Sun 7 Apr 2013 | 10:51
Saracens through to Heineken Cup semi final as 'Ash Splash' returns

16
Comments

Chris Ashton scored one of his better tries in recent times as Saracens beat Ulster 27-16 to progress to the semi finals of the Heineken Cup for only the second time. They will return to Twickenham to face French heavyweights Toulon.

Owen Farrell kicked 17 points as Saracens outplayed last year's finalists, scoring two tries to one, through Will Fraser and Chris Ashton. Ruan Pienaar kicked 11 points for Ulster, while Iain Henderson scored a consolation try late in the game.

"We were outstanding and our forwards worked their nuts off against a very powerful team," said Farrell post match. "We expected a hugely physical battle and that's what we got.

"I wasn't the only Saracens player knocked back on the seat of his shorts but we fought for each other. Overall, we are really proud as a squad. It was a real team effort," he said.

Ashton's 63rd minute try sealed the win for the home side, as he tracked an inside line in trademark style, then backed his pace despite England team mate Brad Barritt shouting on the inside.

On a sidenote, South African number eight Ernst Joubert took a nasty knock to the face during the match, despite finishing all smiles at the final whistle. BBC correspondent Dan Roan posted this quite shocking Tindall-esque photo of Joubert's badly broken nose on Twitter.

Saracens will play their semi final on April 28th at Twickenham. Below is a look at Ashton's try.

Saracens vs Ulster Highlights | Heineken Cup Quarter Final Highlights

16 Comments

  • rugbydump
    4:19 PM 12/04/2013

    Unfortunately that's what happens when thousands of passionate rugby fans from different parts of the world converge! We try to keep the peace where possible though.

  • smilingjim
    7:43 PM 09/04/2013

    I don't hate him, but "the splash" always comes across as far to arrogant, when he's compleatly by himself and has a free run at the post its just about ok, but he took an especially wide arch in order to do it, making the conversion far more difficult.

  • macmurchu
    7:32 PM 09/04/2013

    How funny would it have been if Paddy Jackson had kicked the ball out of his hand on the way down from the dive? Wasn't too far away from him!

  • yannoche
    2:44 PM 09/04/2013

    This guy knows how to dive and score! Superb !

  • bunn
    11:05 PM 08/04/2013

    Hating Ashton is one of the big themes of Rugbydump these days; alongside calling McCaw a cheat, arguing over the north/south divide and saying that all pacific islanders tackle everyone from the throat upwards.....

  • chubb123
    7:38 PM 08/04/2013

    No other winger in Europe? You must be taking the piss. He just did a big loop around the defenders, it was a decent finish, but your comment in just ludicrous.

  • canadian15
    6:54 PM 08/04/2013

    I don't understand why so many people think the dive is so bad. People seem to love to overreact to it. It is not as though he does a dance to attract attention after he scores; he does his swallow dive and is done with it and attracts no more attention than if he just scored without the swallow dive... also get real, the conversion is no harder from where he scored than if he scored under the posts...

  • magicnine
    4:55 PM 08/04/2013

    He actually made the conversion harder with his pony showboating!

  • allchurch98
    9:37 AM 08/04/2013

    Great try and I hope he regains his old form but after his recent poor performances he should not be doing a swallow dive. He needs to learn to be more modest.

  • fatprop
    1:04 AM 08/04/2013

    As a saracens fan just so happy. Joubert just represents saracens so well- tough ugly and very south african. Why do people hate the dive ? Better that than players who just walk then look around too see another player to run down the clock ?
    Also Fraser and tomkins on the argentina tour should be good.

  • ando
    12:54 AM 08/04/2013

    Can't wait for the idiot to drop one of those as he goes over the line

  • stroudos
    12:40 AM 08/04/2013

    Good to see the old jealousy on show as always.

  • darabman
    9:29 PM 07/04/2013

    I think he feeds off hate.

  • cheyanqui
    9:28 PM 07/04/2013

    God I wish someone would give him a splashdown like Cama Jr did on Serevi.

  • pocandrog
    7:42 PM 07/04/2013

    God I hate him too much

  • stubby
    7:39 PM 07/04/2013

    OW OW OW nose photo