Minute 38
Blue win the lineout but don't pass with enough zip to stop the Sarries defence to identify Blue 8 as the carrying threat and knock him back well behind the gainline. Sarries are narrow in defence though and if Leinster can get the ball wide there's a lot of ground to be made, but again Leinster's passing can't beat the Sarries push and Leinster give up another big chunk of territory getting caught behind the gainline. Leinster get pinged holding on in the middle of the pitch straight in front of their posts, and this from their lineout attack in Sarries half with a man advantage
Champions Cup Final
Moderator: Puja
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Digby
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Re: Champions Cup Final
Minute 39
Red 10 makes the 3 points, 10-3 to Blue now
Red 10 makes the 3 points, 10-3 to Blue now
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Digby
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Re: Champions Cup Final
Minute 40
Itoje is back on, excellent sin ban management from Sarries. Cynical, but excellent
Blue 10 kicks off deep and the ball is taken by Red 13 who pops it to Red 8, Red 9 then makes an average clearing kick, decent length but landing around 15m infield not 5m.
Leinster still putting plenty into the breakdown leaving the option to kick, but with the clock running out Leinster still keep the ball in play, it's worked for them at other times and they've been lauded for it, so perhaps it's not an awful call.
Leinster then double up on the error by giving away a penalty for not rolling away after Sarries win the ball from the kick. Farrell puts an excellent line kick into touch, though like Sexton earlier he accidentally goes metres past the mark.
Sarries win the lineout and set about winning contact again until right up to the try line. Leinster give it plenty in defence but eventually Farrell and Goode combine well to send Maitland over wide(wish) out on the left. It's a decent conversion from Farrell too from within the 5m channel.
10-10 at HT
Itoje is back on, excellent sin ban management from Sarries. Cynical, but excellent
Blue 10 kicks off deep and the ball is taken by Red 13 who pops it to Red 8, Red 9 then makes an average clearing kick, decent length but landing around 15m infield not 5m.
Leinster still putting plenty into the breakdown leaving the option to kick, but with the clock running out Leinster still keep the ball in play, it's worked for them at other times and they've been lauded for it, so perhaps it's not an awful call.
Leinster then double up on the error by giving away a penalty for not rolling away after Sarries win the ball from the kick. Farrell puts an excellent line kick into touch, though like Sexton earlier he accidentally goes metres past the mark.
Sarries win the lineout and set about winning contact again until right up to the try line. Leinster give it plenty in defence but eventually Farrell and Goode combine well to send Maitland over wide(wish) out on the left. It's a decent conversion from Farrell too from within the 5m channel.
10-10 at HT
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Digby
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Re: Champions Cup Final
Minute 41
Sarries kick off, claimed by Blue 4 and he comes down to start to set the maul. Billy and Skelton both clatter into Blue 7 who was one of the lifters, Billy from the side and it's an easy penalty, I wouldn't want to say Sarries gave away that pen on purpose happily accepting that price for the chance to put in an early cheap shot, but it's not a great look. Blue 10 kicks the pen almost up to halfway
Sarries kick off, claimed by Blue 4 and he comes down to start to set the maul. Billy and Skelton both clatter into Blue 7 who was one of the lifters, Billy from the side and it's an easy penalty, I wouldn't want to say Sarries gave away that pen on purpose happily accepting that price for the chance to put in an early cheap shot, but it's not a great look. Blue 10 kicks the pen almost up to halfway
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Digby
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Re: Champions Cup Final
Minute 42
Sarries contest the lineout but Blue retain the ball and it's into another maul, whether Sarries try to tackle the ball carrier or just sack the maul isn't clear but either way it's a penalty advantage to Blue. Leinster look to play with the advantage and Blue 9 spins a pass out that's a little slow and dropping slightly on Sexton which costs just a little time, and time is not your friend against a blitz. Blue though do run the loop and they almost get a 2 on 1 down the right touchline but another bad pass from Blue 11 puts the ball on the floor rather than to hand. Still Blue 14 is able to gather and advances down the touchline until approaching a likely tackle and kicks ahead, the ball goes into the in goal where Red 14 dots down, and we're back for the pen
Sarries contest the lineout but Blue retain the ball and it's into another maul, whether Sarries try to tackle the ball carrier or just sack the maul isn't clear but either way it's a penalty advantage to Blue. Leinster look to play with the advantage and Blue 9 spins a pass out that's a little slow and dropping slightly on Sexton which costs just a little time, and time is not your friend against a blitz. Blue though do run the loop and they almost get a 2 on 1 down the right touchline but another bad pass from Blue 11 puts the ball on the floor rather than to hand. Still Blue 14 is able to gather and advances down the touchline until approaching a likely tackle and kicks ahead, the ball goes into the in goal where Red 14 dots down, and we're back for the pen
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Digby
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Re: Champions Cup Final
Minute 43
Sexton kicks the ball out into the Sarries 22, Blue win the lineout but only ball at the front. Blue get a minor nudge on in the maul before looking to play the ball further wide. Blue are using more forwards than Red so there's not much fun to be had attacking the guard or just out, though there is maybe a slight chance Blue 9 can run through the gap the ref opens between the Sarries 2nd and 3rd men out, but he'd probably lack support and he's unlikely to go clear.
