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Azema expecting 'balanced' clash with Saracens

Saturday, April 18 2015 by SNTV
  • Intro:

    Clermont Auvergne play host to Saracens in the semi-final of rugby union's European Champions Cup on Saturday (18th April). The venue? The home of famed French football team, Saint-Etienne.

    Script:

    SOUNDBITE (French): Franck Azema, Clermont head coach.

    (Q: Is it possible to surprise a team you know very well like Saracens that you faced many times?):

    "It is obvious that on each side they will have this desire. We do know each other well. We need to stay focused on our discipline, our gaining of territory, our defence and a lot of passion and enthusiasm that is needed to be in a semi-final. Saracens has a lot of experience of these kind of games... us too... it will be balanced until the last second."

    SOUNDBITE (French): Franck Azema, Clermont head coach:

    (Q: Did you use example of your defeat last year in semi facing Saracens in your speech to your players?):

    "No, for me it's a new page. As Damien said before, we faced them twice already this season in the group stage. This time it will be in a semi, a new context. We use the past but now it's a new way of doing things."

    SOUNDBITE (French): Damien Chouly, Clermont captain:

    (Q: Did you use the example of your defeat in last year's semi facing Saracens to motivate your team-mates?):

    "Honestly, we don't talk about that between players. We have faced Saracens already twice this season, it's a new game we're looking forward. It's a new match, a new season, nearest to our home, so it will be very different."

    SOUNDBITE (French): Damien Chouly, Clermont captain:

    (Q: You will play in Geoffroy Guichard Stadium full of your fans tomorrow (41,800 attendance expected)):

    "It's a very good thing. That helped us a lot in last round against Northampton, we felt them behind us. We will have more fans here than in our stadium, it only can help us."

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