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Saracens retain European title as Ashton sets try landmark

By Russell Greaves
Saracens’ Chris Ashton

Saracens claimed back-to-back European Champions Cup titles as Chris Ashton reached a major milestone in Saturday’s 28-17 win over Clermont Auvergne.

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The Premiership side, seeking a second consecutive European and league double, completed the first part of that feat in a thrilling clash at Murrayfield.

Ashton, who will depart at the end of the season for Toulon, moved on to a record 37 tries in European competition with the opening score, while George Kruis also crossed the whitewash before the break.

Despite dominating the first half, Sarries were pegged back by Remi Lamerat’s try for a Clermont team who were simply trying to hang on in a bid to claim the club’s first title after final defeats in 2013 and 2015.

The pattern of play was turned on its head at the start of the second half as, after Owen Farrell’s penalty, Nick Abendanon capped a fine Clermont move with the try of the match to cut the gap to one point.

But Mark McCall’s men dug deep to become only the fourth side to retain the crown as Alex Goode’s late try killed off the hopes of their Top 14 opponents.

Saracens made a stunning start and Ashton was held up close to the line inside two minutes, but he was not to be denied his moment in the 12th minute.

Goode’s perfectly weighted grubber was pounced upon by the 30-year-old, who ran in to bring up a landmark score.

Farrell’s conversion attempt hit the post and he then came up short with an ambitious penalty, but still the English side continued to probe and Kruis powered over for a second try.

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To Clermont’s credit they stuck at their increasingly demanding task and managed to cut the deficit when France international Lamerat crossed following strong work from Aurelien Rougerie.

McCall’s men were not as quick out of the blocks in the second half, despite Farrell’s three-pointer, and Scott Spedding’s daring decision to run it out from the back paid dividends when Abendanon added the finishing touch 80 metres down the field.

Farrell and Morgan Parra exchanged penalties to ensure the game entered the final quarter with only a point in it, with the holders next to threaten when Billy Vunipola was thwarted just shy of the line.

Sarries, who take on Exeter in the Premiership play-off semi-final next weekend, ultimately sealed a 100th win in European competition courtesy of Goode’s converted try, with Farrell’s penalty the final say.

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Adrian 25 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

6 Go to comments
T
Trevor 3 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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B
Bull Shark 7 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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