Sexton kicks the ball out into the Sarries 22, Blue win the lineout but only ball at the front. Blue get a minor nudge on in the maul before looking to play the ball further wide. Blue are using more forwards than Red so there's not much fun to be had attacking the guard or just out, though there is maybe a slight chance Blue 9 can run through the gap the ref opens between the Sarries 2nd and 3rd men out, but he'd probably lack support and he's unlikely to go clear.
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Digby
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Re: Champions Cup Final
Minute 44
Blue 9 to Blue 11 and now we see Blue 10 and 15 coming in to support their ruck, and Red still have forwards acting as guards either side. Blue will be down numbers on the openside, to illustrate Healy runs up into two man and promptly loses contact. With Blue forwards not really working around they do now have numbers on the shortside, instead Blue go open with (I think) Ryan and Furlong, both are running as one man into multiple tacklers, Furlong still manages to win contact but is then stripped in the tackle by Red 5. Sarries make a couple of plays until Red 9 is ready to exit with a left footed kick, it's an exit kick they can chase but Blue 11 does well to take the ball. Blue make a couple of plays and the minute ends with Red 6 tackling Blue 12, Red 6 does have an arm over the shoulder which we've seen given as high, but Henshaw did double over himself going into contact such it'd be a spectacularly harsh call
Blue 9 to Blue 11 and now we see Blue 10 and 15 coming in to support their ruck, and Red still have forwards acting as guards either side. Blue will be down numbers on the openside, to illustrate Healy runs up into two man and promptly loses contact. With Blue forwards not really working around they do now have numbers on the shortside, instead Blue go open with (I think) Ryan and Furlong, both are running as one man into multiple tacklers, Furlong still manages to win contact but is then stripped in the tackle by Red 5. Sarries make a couple of plays until Red 9 is ready to exit with a left footed kick, it's an exit kick they can chase but Blue 11 does well to take the ball. Blue make a couple of plays and the minute ends with Red 6 tackling Blue 12, Red 6 does have an arm over the shoulder which we've seen given as high, but Henshaw did double over himself going into contact such it'd be a spectacularly harsh call
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Digby
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Re: Champions Cup Final
Minute 45
Blue 9 spins the ball out to Blue 8 who has to reach up for the pass, and still manages to do well in contact. Blue 9 follows up by getting scragged by Red 4 on his next pass, and then follows that up with a less than stellar pass to Blue 10 who's sat back on his heels and makes an attempt to ship the ball on with soft hands but is very nearly intercepted by Red 8. It's not awful from Blue 9, but neither is it driving his team forwards toward success, and the last play was a touch cavalier from Sexton. Leinster may want to state Billy was ahead of the back foot, but the bigger problem might again be Blue 9 who shuffles across the pitch before making a pass and he's not holding any defenders with his shuffling to it's only allowing the defence to close on his 10
Blue 9 spins the ball out to Blue 8 who has to reach up for the pass, and still manages to do well in contact. Blue 9 follows up by getting scragged by Red 4 on his next pass, and then follows that up with a less than stellar pass to Blue 10 who's sat back on his heels and makes an attempt to ship the ball on with soft hands but is very nearly intercepted by Red 8. It's not awful from Blue 9, but neither is it driving his team forwards toward success, and the last play was a touch cavalier from Sexton. Leinster may want to state Billy was ahead of the back foot, but the bigger problem might again be Blue 9 who shuffles across the pitch before making a pass and he's not holding any defenders with his shuffling to it's only allowing the defence to close on his 10
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Digby
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Re: Champions Cup Final
Minute 46
Scrum to Blue conceded by Billy going for the intercept which they win comfortably and move the ball to the openside and right off the scrum, Blue 10 tries to cut back on the inside of Red 10 but the tackle is made. Blue 9 picks and goes on the inside, again the tackle is made but Leinster are going forwards and this hasn't happened a lot. Blue can't keep up the rhythm and we're back to Sarries making double tackles and Leinster going backwards in contact by the end of the minute.
