had gained the upper hand again when their giant second row, Sébastien Vahaamahina, romped over from a lineout, the ball bouncing to him from a flap. On review, however, Damien Chouly had done a little obstructing to open up the pathway to the line. Still all square. |
| Now it was the home team’s turn. Guildford was put to the test again and this time he fluffed his lines, dropping a high ball and watching Ashton take full advantage. It brought Saracens their bonus point for four tries, two apiece for their wings. Hodgson converted from wide out and time was running out for the French side. The outside-half also missed with a penalty and was retired, allowing Owen Farrell to make his entrance – his return. | Now it was the home team’s turn. Guildford was put to the test again and this time he fluffed his lines, dropping a high ball and watching Ashton take full advantage. It brought Saracens their bonus point for four tries, two apiece for their wings. Hodgson converted from wide out and time was running out for the French side. The outside-half also missed with a penalty and was retired, allowing Owen Farrell to make his entrance – his return. |
| It was a better moment for the home crowd than the sight of Schalk Brits being carried off after buckling his knee trying an exaggerated side-step. It looked like one of the perils of the artificial surface, not that anybody will admit to it. Winter is on its way and Allianz Park will stay firm – but a bit too unyielding on this occasion perhaps. | It was a better moment for the home crowd than the sight of Schalk Brits being carried off after buckling his knee trying an exaggerated side-step. It looked like one of the perils of the artificial surface, not that anybody will admit to it. Winter is on its way and Allianz Park will stay firm – but a bit too unyielding on this occasion perhaps. |
| The loss of Brits was not the only worry for Saracens. Clermont lost but claimed a losing bonus point. In this savagely tough pool, no single point is to be sniffed at. The new order is deliciously under way. | The loss of Brits was not the only worry for Saracens. Clermont lost but claimed a losing bonus point. In this savagely tough pool, no single point is to be sniffed at. The new order is deliciously under way. |