The final weekend of pool play in the European Champions Cup threw up some mouth-watering clashes as international coaches watched on with gritted teeth. As club rugby on the continent winds down for the Six Nations, we take a look at five things we learned from the action…
Ford’s wobbles mean Farrell could be a big miss for England
England coaches Stuart Lancaster, Andy Farrell and Graham Rowntree may well have finished a bruising weekend watching through their fingers as injuries piled up.
Owen Farrell, Kyle Eastmond and Geoff Parling all limped out of their respective games to give the Red Rose a sizeable headache ahead of their Six Nations opener against Wales on February 6.
It is the loss of Farrell, though, that could prove the most costly. Given he ended up the autumn series on the bench, the Saracens fly-half was not expected to start in Cardiff.
However, his nerveless kicking could well have proved all-important, especially when his rival George Ford continues to crumble when the pressure is on.
Against Glasgow, the Bath playmaker missed a couple of presentable opportunities that kept the game in the balance for longer than it should have been.
His side were able to see out the win and book their place in the quarter-finals, but in the cauldron of the Millennium Stadium with the roof closed and heat turned up would England be able to do the same?
Parisians Racing into contention
Prior to this season Racing Metro had a fairly abject record in Europe’s biggest cup competition.
The Parisians had won just seven of 24 matches in the Heineken Cup, despite their riches and investment in their playing squad.
However, ahead of the campaign they signalled their intention to make a mark and they have delivered on their promise.
Northampton, usually so assured at home, were blitzed by three tries either side of half-time and the manner of Racing’s win will have made the other remaining seven teams take note.
At the heart of their victory was the Wales centre Jamie Roberts, whose ability to break the gain line was pivotal.
Roberts’ performance would have given Lancaster yet more food for thought too, coming as it did against Luther Burrell, who has been pencilled in for a start in Cardiff – albeit at 13 rather than 12.
Hartley still hasn’t learned
Northampton’s cause wasn’t helped against Racing by yet another aberration from their captain Dylan Hartley.
At the of a week that it emerged the hooker is seeing a psychologist in a bid to beat his inner demons, it was made clear they both have a lot of work to do.
HIs latest misdemeanour will not grab headlines, he did gouge or punch anyone, but it should raise eyebrows for its sheer stupidity.
Lying prone on his back and trying to get away from a ruck, the New Zealand-born front-row instead made a tackle, halting Racing progress and earning a deserved yellow card.
It was not only stupid but blatant, and the smirk on his face as he trotted off suggests he may never truly learn his lesson.
Lopez looks the part
No-one knows quite what to expect from France ahead of the Six Nations. The championship’s fixture list is not in their favour this year, with trips to both Ireland and England, while received wisdom has it that the foreign influx into the Top 14 has diluted their talent pool.
Yet, Philippe Saint-Andre has still put together a squad with considerable skill, pace and power and can call upon a fly-half of real quality.
Toulouse’s earlier defeat to Montpellier left Clermont’s clash with Saracens a little flat, but Camille Lopez did everything to give his side victory.
This was not the Clermont playmaker’s most spectacular 62 minutes, but he kicked well and helped ensure that Saracens were kept largely in their own 22’.
If he can exert the same type of control over a France back line that includes the likes of Mathieu Bastareaud, Wesley Fofana and Yoann Huget, then Les Bleus could surprise a few.
Leinster may struggle to shoulder Irish hopes
Irish eyes have not been left smiling by this year’s competition. It is no secret that the provinces were not in favour of the format change, and on paper at least they have adapted poorly to it.
Just 12 months after three Irish sides made the last eight of the final Heineken Cup, only Leinster had made into the quarter-finals this time around. And Matt O’Connor’s side must improve if they are going to get past Bath at the beginning of April.
In Coventry on Saturday it looked as though they were set to canter into the knockout stages as they ruthlessly took advantage of Ashley Johnson’s early yellow card to build a 20-6 half-time lead over Wasps.
However, they failed to score in the second period as they lost control of the scrum and even gave their hosts the chance to steal victory with a late drop-goal that would have knocked them out.
Coming on the back of a couple of average performances earlier in the competition – at home to Wasps and away at Harlequins – this was not necessarily a surprise, and they will need to sharpen up ahead of April.
Bonus Point
It seems Richard Wigglesworth’s trip to France almost ended before it had started after his son, Fed, used his passport as a blotting pad.
Luckily for the Saracens scrum-half he was waved through border control in both France and England, and was able to play. Unfortunately he was unable to prevent Clermont winning 18-6 to top Pool 1.
