European Champions Cup: Saracens v Clermont Auvergne preview
Last Updated: 18/10/14 9:51am
Top 14 leaders Clermont Auvergne will bid to avenge their semi-final thrashing at the hands of Saracens last year when they visit Allianz Park on Saturday for a mouth-watering opening showdown in the European Rugby Champions Cup.
Saracens turned in what was regarded by many as the best English performance on the continent last term when they trounced Clermont 46-6 at Allianz Park to book a Heineken Cup final date with Toulon.
Much has changed in Europe since then, though. None less so than the competition itself, which has been rebranded as the European Rugby Champions Cup, which has four fewer teams this time around with 20 sides battling it out for continental supremacy.
Saracens’ victory was their first in four meetings with Clermont and Mark McCall’s Londoners averaged more points (31.8) and tries (4.2) than any other team last term.
Despite their resounding reverse at the penultimate hurdle, Clermont still averaged almost 20 minutes in possession, more than any side, and McCall is wary of the threat posed by their star-studded group, with Irish province Munster and Premiership rivals Sale completing Pool 1.
"We have got a start that is unbelievably difficult - Clermont at home and then Munster away," he told Premiership Rugby. "It is what it is. We are not the only team with a difficult pool. The competition has got an elite feel to it this time around.
"We know we benefitted from an easier pool last year and there was an expectation for us to get through to the knockout stages, which you don't often get in Europe - it was the first time we'd had a pool like that.
"This is a proper pool and it is a very elite competition now so it's what you'd expect."
Team news
McCall will be without injured front-row Kieran Longbottom, which paves the way for Petrus du Plessis to join Jamie George and Richard Barrington, while Alistair Hargreaves skippers the side from lock where he is joined by George Kruis.
Will Fraser returns to the side after a hamstring injury at openside flanker, alongside Kelly Brown and Billy Vunipola as Richard Wigglesworth partners Charlie Hodgson at half-back, with Brad Barritt and Chris Wyles linking up in midfield.
In the back three, Alex Goode returns to the side at full-back, with Chris Ashton and David Strettle starting on the wings.
The headline team news from the Clermont camp is the omission of Jonathan Davies, amid rumours a cohort of Wales internationals may be making a homecoming.
With central contracts now available to Wales coach Warren Gatland under the new Participation Agreement, speculation is rife regarding numerous Top 14 players and the decision to leave him out of the Saracens clash means he will not be cup-tied for Europe.
Although there is no Davies, livewire France centre Wesley Fofana does start in his absence, offering a dynamic edge to the Clermont attack.
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode; 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Chris Wyles, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 David Strettle; 10 Charlie Hodgson, 9 Richard Wigglesworth; 1 Richard Barrington, 2 Jamie George, 3 Petrus du Plessis, 4 George Kruis, 5 Alistair Hargreaves (c), 6 Kelly Brown, 7 Will Fraser, 8 Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Brits, 17 Rhys Gill, 18 James Johnston, 19 Jim Hamilton, 20 Jackson Wray, 21 Neil de Kock, 22 Owen Farrell, 23 Marcelo Bosch.
Clermont Auvergne: 15 Nick Abendanon, 14 Noa Nakaitaci, 13 Aurelien Rougerie, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Zac Guildford, 10 Camile Lopez, 9 Ludovic Radosavljevic; 1 Thomas Domingo, 2 Benjam Kayser, 3 Davit Zirakashvili, 4 Jamie Cudmore, 5 Sebastien Vahaamahina, 6 Fritz Lee, 7 Julien Bonnaire, 8 Damien Chouly (c).
Replacements: 16 John Ulugia, 17 Raphael Chaume, 18 Lement Ric, 19 Loic Jacquet, 20 Julien Bardy, 21 Brock James, 22 Thierry Lacrampe, 23 Benson Stanley.