Scrum to Blue conceded by Billy going for the intercept which they win comfortably and move the ball to the openside and right off the scrum, Blue 10 tries to cut back on the inside of Red 10 but the tackle is made. Blue 9 picks and goes on the inside, again the tackle is made but Leinster are going forwards and this hasn't happened a lot. Blue can't keep up the rhythm and we're back to Sarries making double tackles and Leinster going backwards in contact by the end of the minute.
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Digby
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Re: Champions Cup Final
Minute 47
Blue do manage to get some speed into their play, still some iffy passes from 9 but in this minute he challenged the line himself and made a positive pass to one of his centres and Leinster take play up metres from the Sarries try line
Blue do manage to get some speed into their play, still some iffy passes from 9 but in this minute he challenged the line himself and made a positive pass to one of his centres and Leinster take play up metres from the Sarries try line
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Digby
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Re: Champions Cup Final
Minute 48
Leinster up the pressure further as Blue 1 breaks an attempted tackle from Red 5, thought I'd seen a stat saying Kruis didn't miss a tackle, either I'm imaging that or it's not a stat based on this game.
Blue move the ball wide and it doesn't look like there's much on until Furlong somehow gets the Sarries defence to buy he's got footwork and he's able to drop off a pass to Ringrose which could allow him to send Henshaw in looking for a score near the touchline, but equally as good as the play from Furlong is the play from Liam Williams to come in and initially stop Ringrose getting the pass away and then force a turnover. Ball passed back to Farrell who makes an excellent clearing kick.
Leinster will probably be cross that Williams was allowed to force the turnover when he didn't look legal in doing so and that Furlong wasn't awarded a pen trying to force a turnover in return, but there are always quibbles at the breakdown.
Leinster up the pressure further as Blue 1 breaks an attempted tackle from Red 5, thought I'd seen a stat saying Kruis didn't miss a tackle, either I'm imaging that or it's not a stat based on this game.
Blue move the ball wide and it doesn't look like there's much on until Furlong somehow gets the Sarries defence to buy he's got footwork and he's able to drop off a pass to Ringrose which could allow him to send Henshaw in looking for a score near the touchline, but equally as good as the play from Furlong is the play from Liam Williams to come in and initially stop Ringrose getting the pass away and then force a turnover. Ball passed back to Farrell who makes an excellent clearing kick.
Leinster will probably be cross that Williams was allowed to force the turnover when he didn't look legal in doing so and that Furlong wasn't awarded a pen trying to force a turnover in return, but there are always quibbles at the breakdown.
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Digby
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Re: Champions Cup Final
Minute 49
Leinster try to win front ball again, but Red 5 gets a really strong challenge on Blue 5 and the tap back is so messy Blue 9 can't avoid taking the ball into touch. Following on from the Williams turnover it's a massive momentum swing.
Perhaps the fear is Itoje, but with Toner, Ryan and Fardy I'd have to say Leinster as a supposed attacking team are oddly reluctant to throw to the back. I'm reminded of the influence Burt had on England in this area.
Blue try to put pressure on George and Kruis at the Sarries lineout and they nearly manage it to a throw which just slides down the Sarries side, but Sarries just make the tap down, the tap down goes to ground but to really rub the momentum shift into Leinster the ball pops up to Billy who finds himself running into a hole, at times it doesn't rain it pours
Leinster try to win front ball again, but Red 5 gets a really strong challenge on Blue 5 and the tap back is so messy Blue 9 can't avoid taking the ball into touch. Following on from the Williams turnover it's a massive momentum swing.
Perhaps the fear is Itoje, but with Toner, Ryan and Fardy I'd have to say Leinster as a supposed attacking team are oddly reluctant to throw to the back. I'm reminded of the influence Burt had on England in this area.
