#360rugby: EPCR final preview, Perelini raising UAE skills

On 14^th May Saracens will meet Racing in the European Champions Cup final and no one can argue with the fact that these two teams have been the best by some distance.

It is no coincidence therefore that both teams employ a similar brand of rugby, where aesthetically pleasing backs moves take a backseat to power and organised defence.

That is not to say it will not be an enthralling, encapsulating arm wrestle of a match with plenty of firepower to keep the crowd at Lyon satisfied. It is still a European final between the capital cities of old foes England and France, after all.

If the prospect of Dan Carter playing against Owen Farrell (if the latter comes out the right side of the citing commissioner), Joe Rokocoko taking on Chris Ashton and Chris Masoe doing battle with Billy Vunipola at the base of the scrum doesn’t excite a rugby fan, then nothing ever will.

The Londoners have now contested four semi-finals in four years and it will be their second final, meaning they have more experience and the favourites tag going into the game.

CHALLENGE CUP A BATTLE OF CONTRASTING STYLES

If there is a similarity of styles between in the main competition, the Challenge Cup match up between Montpellier and Harlequins is chalk and cheese.

The influence of Montpellier’s formidable band of Springboks is evident in their style of play. Harlequins can expect a tight and brutal contest around the ruck as well as an aerial examination of their back three.

Conor O’Shea’s men will play with the same attacking flair and instinctive, offloading game that saw them thrash Grenoble so convincingly in the semi-finals.

Welsh battering ram Jamie Roberts will look to put his team on the front foot, creating space for the likes of Mike Brown and Marland Yarde to create havoc in the outside channels.

The rugby purists will hope that the Londoner’s endevours with ball in hand will be rewarded with a fourth Challenge Cup title, but with Montpellier’s superior power it is difficult to see anything other than a win for the French side.

SUNWOLVES FINALLY HAVE SOMETHING TO SMILE ABOUT

It may have been against an out-of-sorts Jaguares side, but the Sunwolves’ first win in Super Rugby was the toast of Tokyo last weekend.

Following a 92-17 humiliation at the claws of the Cheethas last week, the critics were circling the Japanese Super Rugby debutants like, er, wolves.

However Mark Hammett’s men dusted themselves down and are now off the bottom of the table following a hard-fought 36-28 victory.

Samoan fly-half Tusi Pisi was a just recipient of his Man of the Match award, orchestrating his midfielders into space with ease, and contributing 18-points with the boot.

Delays in finalising a playing squad (and coach) have meant a tough start to life in Super Rugby for the Sunwolves but the team and its passionate fans will hope to build some momentum heading into the end of season run in.

PERELINI RAISING UAE RUGBY EXPECTATIONS AHEAD OF UZBEKISTAN SERIES

Former dual code Samoa international Apollo Perelini is putting UAE rugby through a grueling six-week training regime in a bid to improve standards ahead of the Asia Rugby Championship (ARC) series.

The 46-year-old has been focusing on skill levels in his initial sessions and is adamant all players need to be on par with one another.

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re a front rower, second rower, a winger or fly-half, you all have the same responsibility. You all want to have the same skill level across the park,” said Perelini.

“My philosophy is when you’re on the field, you’re all rugby players. Irrespective of where you play you all have to have the same skill-sets. I want them to be a ball player, I want my forwards to be just as skillful as any back.”

Perelini’s UAE will warm up for ARC Division II games against Singapore, Guam and Uzbekistan in May with a friendly against a UAE Premiership Barbarians team, coached by Dubai Exiles’ Jacques Benade.

HURRICANE LOOKING TO LAUNCH INTERNATIONAL CAREER WITH UAE

It might be the time of year when sport in the UAE starts to die down, but Daniel Perry insists there will be no let up from the national rugby next month’s Asia Rugby Championship (ARC) Division II campaign.

The Dubai Hurricanes captain arrived in the UAE from Morecambe in May 2012 and just missed out on UAE selection for their trip to Malaysia 12 months ago. There, the UAE narrowly missed out on promotion back to Asia Rugby’s second tier.

Having now passed his UAE three-year residency rule, Perry is determined to make the squad, especially after a disappointing club season with Canes.

This year coach Perelini has been putting around 35 players through their paces at The Sevens and Jebel Ali Centre of Excellence and will cull the group to a 25-man touring squad in the coming days.

EXTRA TIME

If Saracens were in any doubt as to the size of the task ahead of them in the EPCR final, they need not look any further than the impact of Racing number eight Chris Masoe. Against Leicester, the former All Black was in full beast mode. Just ask Graham Kitchener or Freddie Burns.