Heineken Cup Quarter Final: Saracens v Clermont - 08/04/2012

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Ulster v Clermont final.

 

[j'nuh]

Sarries attack = go to the left, and now to the right, and now to the left, rinse repeat. Boring. Too slow to support players who make breaks, no dummy runs, no wrapping around in attack, passing without fail to the flattest player. Sarries are also a little too quick to spread the ball wide when they haven't tied up any defenders. All a bit too predictable.

I actually think Ashton might help Sarries. On form, he's a great support runner, and god how they need one of those.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Clermont defence was outstanding.

 

[Feicarsinn]

Ulster v Clermont final.

Oh ye of little faith.

 

[Peat]

Sarries attack = go to the left, and now to the right, and now to the left, rinse repeat. Boring. Too slow to support players who make breaks, no dummy runs, no wrapping around in attack, passing without fail to the flattest player. Sarries are also a little too quick to spread the ball wide when they haven't tied up any defenders. All a bit too predictable.

I actually think Ashton might help Sarries. On form, he's a great support runner, and god how they need one of those.

It would help if they believed they were allowed to score tries with their backs in general, they didn't seem to have too much clue once the pack got demolished and they needed tries. (note: my feed cut out frequently, so I might have missed things).

Think I'm gonna start shouting more about Kruis though. Looks the goods.

Ulster v Clermont final.

I hope so, as I think Leinster would simply dismantle us in such a situation.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

Personally every team in the SF are strong. Leinster are a class above, there's to lose but Clermont are pretty damn good. Ulster and the Edinburgh will have something to say also. All in all, a strong field is left.

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

Luckily for us they've decided to move it half way across France to Bordeaux.

Don't be mistaken, Bordeaux will be their home.
It's by the way the first time a Bordeaux Grand Cru Classé will be Yellow...

 

[Feicarsinn]

Don't be mistaken, Bordeaux will be their home.
It's by the way the first time a Bordeaux Grand Cru Classé will be Yellow...

I'm not saying it will be easy, just easier than facing them in the Stade Michelin. I'm confident that we can go to France and win, even if we won't be favourites.

 

[racingmetrofan]

Result is pretty unsurprising. I don't understand why you'd play a fly half at 13 :S In theory anyway if you had to have Farrell and Hodgeson on the pitch you'd be better off playing Farrell at 15 and Goode at 13.

THey seriously need to sign a good 13.

 

[big ginger 8]

Ah for ****'s sake.


We'll have to play to our very best.

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

I'm not saying it will be easy, just easier than facing them in the Stade Michelin. I'm confident that we can go to France and win, even if we won't be favourites.

Not talking about favorites, who should still be Leinster because of your present level and history in HCup.
But I think you should prepare like if playing in Stade MICHELIN, and not in a pseudo neutral stadium, because it will be exactly the same in terms of ambiance.
For Irish supporters Bordeaux should just be an advantage in terms of airlines connections.

 

[Peat]

Not talking about favorites, wich could still be Leinster because of your present level and history in HCup.
But I think you should prepare like if playing in Stade MICHELIN, and not in a pseudo neutral stadium, because it will be exactly the same in terms of ambiance.
For Irish supporters Bordeaux should just be an advantage in terms of airlines connections.

It's never quite the same, not the same feeling of ease, every pitch is slightly different and so on...

If these games were to be played in Stade Michelin and Ravenhill, I think you could close enough just skip to the final.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Luckily for us they've decided to move it half way across France to Bordeaux.

Ah, there's that rule where "home" teams don't get to play at their home, isn't there?

I think Leinster will win, tbh.
Ulster vs Edinburgh will be interesting

 

[Peat]

Ah, there's that rule where "home" teams don't get to play at their home, isn't there?

I think Leinster will win, tbh.
Ulster vs Edinburgh will be interesting

Yup. Although they do get to play in their own country.

I'm slightly curious as to which Embra turns up. I might, they've taken their HC chances very well this season, but they're 11th in the Rabble Pro, and so far Ulster's record against them this season is 2 bonus point wins, with 80 points scored against 36. I hate feeling this confident tbh, its rarely well advised...

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

Agree that players won't have the same marks like if they are at M.Michelin, but in terms of ambiance, it will be like playing in the "chaudron".
Club has already booked coaches, 20€/seat with sandwich included. For the drink I suppose supporters will only have to manage by themselves !!

 

[Feicarsinn]

Agree that players won't have the same marks like if they are at M.Michelin, but in terms of ambiance, it will be like playing in the "chaudron".
Club has already booked coaches, 20€/seat with sandwich included. For the drink I suppose supporters will only have to manage by themselves !!

Yeah, but it's not essentially the atmosphere I'd be worried about. We've won in hostile places this season, but I think mentally there's a big difference for both sets of players between playing in Clermont and playing in Bordeaux. While Clermont are still at home, they're not in their fortress, so you'd imagine that'd play on their minds very slightly.

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

Well seems that we won't never agree here, keep on thinking that every spirit (players and supporters) will act like being at home, and only players who need precise marks (kickers, game organizers) will have to find theirs here.
I suppose the team should come early in the week before the match to invest the stadium that way.
Reading french forums let me think that as a lot of people here are already projecting on this semi, like Clermont's 2nd place doesn't seem to be in danger up to this date.

 

[psychic duck]

congratulations to that idiot of a commentator Dewi Morris for calling Zirakashvili ... Yachvili

 

[jaunard06]

That "rule" will probably cost us the final...I have no doubt we would have won at home, but in Bordeaux...?!

 

[Mr.cyclopede]

Understand it, but when I think back of how Clermont's supporters invaded the british stadium yesterday, no doubts that they will consider Bordeaux as a fortress.
It's a long time now that I didn't hear The Marseillaise in a club match, especially not at home. Moreover Clermont is the last French club running for the ***le, this semi will more look like a France vs Ireland for French people as Irish are still divided in their difference province.

Now we don't forget Leinster is the favorite.