Capital gains

TEAM OF THE WEEK: SARACENS

They managed to turn round a shambolic performance in Cardiff two weeks ago into a sterling performance born out of true grit and determination.

That's the frustrating thing about Sarries, they prove they can do it occasionally so now they've got to prove myself and a few people wrong that they can now get to the final.

Cobus Visagie has been the key element - his scrummaging power is phenomenal and they certainly stopped Ospreys getting over the game line and if you do that it's very hard for any team to compete against you.

Saracens played that way for the full 80 minutes. The half backs were in complete control and when they play like that everything in the garden looks rosy.

It was a tremendous performance. If they continue to perform like that there's nothing that suggest they can't go all the way and win it. But the question remains: can they continue to play like that?

They've got a massive game down at Gloucester on Saturday, live on Sky, and they've got to go down there and play with the same intensity to keep in good form ahead of the semi-final.

They have great talent and commitment but they need to show that now for the rest of the season.


PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Nick Kennedy, Lock, London Irish

I'm a big fan of Kennedy - especially from what I've seen of him this year.

He literally went up a level in the quarter-final against Perpignan where he ruled the roost and ruled the line-out.

Obviously he was aided by a very good team effort but he's the main man at the moment - he offered a countless amount of quality ball for Irish in a controlled performance.

Irish worked Perpignan out to a tee and Kennedy was instrumental in doing that. The French couldn't get their game going because they either lost the ball at the line-out or Kennedy commanded in the air.

It was an excellent performance from the second row, especially Kennedy.

Irish, like Saracens, are having a great Heineken Cup campaign, again if they want to become a big team they have got to win the big games and that's what they've done in this competition.


TRY OF THE WEEK: Ian Dowling, Munster v Gloucester

Ian Dowling's try for Munster wasn't a great try, but it was my favourite of the quarter-finals simply because of the way they worked it.

They came from deep in the 22 and moved it up field again for Rua Tipoki and Lifiemi Mafi.

And in pretty atrocious conditions to offload the ball in the well-worked manner that they did was impressive.

Not one of the greatest you'll see but evidence that Munster are developing to an all-round side. Sheer endeavour and will to have a go.


VILLAIN OF THE WEEK: Viliami Vaki, Perpignan

Viliami Vaki's sending-off was an idiotic and clueless thing to do when the game was already lost.

With Perpignan looking for a top-four championship finish they'll be without him for x amount of weeks now and that will only hamper his team's challenge.

In a big game that was on the boil - yet very well marshalled by the referee - he just lost it, which just compounded things really for Perpignan.


MOMENT OF THE WEEK: Paul Hodgson's try-saving tackle

Paul Hodgson's tackle in the corner that denied Perpignan an equalising try when Laharrague chipped over for Adrien Plante who looked set to score was my moment of the week.

A superb covering tackle from the scrum-half who is one of the best in the business.

It was a case of put your body on the line - he just threw himself at Plante's legs and just managed to smash him into touch as he grounded the ball.

It would have been a lot harder for Irish had Hodgson not made that try-saving tackle!