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Clermont to face Saracens in an epic ERCC semi-final

Aussie Brock James lines up for Clermont in this weekend's ERCC semi final. (Photo by Zegreg63, Wikimedia Commons)
Roar Guru
16th April, 2015
35

Clermont host Saracens in the first of the weekend’s European Rugby Champions Cup semi-finals, and there are some important facts to know before watching the game.

1. Clermont and Saracens have faced each other twice this season
Saracens won the first round, 30-23. Clermont won the return round, 18-6.

Both teams won their home fixtures.

2. The two teams faced off in last year’s semi-final
Saracens had the home advantage then, and proved far too much for Clermont, winning 46-6, in one of the heaviest defeats seen in Heineken Cup knock-out history.

Clermont will have the home advantage this year, which means a lot, as they haven’t lost a home game in European competition since 2008, when they were defeated by Sale.

3. Clermont have had a better success rate this season
Clermont have lost only one of their pool matches, to Saracens. They also made short work of Northampton in the quarter-finals, winning 37-15.

Saracens have had a tougher time of it, losing to both Clermont and Munster in the pool stages. They also had a much tougher time in the quarter-finals, beating Racing Metro 12-11. They had to rely on penalties to win the match, at no point did they look like scoring a try.

4. Saracens understand the heavy task ahead of them
They’ve even gone so far as to recruit Jim McGuinness, who is a well-known sports guru, to psych up the players. For four years, McGuinness was the manager of the Donegal Gaelic Football Team. He is now sports psychologist for Celtic soccer team, and he was also the right hand man of Paul McGinely during the 2014 Ryder Cup.

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5. Billy Vunipola has been cleared to play
Saracens will be buoyed by the news that their stand-out forward, Billy Vunipola, will feature in the semi-final.

Vunipola had been cited following an incident in an English Premiership match against Leicester last weekend.

Saracens also have a strong back-line with England internationals, Alex Goode, Christ Ashton and David Strettle.

Star Clermont players include Nick Abendanon, Jonathan Davies, Wesley Fofana and Brock James in the back-line, and a strong pack.

Clermont and Saracens are pretty evenly matched player-wise. Saracens will need to find the passion that led them to the final of last year’s tournament.

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