Murrayfield MAESTROS
Saracens triumph in Champions Cup final
SARACENS became only the fourth club in history to win Europe’s premier club title in back-to-back sasons when they held off a Clermont fightback in a pulsating contest at BT Murrayfield.
The stadium was a riot of red, black, yellow and blue and had the sound of old Scotland-France internationals, with beating drums and choruses of ‘Allez Allez’ from a large Clermont support, but tries from Chris Ashton, George Kruis and Alex Goode proved too much for the French to match.
Ashton demonstrated Saracens’ reputation for clinical finishing after just 12 minutes when, from a lineout on the left, he raced on to a Goode grubber on the right. The ball bounced up beautifully to even allow the winger time to perform his customary swan dive in the dead-ball area.
It was a record 37th European try for Ashton but his penchant for extravagant celebrating meant he shunned a touchdown round behind the posts and Owen Farrell’s tough conversion attempt came back off a post.
When the European Champions Cup holders led by just a point heading into the final ten minutes, one wondered if that moment might prove costly.
However, it was not to be the case due to Goode’s match-winner with just over seven minutes remaining — albeit with a hint of controversy around a possible knock-on that referee Nigel Owens chose not to check — and a fine touchline conversion by Farrell.
But if the result was unsurprising, the nature of the game was.
The theory was that Saracens were the fitter side, arguably Europe’s top finishers, and so if Clermont were to stand a chance they had to start well and build up a lead. So much for theories.
Saracens had threatened to run away with the game in that first half, their powerful pack spearheaded by man-of-the-match Billy Vunipola and his brother Mako setting platforms, and Farrell dictating the tempo and style to again prove that Johnny Sexton is not a shoe-in for the British and Irish Lions No 10 jersey.
But they were pegged back by the electrifying brilliance of the Clermont attack — their back row of Damien Chouly, Peceli Yato and Fritz Lee particularly showing their ability to play like backs.
After lock Kruis had scored Saracens’ second try — diving over by the left-hand post on 21 minutes — and Farrell had, this time, converted, Clermont finally succeeded in putting some phases together and finding some belief.
Camille Lopez — in the running for European Player of the Year — led the comeback with precision kicking to the Saracens 22. With his half-back partner Morgan Parra exhorting the forwards to lift their efforts, the pack drove into the left-hand corner.
Saracens flanker Jackson Wray prevented the pack touching down, but from the scrum Clermont attacked infield and when Aurélien Rougerie was held up close, he squeezed the ball to centre-partner Remi Lamerat, who dived over.
The Clermont defence on their own line was phenomenal, limiting Farrell to a penalty, to which the French responded as only the French can — with a daring break by Scott Spedding from his own line and a stunning attack up the left touchline by Lee and Yato.
Yato, the 24-year-old Fijian flanker-cum-winger, sucked in and blew away two Saracens backs with searing pace and power — before flicking the ball from under his left arm to the supporting Nick
Abendanon, who had an easy run-in from the 22. Parra’s conversion brought the game back to a point.
The Murrayfield crowd then saw some Scottish involvement, with Duncan Taylor replacing Saracens skipper Brad Barritt, as the intensity continued.
Farrell rewarded a fine team attack with another penalty and Clermont responded with Parra slotting three points to keep grip on Saracens’ shirt-tails as the game moved into the final quarter.
The tension ratcheted up again in the closing 15 minutes as Saracens’ resolve grew.
Lopez — who had suffered a broken nose earlier by butting his own player in a ruck — was fortunate to escape a yellow card when he lunged for the ball to disrupt a try-scoring pass, while Parra made a superb last-ditch tackle to deny Billy Vunipola.
But Saracens know how to finish and they remained patient until the gaps appeared.
Goode found his way through in the 73rd minute, Farrell converting and adding a penalty to wrap up Saracens’ 100th European win and the trophy.
It was a thrilling finish to the season.
There may have been little Scottish interest but, just as Glasgow have inspired belief in Scottish rugby during the season, this kind of high-quality, intense showpiece, featuring the best of northern hemisphere rugby — in the capital — should inspire Warriors, Edinburgh and Scotland players as they seek to beat a path to this rarefied level.