Saracens and Toulon will both have uncharted territory in their sights when they clash in today’s semi-final showdown at Twickenham Stadium – a debut place in a prestigious Heineken Cup final.
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Saracens are in their second semi-final, losing 18-16 to Munster at the Ricoh Arena five years ago, while Toulon are in the last four in only their second season in the top flight of European club rugby.
It will be the first time the clubs – who each lead their respective domestic tournaments – have met in the blue riband tournament although the clubs have played each other in the Amlin Challenge Cup.
They met twice in the 2009 /10 Pool stage winning one apiece while captain and international lock Steve Borthwick, who will be playing his 50th tournament match, along with several of his team-mates are no strangers to playing at the home of English rugby.
And they will also be boosted by the fact that five of the last six semi-finals have been won by the side with ‘home country’ advantage on the day.
Saracens suffered one group stage defeat on their way to qualifying for the knock-out stages, a 15-9 reverse against Munster at Thomond Park, while doing the double over both Edinburgh Rugby and Racing Metro 92.
They booked their place in the last four with a 27-16 victory over 2012 finalists Ulster Rugby while Toulon suffered their only group stage blip in Round 6 when they were stunned 23-3 at Montpellier.
They also did the double – in their case over Cardiff Blues and Sales Sharks – before ending former double winners Leicester Tigers’ hopes with a thrilling 21-15 quarter-final win.
However, both teams have masters of the goal kicking art, Owen Farell for Saracens and Jonny Wilkinson for Toulon, who could each hold the balance in a tight affair.
Farrell is in second spot in this season’s leading points scorer with 92 with Wilkinson on 73 while wing Chris Ashton has crossed for four tries to Toulon’s leading try scorer Delon Armitage on three.
Match facts
- Toulon have won all five of their clashes with English opponents in this tournament.
- Steve Borthwick has won more line-outs (42, including three steals) than any other player in this season’s tournament.
- Steffon Armitage and Jonny Wilkinson have both weighed in with four try assists this season, only Morgan Parra (5) has more.
- Saracens’ Kelly Brown made eight more tackles (21) than any other player in the quarter-finals.
Semifinal teams and kick-off times. Sunday 28 April.
Saracens v Toulon
(Twickenham, London – Kick-off: 15:00 BST, 16:00 South African time)
Teams:
Saracens: 15 Alex Goode, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Joel Tomkins, 12 Brad Barritt, 11 David Strettle, 10 Owen Farrell, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Kelly Brown, 6 Jackson Wray, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Steve Borthwick (Captain), 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Mako Vunipola.
Replacements: 16 John Smit, 17 Rhys Gill, 18 Carlos Nieto, 19 Mouritz Botha, 20 George Kruis, 21 Neil de Kock, 22 Charlie Hodgson, 23 Chris Wyles.
Toulon: 15 Delon Armitage, 14 Rudi Wulf, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Alexis Palisson, 10 Jonny Wilkinson (Captain), 9 Sébastien Tillous-Borde, 8 Chris Masoe, 7 Juan Fernandez Lobbe, 6 Danie Rossouw, 5 Nick Kennedy, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Carl Hayman, 2 Sebastien Bruno, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
Replacements: 16 Jean-Charles Orioli, 17 Gethin Jenkins, 18 Davit Kubriashvili, 19 Joe van Niekerk, 20 Steffon Armitage, 21 Maxime Mermoz, 22 Frederic Michalak, 23 Jocelino Suta.
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland), Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
TMO: Marshall Kilgore (Ireland)
That’s twelve players of South African origin I’ve highlighted who are in the match squads for this big game.
I would have to support the side with the Ex-Bulls players in it… Goooooooo Toulon!
Latest score: Saracens 3/6 Toulon – 12th minute
2 @ grootblousmile:
Hello GBS, no man you should be supporting the team with the most South Africans in it 🙂 GO SAFFACENS!
4 @ Bullscot:
Meant to say GO SARACENS
Saracens 3/9 Toulon 17th minute – Wilkinson slots his 3rd penalty against 1 from Farrell for Saracens who opened the scoring in the 2nd minute
4 @ Bullscot:
Saracens have always shunned the Bulls players… or maybe the Bulls players have deliberately avioded signing for Saracens…
So, I stand by Toulon!
I have no positive feeling towards Brad Barritt, Ernst Joubert, Hargreaves, Matt Stevens, Schalk Brits, Mauritz Botha, George Kruis or Neil de Kock… they mean nothing to me. Neither does Brenden Venter in their coaching ranks. The only one that I think has done very well for the Springboks and that I owe any allegiance to is John Smit, who will be leaving Saracens very shortly.
I also have no afinity or family relations in the UK, my people come from Germany initially, so there’s no allegiance with any English Club either.
Gooooooooo Toulon!
Saracens 6/12 Toulon – 24th minute another penalty for Wilkinson, there was a penalty by Farrell in 21st minute
7 @ grootblousmile:
Not many Bulls players have been to Saracens but Jono Ross as far as I recall did go there for a short spell, don’t know if it was ‘on loan’ or something or just to give him a chance to broaden his horizons. Also think the company Sail has a stake in both Saracens and Bulls.
Sounds like Ernst Joubert should have passed instead on going inside – may have led to a Saracens try and it ends in a penalty for Toulon to relieve the pressure.
Armitage dots down behind his try line under lots of pressure from Ashton who sounds like was played off the ball earlier in the move and according to the commentators should have got a penalty.
Commentators not happy sounds like 3 Toulon players dived over and played the ball and could have penalized as Saracens were for similar ‘offence’ earlier.
Saracens get a penalty now for Bastareud holding on
Farrell lining it up, will he get it over…
Sarcens 9/12 Toulon – penalty over by Farrell! – 34th minute
Commentators complaining about Brits not been bound properly to the maul but getting away with it, now Saracens have got a penalty for Toulon dragging the maul down.
Sounds like Saracens are making nice space for themselves but then not using it properly
Schalk Brits bursts away but knocks it on and scrum for Toulon
Penalty to Saracens on halfway … and Farrell is going for goal and misses as he drags it left but he did have the distance
Half time – Saracens 9/12 Toulon; 3 penalties for Farrell, 4 penalties for Toulon.
Some of the English players who play for Toulon and were featured on the radio during half time seem to be really happy in Toulon – sounds like a place where they are very passionate about the rugby. Simon Shaw even mentioned that he hoped to be getting an extension to his contract to play for another season but that nothing had been sorted yet – Shaw is 40, quite impressive for a lock to still be playing at this level!
Brits still can’t throw in.
Pakslae yellow carded.
Eishhhh, Pakslae cops a Yellow Card for a high tackle… think the Yellow was harsh!
Roland is an “interesting”ref.
24 @ grootblousmile:
No.
Is that Brendan Venter?
The Sharks CEO working his piece job?
Great forward play, but the backs are shit.
12 Minutes to go… Toulon lead by 6…
Anybody’s game!
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