Blue try to put pressure on George and Kruis at the Sarries lineout and they nearly manage it to a throw which just slides down the Sarries side, but Sarries just make the tap down, the tap down goes to ground but to really rub the momentum shift into Leinster the ball pops up to Billy who finds himself running into a hole, at times it doesn't rain it pours
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Digby
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Re: Champions Cup Final
Minute 50
Billy on the charge gets tackled down by Blue 8, there's maybe a chance for Blue 11 to get over the ball and try to turn the tide, but knowing he'll take a clattering he's not interested. Not a great pass from Spencer to Koch, but as Blue are running back Koch doesn't have a blitz flying up at him and he goes forwards in contact.
There's another iffy pass from Spencer in this minute this time to Wray and he's not able to win contact in the tackle by Furlong. But Leinster are seemingly conditioned now to be expecting to lose contact and are passive, save actually Furlong who bless his cottons tries to counter ruck himself but can't quite pull it off.
Sarries are almost going forwards in contact over the next two phases but Spencer is now repeat putting passes under or over the plate to try and offer some hope to Leinster. It's not brilliant play from Sarries, Ryan makes a positive tackle but as with Furlong earlier there's no reaction from his team to pile in, I suppose they're still level so they're not needing to panic as things stand. And it doesn't matter much as at a subsequent ruck Healy latches onto the ball and forces a penalty for holding on.
Billy on the charge gets tackled down by Blue 8, there's maybe a chance for Blue 11 to get over the ball and try to turn the tide, but knowing he'll take a clattering he's not interested. Not a great pass from Spencer to Koch, but as Blue are running back Koch doesn't have a blitz flying up at him and he goes forwards in contact.
There's another iffy pass from Spencer in this minute this time to Wray and he's not able to win contact in the tackle by Furlong. But Leinster are seemingly conditioned now to be expecting to lose contact and are passive, save actually Furlong who bless his cottons tries to counter ruck himself but can't quite pull it off.
Sarries are almost going forwards in contact over the next two phases but Spencer is now repeat putting passes under or over the plate to try and offer some hope to Leinster. It's not brilliant play from Sarries, Ryan makes a positive tackle but as with Furlong earlier there's no reaction from his team to pile in, I suppose they're still level so they're not needing to panic as things stand. And it doesn't matter much as at a subsequent ruck Healy latches onto the ball and forces a penalty for holding on.
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Digby
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Re: Champions Cup Final
Minute 51
Sexton kicks up a few metres into the Sarries half
Sexton kicks up a few metres into the Sarries half
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Digby
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Re: Champions Cup Final
Minute 52
A first lineout for Tracy, comically not straight even going to the front, scrum to Red
A first lineout for Tracy, comically not straight even going to the front, scrum to Red
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Digby
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Re: Champions Cup Final
Minute 53
Players take a breather, and again it's the scrum giving them the chance to take the piss.
Players take a breather, and again it's the scrum giving them the chance to take the piss.
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Digby
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Re: Champions Cup Final
Minute 54
Almost nothing happens, but on 59 seconds the ball finally comes into the scrum. Yet again both packs are taking the proverbial, yet again they're not all sent to the bin
Almost nothing happens, but on 59 seconds the ball finally comes into the scrum. Yet again both packs are taking the proverbial, yet again they're not all sent to the bin
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Digby
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Re: Champions Cup Final
Minute 55
Sarries come right off the scrum and it's basically well defended, Goode I think gets the kick down into the Leinster 22. Blue get away an exit kick but can't stop Sarries taking possession, and Sarries set about winning contact again, through Billy and then Koch
Sarries come right off the scrum and it's basically well defended, Goode I think gets the kick down into the Leinster 22. Blue get away an exit kick but can't stop Sarries taking possession, and Sarries set about winning contact again, through Billy and then Koch
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Digby
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Re: Champions Cup Final
Minute 56
Skelton uses skills to get the ball away out of contact, sadly reality catches up to him and Fardy collects the ball, but Fardy is inspired by Skelton and throws the ball away himself which is then knocked on by Lozoswki. Such ability being shown in Europe's premier game.
We do get the scrum complete in the same minute, but only 'cause the watch was stopped for some running repairs and a water break before the ball comes in. Kearny has the ball which was a good take from a very flat pass from Ringrose, again the handling from Leinster just isn't where you'd expect it to be.
Skelton uses skills to get the ball away out of contact, sadly reality catches up to him and Fardy collects the ball, but Fardy is inspired by Skelton and throws the ball away himself which is then knocked on by Lozoswki. Such ability being shown in Europe's premier game.
