Lyon vs Saracens - Sat 3.15pm

[Puja]

Lyon: Tchaptchet; Mignot, Regard, Godwin, Veredamu, Smith, Couilloud; Kaabeche, Charcosset, Gomez-Kodela, Lambey, Mayanavanua, William, Guillard, Taufua (capt).

Replacements: Marchand, Rey, Tafili, Goujon, Botha, Pelissie, Doussain, Parisien.

Saracens: Daly; Lewington, Lozowski, Tompkins, Maitland; Farrell (capt), Van Zyl; M Vunipola, George, Riccioni, Hunter-Hill, Tizard, McFarland, Earl, B Vunipola.

Replacements: Woolstencroft, Mawi, Clarey, Wray, Christie, Davies, Goode, Malins.

[Puja]

Jamie George setting up the matchwinning try with a clean break and cross-field grubber kick through to the winger was worth the entrance fee!

Puja

[Cameo]

How is Hunter-Hill doing? Is him starting in an important game a sign he is rated or are there injuries?

[Timbo]

How is Hunter-Hill doing? Is him starting in an important game a sign he is rated or are there injuries?

Playing really well this season. Isiekwe & Itoje were injured for this game, but he’s performing well enough to be in the mix regardless. Unfortunately looked like he picked a bit of a bad injury to his left knee, so might be out for a little while.

[Timbo]

This game was one of the best I’ve seen all season. Lyon are a real handful on their own pitch, very difficult to stop when they get into the 22. Love an offload and plenty of power. Last season I think Sarries would have lost this because they would have tried to control the game with kicking and territory & I don’t think they have the pack/defence to squeeze really good teams anymore.

Daly & Lozowski were particularly class in the back line and all the forwards fronted up. Riccioni is a hell of a replacement for Vincent Koch.

Got to credit Saracens, cos they easily could have just continued as they were with a more restrictive game plan, it’s not like they did badly last year with getting to a final & and a semi. But they’ve clearly recognised the way the game is going, with the really top teams able to play very expansively (Toulouse, Leinster etc) & that their squad profile has changed slightly losing the likes of Skelton, Kruis and Barritt. They’re such a well coached and managed team.

[Banquo]

This game was one of the best I’ve seen all season. Lyon are a real handful on their own pitch, very difficult to stop when they get into the 22. Love an offload and plenty of power. Last season I think Sarries would have lost this because they would have tried to control the game with kicking and territory & I don’t think they have the pack/defence to squeeze really good teams anymore.

Daly & Lozowski were particularly class in the back line and all the forwards fronted up. Riccioni is a hell of a replacement for Vincent Koch.

Got to credit Saracens, cos they easily could have just continued as they were with a more restrictive game plan, it’s not like they did badly last year with getting to a final & and a semi. But they’ve clearly recognised the way the game is going, with the really top teams able to play very expansively (Toulouse, Leinster etc) & that their squad profile has changed slightly losing the likes of Skelton, Kruis and Barritt. They’re such a well coached and managed team.

Agreed, whatever the shenanigans off the park- and they obviously influenced what was happening on it in terms of player quality- Sarries are a model of how to build and re build a team and tactics as the game moves on.

McCall for England ? Prob more a dor than head coach but I’m guessing.