David Strettle says former club Saracens will hold no surprises for Clermont Auvergne
Friday 8 December 2017 11:05, UK
David Strettle has warned former club Saracens that they hold no surprises for Clermont Auvergne when they face each other on Sunday in a repeat of the 2017 final.
Sarries beat Clermont 28-17 at Murrayfield in May to retain their European crown, with Mark McCall's side aiming to match Toulon's feat of winning the trophy for three consecutive seasons.
Victory over Clermont at Allianz Park would offer a struggling Saracens side a welcome boost in the first of their back-to-back games which are expected to determine who qualifies for the knockout stages from Pool 2.
"Both sides are sat at the top of the table and we know how important away points and away wins are," said Strettle, Clermont's 14-times capped England winger.
"It's a massive game for Saracens playing at home because they don't want to lose that advantage, and it's a huge game for us because we want to take the advantage away from them.
"Having played against Sarries in the final, the boys respect how good a team they are but it won't be a case of the guys not knowing what's coming.
"It's going to be international-level intensity and when you look at the two teams, we can match their calibre of player."
Saracens are one point better off than Clermont in Pool 2 after the opening two rounds of European fixtures but they have suffered three straight defeats in the Aviva Premiership.
French champions Clermont are also struggling for form in their domestic league and lie ninth in France's Top 14.
"When you carry the tag champions of France teams want to beat you that little bit more," added Strettle, now in his third season in France.
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"I think the emotion of teams coming up against the champions has caught a few of the boys out.
"But there have been times in games when we've taken our foot off the gas and let teams back in.
"We've possibly not respected the opposition as much as we should, it hasn't been anyone else's fault than ours."
