| Time |
Score |
|
| |
|
You can read Tom Hamilton's preview of the game here. His prediction:
"This game will go down to the final play but Saracens' experience of the 2014 final will put them in good stead. They will edge this by a couple of points over Racing 92 with it coming down to a battle of the boot."
Racing 92 XV: Aros, Szarzewski, Tameifuna, Charteris, van der Merwe, Lauret, Le Roux, Masoe; Dulin, Rokocoko, Goosen, Dumoulin, Imhoff, Carter, Machenaud.
Saracens XV: M Vunipola, Brits, Du Plessis, Itoje, Kruis, Rhodes, Fraser, B Vunipola; Goode, Ashton, Taylor, Barritt, Wyles, Farrell, Wigglesworth.
The two sides last met back in the beginning of April with Saracens coming out with a very narrow 12-11 win.
Hello and welcome to ESPN's live coverage of the Champions Cup final between Racing 92 and Saracens!
|
| 1 |
|
And we're off! Nigel Owens is the referee in charge of this year's final, for the fifth year running.
|
| 2 |
|
Kruis fumbles the ball and gifts Racing the first scrum just inside Saracens half. Tricky start to the game, neither side making much ground and opting for the kick and chase instead. If I had to pick, the French side look better so far.
|
| 3 |
|
Another kick from Farrell from the scrum is knocked on by Dulin in the air. Saracens scrum.
|
| 4 |
|
Scrum penalty! Du Plessiss collapses and Racing have a chance for the first few points.
|
| 5 |
|
Machenaud misses it. Fairly straightforward kick, too. Remains 0-0.
|
| 6 |
|
Little chip through Racing's line opens the way for Wyles to chase, but the awkwardly bouncing ball's collected by Dulin, however, the fullback's shuffled into touch by Duncan Taylor. Lineout Saracens just outside Racing's 22.
|
| 7 |
|
So nearly the first try! Another chip from Farrell -- this time a harder, longer punt -- tempts Ashton who tears down the right wing. Dulin JUST manages to get a hand on it. We've got a scrum from 5.
|
| 8 |
|
Monster scrum, neither pack budged for a good 10 or seconds. However, Racing have conceded the scrum penalty as Tameifuna's penalised for pulling his opponent's arm to the deck. Kicking chance for Farrell.
|
| 9 |
0 - 3 |
Standard laser-like precision from the Englishman. Saracens take the lead, 3-0.
|
| 10 |
|
Phase eight for Racing. Saracens line holding very tight though. Impressive. Rain is absolutely hacking it down right now, too.
|
| 11 |
|
Up to phase 13 now, but barely beyond the half way mark.
|
| 12 |
|
Phase 16, Carter knocks on and Wigglesworth punts away!
|
| 15 |
|
Racing continuing the trend of the game so far which includes them having the majority of possession. Saracens line's remaining very rigid and have tacklers flying in all over, hoping their opponents will knock it on in this wet weather. Interesting the see how much longer they can hold on for. Imhoff's looking threatening.
|
| 17 |
3 - 3 |
Scrum after scrum at the moment. Du Plessis penalised in the latest one for losing his footing and gives Racing the penalty chance.
|
| 18 |
|
Nails it from 60 metres!
|
| 19 |
|
Brad Barritt drives head first into the Racing line with ball in hand -- feel sorry for the the man who had to cut him down as the Englishman was running full pelt.
|
| 20 |
3 - 3 |
Machenaud down and receiving treatment. Farrell's just tried for the drop goal from about 40 metres, but misses.
|
| 21 |
|
Midfield battle with neither side making any sort of substantial ground in their opponents territory. Battle of the boot it seems...
|
| 22 |
|
Brits off for a HIA, George on.
|
| 23 |
|
Scrum along half way turns into the penalty for Saracens. They've kicked for the corner.
|
| 24 |
3 - 6 |
Another penalty for Saracens, but this time it's goal-kicking distance from 34m! Can Farrell make it?
|
| 25 |
|
Of course. Saracens take the lead, albeit a narrow one.
|
| 26 |
|
Racing on the push again, and they're within touching distance of their opponents 22. First time I can recall that they've climbed this close.
|
| 27 |
|
Phillips opt for the chip through, but it's cut out with ease by Saracens' Goode.
|
| 28 |
|
And Machenaud looks like he's off for good -- he's just gone and taken a seat in the stands, it seems... Will update if anything changes.
|
| 30 |
|
Itoje working well in the break down and Saracens seem to have more control on this game than their opponents at the moment. Another kick from Farrell very nearly finds Ashton under the posts, but instead it's bounced out. Brits has passed his head assessment and he's back on.
|
| 31 |
3 - 9 |
Penalty chance for Farrell, too. Chance to go six ahead...!
|
| 32 |
|
|
| 34 |
|
Racing's big ball carriers -- Tameifuna inparticular -- are just plowing through the middle of Saracens line and their earlier resilience seems to have collapsed slightly. They [Racing] have earnt themselves a kickable penalty and it looks like we're heading back to just three points seperating the two...
|
| 35 |
6 - 9 |
Goosen - penalty goal
|
| 36 |
|
Game of back and forth at the minute, kicking long from both sides.
|
| 37 |
|
And unsurprisingly in this weather, we've been dealt a knock on and subsequent scrum.
|
| 38 |
6 - 12 |
Racing penalised for wheeling the scrum and Saracens have the kick from about 40-ish metres out. Farrell's liking the look of it though...
|
| 39 |
|
Carter kicks us back into play...
|
| 40 |
|
And it's returned by Saracens, before it's returned again by Carter. We've got a Racing lineout now though, from about 10 metres away from Saracens line. This is the last play.
|
| 40+1 |
|
Well, that was underwhelming from the French side. Wigglesworth kicks it out and it's half time.
|
| 40+2 |
|
Half time reading? Take a look at Martyn Thomas' piece...
