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Clermont Are White Hot as the Champions Cup Returns

Wesley Fofana scores for Clermont. Picture: Getty

As European Champions Cup rugby returns to give fans an early Christmas present, James Harrington reveals the tournament’s on-fire teams – and the ones that need a fire lit under them.

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The Champions Cup returns to give the northern hemisphere’s rugby calendar a distinctly European flavour for the next fortnight, with all 20 teams preparing for a home-and-away double header against one opponent from their pool.

As the competition enters its key pre-Christmas third and fourth rounds, the question is which sides are in the box seat for a place in the knockout phase of the competition – and are there any surprising teams at risk of an early exit?

Who’s Hot

Clermont: Ten points after two rounds says it all. A blip against Pau in the Top 14 last weekend, when they lost by five points and the odd touchdown in a nine-try, 75-point thriller, gives other teams a hint of a hope, but just a hint. They face Ulster twice in the next two weeks, starting in Belfast, a city they have visited only once previously (and lost), and will be looking for a minimum of six points over the next two matches to put at least one foot in the knockout phase. The French side have already beaten Exeter Chiefs and Bordeaux-Begles in Pool Five and have won their last five European outings against Irish sides – four against Munster and one against Leinster.

Saracens: The defending champions took Toulon apart at Stade Mayol in the opening round of the tournament, following up with a bonus-point home win over Scarlets. The Premiership leaders are at home in the first leg of their double-header against 10th-placed Sale. Like Clermont, they will be looking to pick up at least of six points from the next two games. Eight, nine or 10 would seem even more likely, given current form and confidence at both sides.

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Who’s Just Warming Up

Toulon: The Toulon that will take to the Stade Mayol pitch against Scarlets this weekend is a very different animal to the one that hobbled through the first two rounds of the tournament in October. In the backroom, Diego Dominguez has been relieved of his duties and replaced by Mike Ford. The change has been almost instantaneous. The nervy and uncertain Toulon that started the season has been replaced by a more adventurous, more confident side. They still do not have the swagger of a couple of seasons ago, but they’re on the way back. Scarlets, their opponents over the next two matches, beware.

Munster: The untimely death of Munster legend Anthony Foley shortly before they were due to open their Champions Cup account against Racing 92 in France means that two-time champions from southwest Ireland are a match behind pool one rivals Glasgow and Leicester in the tournament. Yet they are sitting at the top of the table, following a bonus-point victory over Glasgow in the second round of matches. They are at home again for the third round, when they welcome Leicester to Thomond Park, and with the spirit of Foley apparently watching over his beloved province, it will be hard to bet against them.

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Who’s Out Of It

Northampton: The Saints 100th European Cup match could not come at a much more difficult time. They are ninth in the league, have just lost the Midlands’ derby against Leicester, and their last European outing was a far from impressive 47-7 hammering at Castres Olympique. They may be only the 10th side to join the elite European 100 club – after Toulouse (152), Munster (151), Leinster (144), Leicester (140), Scarlets (131), Ulster (131), Cardiff Blues (114), Treviso (108) and Glasgow Warriors (105) – but they need a rapid turnaround in fortunes to escape from the foot of Pool Four. And it won’t be easy for Jim Mallinder’s side. Not only double-header opponents Leinster in better form right now, so are the other two Pool Four rivals, Montpellier and Castres who’ll be bashing lumps out of each other in France.

Zebre: Two matches. Two defeats. Three tries scored and 20 conceded. A points difference of -113 … and a rejuvenated Toulouse at home and away in the next week or so. Enough said.

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O
Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 3 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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