We do get the scrum complete in the same minute, but only 'cause the watch was stopped for some running repairs and a water break before the ball comes in. Kearny has the ball which was a good take from a very flat pass from Ringrose, again the handling from Leinster just isn't where you'd expect it to be.
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Digby
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Re: Champions Cup Final
Minute 57
Leinster get the ball back to SOB and he spins out of two challenges but eventually goes down, and on every spin was only going backwards. Blue set another ruck and put up a contestable box kick, Blue 15 and Red 14 challenge, Red 14 wins the ball and promptly drops it but the knock on isn't noticed, Red pass the ball out Red 6 makes a pullback pass to Red 7 behind a little group of Sarries players. Blue rush up either side of the little group of players ahead of the carrier and leave enough space for Wray to make a break, no particular need for that from Blue. Strong subsequent carries from Itoje and Lozowski, Maro has been renamed Mario Itoje, or perhaps Maro O'Itoje given the heritage of the commentator
Leinster get the ball back to SOB and he spins out of two challenges but eventually goes down, and on every spin was only going backwards. Blue set another ruck and put up a contestable box kick, Blue 15 and Red 14 challenge, Red 14 wins the ball and promptly drops it but the knock on isn't noticed, Red pass the ball out Red 6 makes a pullback pass to Red 7 behind a little group of Sarries players. Blue rush up either side of the little group of players ahead of the carrier and leave enough space for Wray to make a break, no particular need for that from Blue. Strong subsequent carries from Itoje and Lozowski, Maro has been renamed Mario Itoje, or perhaps Maro O'Itoje given the heritage of the commentator
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Digby
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Re: Champions Cup Final
Minute 58
Such is Farrell's reading of the game he knows to put the pass behind Billy so he's able to offload out of the tackle to Goode, who passes to George and George is about to send Wray and Williams clear when Kearney knocks the ball down attempting to make it look like part of a tackle. Sarries recover and again set about winning contact, Billy, Koch and then Skelton crash up. And then Sarries comedically blow a 3 if not a 4 man overlap as they obsess on trying to smash their way to a score. Ends with a penalty and a yellow card against Fardy, and Kearny is very lucky not to receive similar.
Such is Farrell's reading of the game he knows to put the pass behind Billy so he's able to offload out of the tackle to Goode, who passes to George and George is about to send Wray and Williams clear when Kearney knocks the ball down attempting to make it look like part of a tackle. Sarries recover and again set about winning contact, Billy, Koch and then Skelton crash up. And then Sarries comedically blow a 3 if not a 4 man overlap as they obsess on trying to smash their way to a score. Ends with a penalty and a yellow card against Fardy, and Kearny is very lucky not to receive similar.
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Digby
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Re: Champions Cup Final
Minute 59
Farrell kicks a very simple 3 points
Farrell kicks a very simple 3 points
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Digby
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Re: Champions Cup Final
Minute 60
Sarries take the restart kick and Wiggle makes an exit kick, both Kearny and Maitland jump for the ball and Maitland catches Kearny in the air, penalty to Blue which Sexton stabs out down the right touchline.
Sarries take the restart kick and Wiggle makes an exit kick, both Kearny and Maitland jump for the ball and Maitland catches Kearny in the air, penalty to Blue which Sexton stabs out down the right touchline.
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Digby
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Re: Champions Cup Final
Minute 61
Leinster make a lot of runs/phases, non of it very imaginative and really it's only the isolated run that's winning contact, this time it's one from Ryan.
Leinster make a lot of runs/phases, non of it very imaginative and really it's only the isolated run that's winning contact, this time it's one from Ryan.
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Digby
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Re: Champions Cup Final
Minute 62
Billy spots the intended recipient of a Sexton pass and goes for another intercept, a bit of a juggle but he takes it and Wiggle immediately kicks downfield. Blue 14 isn't quite able to take the ball running back and it bounces on into the 22, he'd have saved himself some work if he'd just worked harder on the initial chase back. Blue 14 gathers and with some slightly slow footwork sets for the kick and then gets the ball up to the 10m line or so.
Billy spots the intended recipient of a Sexton pass and goes for another intercept, a bit of a juggle but he takes it and Wiggle immediately kicks downfield. Blue 14 isn't quite able to take the ball running back and it bounces on into the 22, he'd have saved himself some work if he'd just worked harder on the initial chase back. Blue 14 gathers and with some slightly slow footwork sets for the kick and then gets the ball up to the 10m line or so.