Saracens ready to take final step - George
Jamie George tells ESPN that Saracens have learned the lessons of 2014 as they bid to secure a first European trophy, and cap a fine season for English clubs on the continent.
|
| 40 |
|
We're back underway! Carter not looking too comfortable it must be said...
|
| 41 |
|
And Carter is coming off for Tales...! Big call, but Carter looks in pain. Big 10 minutes from Racing coming up. Blood replacement with Billy Vunipola off too, with Wray on.
|
| 44 |
|
What a moment from Saracens. Great turnover won by Fraser and it's enabled them to get the lineout deep in Racing's half following Farrell's kick.
|
| 45 |
|
And Racing have just about managed to force Saracens' rolling maul into touch. They'll be looking to kick their way out of this trouble as the English side are pushing hard.
|
| 47 |
|
Farrell tries another chip into the corner in search of Wyles, but it's bounced out. Racing lineout.
|
| 48 |
|
And they've made a right mess of that one. Saracens have managed to pinch the ball five yards out, try looming you feel...
|
| 50 |
6 - 15 |
Saracens penalty! And obviously, Farrell slots it home for another three points. Game is drifting away from Racing slightly... Vunipola back on.
|
| 51 |
|
Farrell receives a talking-to from the ref for a suspicious high tackle, but nothing more.
|
| 52 |
|
Racing look like they're running out of ideas as they're punting it high and long fairly frequently. They need to find some inspiration from somewhere if they're to claw their way back into this final.
|
| 53 |
|
Saracens lineout taken well in the air by Itoje, who offloads. Farrell's taken a massive clattering, and he's on the deck.
|
| 54 |
|
Back on his feet, but the referee will go back and look at that one. Meanwhile, Saracens have emerged with the ball in hand inside Racing's 22.
|
| 55 |
|
Racing escape by kicking the ball out. Ref's gone to the TMO to check the tackle on Farrell. He's fine, by the way.
|
| 56 |
|
Rhodes off for HIA and we're back underway thanks to a Saracens lineout along half way.
|
| 57 |
|
Dumoulin coming off with injury as well. This is good from bad to worse for Racing.
|
| 58 |
|
Farrell tries the kick for the corner, but it's gone too far again and Racing have the lineout.
|
| 59 |
|
B Vunipola forces Phillips backwards with serious force, but the Racing man keeps control of the ball and finds a teammate. The French club are in Saracens 22 and danger could be very imminent.
|
| 60 |
|
Dulin chips into the corner but Ashton's on red alert and collects with ease in the air. However, play's been brought back for the penalty. Racing have a kicking chance for an extra three.
|
| 61 |
9 - 15 |
Goosen - penalty goal
|
| 63 |
|
Racing continuing their assault on the Saracens half, but Phillips has had to kick it into space. Goode collects for the English side -- and punts back.
|
| 65 |
|
Racing smashing their way through the middle with their big ball-carrying forwards, but they aren't really asking any questions of the Saracens line.
|
| 66 |
|
Scrum, which needs to be reset. Referee Owen says: "We all slipped their lads, I appreciate it's slippery. Let's go again."
|
| 67 |
|
Racing penalised for not driving square. Saracens penalty from half way.
|
| 68 |
|
Kicked for the lineout but we're back into the midfield bash-and-barge.
|
| 69 |
|
Another scrum, another reset, another referee snippet. Owen says: "That was probably my fault, I should have got you a bit closer. Come in closer now and we'll do that again."
|
| 70 |
|
And it's a mess! Racing look like their about to emerge victorious from the scrum but some bad handling at the back gifts opportunity for M.Vunipola to pounce and enable his side create something. This game's reaching boiling point!
|
| 73 |
|
Proper midfield stalemate at the moment and both sides are getting stuck into eachother along half way. We've got a lineout just outside the Racing 22 however, with Jamie George the one to throw.
|
| 74 |
|
Rolling maul pushes away to 5m but Farrell tries a crossfield kick to Ashton, but he can't gather in the air! Referee's brought it back for advantage though and Farrell has another chance to kick three points which would be vital at this stage in the game...!
|
| 75 |
9 - 18 |
JOB DONE! Another three points and you can't help but feel that this is Saracens' to lose now.
|
| 77 |
|
Just as Racing look set to erupt into the Saracens 22, Chavancy knocks it on and gifts possession back to Saracens. Really don't need that this late in the game.
|
| 78 |
9 - 21 |
And from Chavancy's fumble, Saracens have managed to earn themselves a penalty within kicking distance as Racing's Imhoff fails to release on the deck! Farrell's got this again, probably his easiest kick of the game.
|
| 79 |
|
Stat of the day -- Maro Itoje starts this season = 20, wins this season = 20!
|
| 80 |
|
FULL TIME! SARACENS ARE EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS!
|
