European Champions Cup: Saracens beat Clermont 28-17 to retain European title

Saracens are only the fourth side to successfully defend the European Cup

Saracens became back-to-back champions of Europe as they beat Clermont Auvergne in a pulsating Champions Cup final at Murrayfield.

Tries from Chris Ashton and George Kruis helped the English champions into a 12-0 lead, but Clermont hit back through Remi Lamerat's converted try.

After Owen Farrell edged Sarries eight points clear, a dazzling Nick Abendanon try saw Clermont edge within a point.

But Alex Goode's try and Farrell's boot ensured Saracens retained their crown.

When they raced into that early 12-0 lead it looked as though Saracens, playing a pacy all-court game, were going to blow Clermont away.

But the French side managed to claw their way back into the contest by taking on Saracens at the breakdown and they gave the Londoners a real fright before the power and class of the champions saw them home.

Saracens unstoppable?

Saracens' rise to the top of the European game was built on ferocious defence, relentless focus and a ruthless desire to win.

It was not always pretty but over the past year they have added another - attacking - gear to their game and that was fully in evidence as they dominated the opening quarter.

Ashton's opener was sublime - the winger racing on to fellow England discard Goode's precise grubber kick to become the leading all-time try scorer in the Champions Cup with 37.

Kruis then bullied his way over after Goode's slicing break had taken Sarries within a couple of yards.

But missed chances meant they were not out of sight, and from their first attack Clermont cut the gap to five points.

Aurelien Rougerie - the 36-year-old centre who joined the side from the Massif Central as a boy - was cut down just short by Ashton, but Lamerat was on hand for a converted score.

The Saracens winger is now one try clear of former Toulouse flyer Vincent Clerc

Clermont dominate the breakdown

The French side are the nearly men of European rugby, having won only one of the 14 top-tier French and European finals they had been in previously.

Determined not to add to that record they decided to throw bodies into the ruck and they succeeded in halting Saracens' momentum.

For a long time, it just offered the chance for the champions to show their defensive class, but a try of the season contender saw Clermont right back in it.

Scott Spedding started it from his own line, Fritz Lee and Peceli Yato took it on at pace and Abendanon cruised over for a converted score.

Saracens show their class

With just a point in it and the momentum apparently in Clermont's favour, lesser sides might have folded, but Saracens pride themselves on their mental strength as much as anything and they took a vice-like grip on the game.

In desperation, Clermont began to concede penalties and Farrell kept the scoreboard ticking over for Saracens.

They needed a try to finish the Frenchmen off and twice came agonisingly close, but Camille Lopez got a hand to one try-scoring pass - not a deliberate knock-on, ruled referee Nigel Owens - and Billy Vunipola was bundled into touch a yard from the line.

But Clermont finally cracked and Goode got the try his performance deserved as he glided through a gap to confirm that Saracens are the best club side in Europe.

Goode's try capped an excellent performance by the full-back who was at the heart of Saracens' best attacking moments

Man of the match - Billy Vunipola

Saracens' England number eight was magnificent. When they were spluttering he was the one who gave them go-forward and his power off the back of a retreating scrum was exceptional

What next for Saracens?

The Londoners' ongoing quest for global domination continues with a trip to Exeter in the first of next Saturday's Premiership semi-finals.

A sticky patch during the Six Nations when they were missing their England contingent means the reigning English champions must hit the road for their semi-final, but their recent form suggests they are back to their very best and they will fear no-one as they target a 'double double'.

'Record is just the icing on the cake'

Saracens winger Chris Ashton on BBC Radio 5 live:

"We've worked so hard for the past five or six years. It's such a pleasure to be with this group. It's so hard to play in these finals so to win two is a pleasure.

"To become top try-scorer is just the icing on the cake."

What did World Cup-winner Matt Dawson make of it?

"Saracens just have an incredible ability to repeat their skills under fatigue and pressure.

"For example there was nothing complex about their final try. But all of a sudden, when they needed to strike, it was the famous Farrell screen that set up Alex Goode."

Teams

Clermont Auvergne: Spedding; Strettle, Rougerie, Lamerat, Abendanon; Lopez, Parra; Chaume, Kayser, Zirakashvili, Iturria, Vahaamahina, Chouly, Yato, Lee.

Replacements: Fernandez for Spedding (70), Penaud for Rougerie (53), Radosavljevic for Parra (74), Falgoux for Chaume (53), Ulugia for Kayser (66), Jarvis for Zirakashvili (76), Jedrasiak for Vahaamahina (45), Lapandry for Yato (60).

Saracens: Goode; Ashton, Bosch, Barritt, Wyles; Farrell, Wigglesworth; M Vunipola, George, Koch, Itoje, Kruis, Rhodes, Wray, B Vunipola.

Replacements: Spencer for Wigglesworth (78), Lamositele for M Vunipola (76), Brits for George (50), Du Plessis for Koch (78), Hamilton for Itoje (78), S Burger for Wray (60), Taylor for Barritt (54).

Not Used: Lozowski