Rupert Cox's Off Load: Clermont, England Sevens and Jean Deysel come under scrutiny
Wednesday 8 April 2015 11:46, UK
Rupert Cox shares his highlights from the week's rugby action in his round-up blog.
Marchons!
So there we have it - two France-based semi-finals in the Champions Cup. Was it ever in doubt? No wonder the RFU is having trouble selling tickets to the final at Twickenham - an all-French showpiece on English soil looks like the safest bet you could make all year.
It's become a favourite hobby of sports hacks in the UK to talk down the Top 14 as little more than an overfunded arm wrestle. But no rugby scribe with functioning eyesight could have watched what unfolded in the Massif Central on Saturday and not been awed by Clermont-Auvergne's performance. In the bear pit that is the Stade Marcel Michelin, Northampton Saints were tossed aside like fifteen rag dolls. The English champions (who, let's not forget, lead the Premiership by 10 points right now) were made to look like amateurs. Saints man Tom Wood, never afraid to tell it like it is, tweeted it best: "Thanks to Clermont for inviting us to their open training session today, we've left our non contact bibs in the changing rooms. #humbled".
It was a thrilling finish in Paris and a great buzz for Saracens fans to see the Fez Men knock over Racing Metro away from home - and in such grandstand style. But the truth is Racing should have been well in the clear long before Marcelo Bosch stepped up to coolly kick the winner. If not for some properly brainless rugby at the death, there would be three French teams in the semi-finals. But Sarries will travel to St Etienne - and good on them. They will make all the right noises and the game will be hyped up as a real contest - but for all that I can't see anything stopping Clermont from reaching their second European Cup final.
Down on the Côte d'Azur, Wasps gave Toulon a run for their money - in the second half at least - but despite being far from their best the champions were way too strong. And while it's doubtful that Clermont can get much better, it's clear that Toulon have plenty of room for improvement: Giteau, Halfpenny and Habana will improve the backline, Juan Smith and Fernandez-Lobbe will beef up the pack. Three-time winners Leinster will draw upon every ounce of their vast European experience when they visit the Stade Velodrome, but the Champions should muscle right up and get it done.
Olympic Dream Alive
Simon Amor's England Sevens team turned up in Tokyo six points behind their Olympic rivals Australia, and in real danger of losing any chance of automatic qualification for Rio 2016. But, after a thrilling cup final victory over Series leaders South Africa, they are now 9 points ahead of Australia in fourth spot overall and in great shape for a Team GB Olympic berth. Captain Tom Mitchell was terrific in the final – he did everything. He scored and saved tries, won pivotal turnovers, kicked crucial goals, and led the team brilliantly. It was Mitchell's first tour win, and will surely be the first of many.
Brickbat
Jean Deysel. With the Crusaders down to 12 men with three yellow cards in the space of five minutes, the Sharks forward lowered his knee into the head of Matt Todd, and promptly got sent off and slapped with a seven-week ban. The upshot: the Crusaders racked up 50 points at Kings Park and left the Sharks completely embarrassed. With foul play bans already over Bismarck du Plessis (four weeks) and Frans Steyn (five weeks), head coach Gary Gold must be tearing out what little hair he has left.
Bouquet
The Hurricanes have done it again! Seven straight wins now, this time over the Stormers. Their 95-metre wonder try, finished off by Beauden Barrett just before half time, was brazen and brilliant in equal measure.
