Summary

  • FT: Saracens 46-6 Clermont Auvergne

  • Six tries for Saracens as Clermont thrashed

  • Chris Ashton with two tries

  • Ashton the first player to score 11 HC tries in one season

  • Toulon and Munster meet in Marseille on Sunday

Live Reporting

James Standley

  1. PENALTY (Bosch)

    Can you bosh! a ball? Marcelo can and his kick makes it with ease from halfway.

  2. Clermont have got on the wrong side of referee Nigel Owens. They go forwards at a scrum but are penalised for dragging it down on the tight-head side and Marcelo Bosch will try and live up to his name by going for goal from halfway.

  3. Nick Kennedy
    England and Harlequins lock on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    "Clermont have lost a bit of shape. They're chasing the game and Brock James really needs to step up. They can't panic now, they need to keep playing but in the right areas of the pitch."

  4. Boom! Twenty-stone Billy Vunipola smashes through midfield and makes 20m before flinging the ball wide. Marcelo Bosch links with Neil de Kock but the scrum-half spills the ball 10m from the Clermont line.

    De Kock is promptly replaced by Richard Wigglesworth, but I suspect the move was pre-planned. De Kock is 35 after all - that makes him an antique, Saracens' very own Keith Richards.

  5. Nick Kennedy
    England and Harlequins lock on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    "Clermont definitely need to score next. I can't imagine what they'll like in the last 10 or 15 minutes if the score is still the same. I'm sure they'll be trying some crazy moves. Clermont need to keep scoreboard ticking over if they're to get back into it."

  6. Get Involved

    Saracens v ClermontGetty Images

    Jon Moore: What a game of rugby! Saracens doing a fantastic job in defence with Jacques Burger immense.

    Mark Evans: At Twickenham watching the game. Unbelievable first half. Moments of luck, moments to worry. Come on Saracens - do it for the fans.

  7. Clermont are not going to die wondering. They are running everything and from everywhere but still the Sarries defence holds firm, with even the likes of wingers Napolioni Nalaga and Sitiveni Sivivatu well marshalled at the moment.

    The visitors duly spill the ball and Alex Goode pins them back into the same right hand corner Marcelo Bosch found five minutes before.

    If Clermont are going to do it, they're going to have to do it from deep.

  8. Saracens back deep inside Clermont's 22. Big Billy Vunipola and even bigger Mako Vunipola both carry and make yards before Marcelo Bosch pins the French side back with a classy kick into the corner.

  9. Nick Kennedy
    England and Harlequins lock on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    "Clermont like to do things the hard way. Instead of catching the ball they like to have a go and try and break the line a few times."

  10. Clermont have to score first but their first attempt to move the ball ends with Brock James depositing a clearing kick into touch.

  11. Get Involved

    Harry Lock: Cracking first half by Saracens. Chris Ashton showing why he should be off to New Zealand - one try and one assist.

  12. Nominative determinism rugby edition: Hard-running Saracens outside centre Marcelo Bosch was never going to be a tricky winger.

    Back under way soon, if Saracens lose this it will be a real Devon Loch moment.

  13. Get Involved

    Ian: Chris Ashton is having the game of his life.

    John McEnerney: I bet Clermont didn't think they'd be 18 behind at any stage. Full credit to Sarries for keeping the foot on the gas and not letting up.

    Longhaireddave: Nigel Owens has decided the Saracens will go through no matter what. Disgusting once again against a French team.

  14. Just a reminder you can get in touch via #bbcrugby on Twitter and if you fancy infrequent but perceptive tweets about rugby, you can find me at James_Standley.

  15. Nick Kennedy
    England and Harlequins lock on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    "Clermont need to re-group and combat what Saracens are doing. But if anyone can come back from this score then it's Clermont. Saracens have been brilliant. They've not entered into an arm wrestle, they've not engaged Clermont in the mauls. Saracens fully deserve their lead."

  16. HALF-TIME

    So, who had money on that being the half-time scoreline? Looking forward to the housewarming in your Caribbean villa, you can send the invite to #bbcrugby if you like.

    Saracens' defence has been huge. The Londoners have hunted like a pack of crocodiles hauling down wildebeest as they try to cross the Mara River. Briefly the odd Clermont player would wriggle free but immediately he'd be grabbed in a vice-like embrace and disappear under the churning water.

    The southern African duo of Schalk Brits and Jacques Burger have been the alpha predators and Clermont look shell-shocked.

    Add in Saracens taking their chances - with Chris Ashton looking very lively - and the luck going their way, and this game looks over already.

  17. Nick Kennedy
    England and Harlequins lock on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    "Saracens don't historically chase games very well but once they're in the lead they are extremely hard to stop."

  18. Get Involved

    Referee Nigel OwensGetty Images

    Trevor Morgan: Nigel Owens making some great decisions! Go Sarries!

  19. Nick Kennedy
    England and Harlequins lock on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    "There's still a lot of time left in this match, but Clermont are playing like we're in the last five minutes. They're playing dangerous rugby that they don't need to. They're playing into the hands of Saracens."