2017 European Rugby Champions Cup final

The 2017 European Rugby Champions Cup Final was the final match in the 2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup, and the twenty-second European club rugby final in general. It was contested by defending champions Saracens of England and French side Clermont at Murrayfield Stadium, in Edinburgh, Scotland, on Saturday 13 May 2017.[1][2] Saracens retained the trophy after claiming a 28–17 victory.[3][4]

2017 European Rugby Champions Cup Final
Event2016–17 European Rugby Champions Cup
Date13 May 2017
VenueMurrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Man of the MatchBilly Vunipola (Saracens)
RefereeNigel Owens (Wales)
Attendance55,272
2016
2018

Background

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Reigning champions Saracens entered the final aiming to defend their title, having won the Champions Cup for the first time in their history when they defeated Racing 92 by 21–9 in the 2016 final. The club was also looking to set a new record for most unbeaten European fixtures in a row, after matching the record of 17 held by Leinster. Meanwhile, Clermont were seeking their first top-tier European trophy, following two prior defeats in the 2013 and 2015 finals, both against Toulon.

For the second year running, Welsh referee Nigel Owens officiated the Champions Cup final – in doing so, he also became the first official to referee 100 European club rugby matches.

Route to the final

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Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).

  Clermont Round   Saracens
Opponent Result Pool stage Opponent Result
  Exeter Chiefs 35–8 (A) Matchday 1   Toulon 31–23 (A)
  Bordeaux Bègles 49–33 (H) Matchday 2   Scarlets 44–26 (H)
  Ulster 32–39 (A) Matchday 3   Sale Sharks 50–3 (H)
  Ulster 38–19 (H) Matchday 4   Sale Sharks 24–10 (A)
  Bordeaux Bègles 9–6 (A) Matchday 5   Scarlets 22–22 (A)
  Exeter Chiefs 48–26 (H) Matchday 6   Toulon 10–3 (H)
Pool 5 winner
Team P Pts
  Clermont 6 26
  Bordeaux Bègles 6 14
  Exeter Chiefs 6 12
  Ulster 6 10
Final standings Pool 3 winner
Team P Pts
  Saracens 6 24
  Toulon 6 16
  Scarlets 6 11
  Sale Sharks 6 4
Opponent Result Knock-out stage Opponent Result
  Toulon 29–9 (H) Quarter-finals   Glasgow Warriors 38–13 (H)
  Leinster 27–22 (H) Semi-finals   Munster 26–10 (A)

Match

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Summary

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After both teams enjoyed attacking spells in the opening 10 minutes without putting points on the board, Saracens opened the scoring when the ball was spread towards the right wing to Alex Goode, who placed a grubber kick behind the Clermont defenders which was collected by Chris Ashton. The try, which could not be converted, saw Ashton overtake Vincent Clerc as the top try scorer in European rugby history. Saracens extended their lead soon after when lock George Kruis powered over from close range for the team's second try, this time converted successfully by Owen Farrell. A short time later, Clermont responded when a break by Aurélien Rougerie set up centre Rémi Lamerat for their first try of the game, converted by scrum-half Morgan Parra. This left the half-time score at 12–7 to Saracens.

In the second half, the first ten minutes again went scoreless, until a Farrell penalty. Clermont then brought the game to within just one point via a team move, which started with full-back Scott Spedding counter-attacking from his own try line and ended with winger Nick Abendanon going over for the try, converted again by Parra. Following an exchange of penalties between Farrell and Parra, which kept the scoreline at a one-point advantage to Saracens, each team had try-scoring opportunities, but to no avail. Finally, in the closing stages, Saracens made their persistent pressure count when Goode crossed the line for a try in the corner, with Farrell landing a difficult conversion from out wide. With one last penalty, Saracens cemented their victory at 28–17, becoming only the fourth reigning champions in the tournament's 22-year history to successfully retain their title.[5]

Saracens Number 8 Billy Vunipola was named the official Man of the Match, while fly-half Owen Farrell was presented with the 2017 ERCC Player of the Year Award.[6] In securing victory, Saracens also achieved a record 18 consecutive unbeaten European games – a record stretching back to the first round of the 2015–2016 cup.

Details

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13 May 2017
17:00
Clermont  17–28  Saracens
Try: Lamerat 26' c
Abendanon 51' c
Con: Parra (2/2) 27', 53'
Pen: Parra (1/1) 60'
ReportTry: Ashton 12' m
Kruis 21' c
Goode 72' c
Con: Farrell (2/3) 22', 73'
Pen: Farrell (3/3) 50', 57', 78'
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Attendance: 55,272
Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Clermont
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Saracens
FB 15   Scott Spedding   71'
RW 14   David Strettle
OC 13   Aurélien Rougerie   54'
IC 12   Rémi Lamerat
LW 11   Nick Abendanon
FH 10   Camille Lopez
SH 9   Morgan Parra   75'
N8 8   Fritz Lee   64'   66'
OF 7   Peceli Yato   61'   64'   66'
BF 6   Damien Chouly (c)
RL 5   Sébastien Vahaamahina   46'
LL 4   Arthur Iturria
TP 3   Davit Zirakashvili   77'
HK 2   Benjamin Kayser   67'
LP 1   Raphaël Chaume   23'   26'   54'
Substitutions:
HK 16   John Ulugia   67'
PR 17   Étienne Falgoux   23'   26'   54'
PR 18   Aaron Jarvis   77'
LK 19   Paul Jedrasiak   46'
FL 20   Alexandre Lapandry   61'
SH 21   Ludovic Radosavljevic   75'
FH 22   Patricio Fernández   71'
WG 23   Damian Penaud   54'
Coach:
  Franck Azéma
FB 15   Alex Goode
RW 14   Chris Ashton
OC 13   Marcelo Bosch
IC 12   Brad Barritt (c)   54'
LW 11   Chris Wyles   79'
FH 10   Owen Farrell
SH 9   Richard Wigglesworth   79'
N8 8   Billy Vunipola
OF 7   Jackson Wray   61'
BF 6   Michael Rhodes
RL 5   George Kruis
LL 4   Maro Itoje   79'
TP 3   Vincent Koch   79'
HK 2   Jamie George   51'
LP 1   Mako Vunipola   77'
Substitutions:
HK 16   Schalk Brits   51'
PR 17   Titi Lamositele   77'
PR 18   Petrus du Plessis   79'
LK 19   Jim Hamilton   79'
FL 20   Schalk Burger   61'
SH 21   Ben Spencer   79'
FH 22   Alex Lozowski   79'
CE 23   Duncan Taylor   54'
Coach:
  Mark McCall

Man of the Match:
  Billy Vunipola (Saracens)

Assistant referees:
  George Clancy (Ireland)
  Ian Davies (Wales)
Television match official:
  Jon Mason (Wales)

References

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  1. ^ "Clermont reach Champions Cup final as Camille Lopez seals win over Leinster". The Guardian. 23 April 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  2. ^ "Saracens reach Champions Cup final as Chris Wyles seals win over Munster". The Guardian. 22 April 2017. Retrieved 26 April 2017.
  3. ^ "Clermont Auvergne 17-28 Saracens: European Champions Cup final – as it happened". The Guardian. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  4. ^ "Saracens 28-17 Clermont: Sarries win thriller to retain Champions Cup". The Daily Telegraph. 16 May 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  5. ^ "Saracens beat Clermont 28-17 to retain European title". BBC Sport. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
  6. ^ "Saracens fly-half wins European player of the year award". BBC Sport. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 16 May 2017.