By Behindthebench
December 9 2015

Saracens' commanding wins against Stade Toulousain and Ulster Rugby have put them in complete control of Pool One, and whilst they must guard against complacency, the focus must now surely be on ensuring a home Quarter Final.

What has been pleasing in recent weeks is the relentless quest for crucial bonus points, most notably at Ravenhill, where a possible defeat evolved into one of the most comprehensive displays in Europe in recent seasons, and a massive advance from the relatively flat loss at Munster, particularly in terms of how the team dealt superbly with being reduced to 14 men not once, but twice. Odds on Sarries to triumph in Lyon in May (my ticket already booked) are down to 3/1, still third favourites behind ASM Clermont Auvergne and Rugby Club Toulonnais, the latter hoping that the comprehensive dismantling by Wasps in Coventry was just a bad day at the proverbial office. 

Looking at the other pools, the greater impact of the English sides is undoubtedly the key story. Pool 2 is distorted slightly, as Clermont have a game in hand against Bordeaux-Begles, and they are sandwiched between Ospreys and Exeter Chiefs at present, the latter looking well capable of springing a surprise in the forthcoming double header with the tournament favourites. In a contrast to some previous seasons, Northampton have started well in Europe, although it looks a tough task for them to overturn the double defeat suffered to Racing Metro in the pool stages last year, most notably the comprehensive loss in the last pool game which cost them a home Quarter Final. Leicester, like the Saints, have seized control of their pool with two wins, and the double clash with Munster again looks decisive, with the Tigers showing a real consistency absent from much of the first half of last season, whilst the two time winners have lost their last two Pro12 matches after some tight wins. They are at least in a better place than Leinster, with the glory years seemingly a long way now following a double loss to Wasps and Bath, and two matches against Toulon still to come. Wasps, Sunday aside, have been in scintillating form, and will be anxious not to undo their great work in the opening pair of matches in the forthcoming ties with Bath.

So, back onto the team from the Rhone-Alpes. Oyannax have only been in the French top flight for three seasons, but have suffered a dramatic decline from last season's sixth spot, which earnt their European Champions Cup spot, as they are at the foot of the Top 14 table, with only two wins from ten, and conceding, on average, 33 points a match. Their opening match was a 35-19 loss at Montpellier, ahead of an impressive 37-19 bonus point home success against Bordeaux-Begles, but then followed a 41-24 home loss to Clermont, and narrower defeats at Castres Olympique and at home to Racing Metro 92. The season reached its nadir, with a 61-3 loss at Toulon. To their credit, they bounced back impressively, as Pau were seen off 42-23, in a five point win with five tries. Since then, though, there have been large defeats at La Rochelle, at home to Brive and at Toulouse, in league and Cup. There is a substantial number of  familiar names in the Oyannax squad: Kiwi scrum half Piri Weepu is now at the club, following spells with London Welsh and Wasps last season, whilst Tongan winger Fetu'u Vainikolo was another recruit from the Aviva PremIership, this time Exeter Chiefs, as well as London Irish centre Eamonn Sheridan and Harlequins lock George Robson, whilst fly half Nicky Robinson made the switch from Bristol. Former Northampton prop Soane Tonga'uiha swells the list further, now in his second season at the club, and former Leinster prop Stan Wright also in the squad. 

How decisive this know-how of the English game will be, in practice, is open to question. On the rare occasions that they have established forward dominance,Oyannax have enjoyed comfortable wins as the talent in their backs is unleashed. The latest line up in a 27-3 league loss at Toulouse saw Quentin Etienne, a close season arrtival from Narbonne, at full back, whilst Tongans Alaska Taufa and Vainikolo occupied the wings outside a centre partnership of Guillaume Bousses and Vincent Martin, although there seems a bit of flexibility in the backs to occupy different roles. Regis Lespinas was the fly half, with Fabien Cibray captaining the side from scrum half. Onto the forwards, and Tonga'uiha started at loosehead, with Jeremie Maurouard, another recent capture from Racing Metro, at hooker, and Antoine Guillamon taking the tighthead berth. An all-new second row for the season features Robson and ex Racing Metro Fabrice Metz, whilst the back row consisted of Pierrick Gunther, Tongan Viliami Ma'afu and South African number 8 Pedrie Wannenburg.

Realistically, it would seem that, with due respect, Saracens should be targeting a pair of bonus point wins, given just how well the attack is going at the moment. The variety of tries seen is a testament to this; a rolling maul here, a kick through there, a Schalk Brits break, and so on. Even if Oyannax tried to play a tighter game, Sarries have proved themselves capable of some lethal counter attacking with no let up even when there have been substantial starting line up changes. Indeed, Charlie Hodgson has rolled back the years with two inspired displays typifying just how much strength in depth there is at the moment, and blurring the sense of an obvious starting XV, which is all to the good.

What can we expect the Saracens starting XV to be? Given that a win here would be a massive step towards the Quarter Finals, probably quite a strong one. Alex Goode should continue at full back, with Chris Ashton back on the right, and Chris Wyles continuing on the left, outside a revised centre partnership of Marcelo Bosch and Brad Barritt, with Owen Farrell returning at half back with Richard Wigglesworth. Forwards-wise, Mako Vunipola may come in at loosehead alongside hooker Jamie George and tighthead Petrus du Plessis. Maro Itoje and George Kruis should continue as the lock combination, with a back row of Michael Rhodes, Will Fraser and Billy Vunipola.