5 talking points ahead of the European quarter-finals
European competitions take centre-stage this weekend with quarter-finals of the Heineken Champions Cup and European Challenge Cup. The games, delayed since early April because of the coronavirus pandemic, promise to produce some thrilling encounters.
Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the talking points.
Saracens face mission improbable
It has been a season of abject misery for the Champions Cup holders, with relegation from the Gallagher Premiership and a £5.36million fine for their punishments following repeated salary cap breaches.
They will play in the Championship next season and not return to European rugby’s blue riband knockout competition until at least 2022.
Top seeds ??
Domestic champions ?
Unbeaten this season ?Could @leinsterrugby go all the way in the #HeinekenChampionsCup?
Here are all their tastiest top tries ?? pic.twitter.com/TEgLex9k2k
— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) September 15, 2020
On top of that, their fly-half talisman Owen Farrell is suspended for Saturday’s quarter-final clash against Leinster in Dublin. The odds are stacked against Saracens, but that is exactly how they like it.
Leinster look unstoppable
It is difficult to imagine Leinster not reclaiming the Champions Cup this term and securing a record fifth European crown. They are unbeaten in European and Guinness PRO14 action since losing to Saracens in last season’s final, and will play their quarter-final and possible semi-final in Dublin.
Packed with international stars and led by mercurial fly-half Johnny Sexton, they are currently setting remarkable standards of consistency and excellence.
Are Exeter ready to conquer Europe?
For a club that has featured in the last four Premiership finals at Twickenham, European success has consistently eluded Exeter. This season’s runaway league leaders and firm title favourites can reflect on just one previous quarter-final appearance, and that was in 2016 when they lost to Wasps at the Ricoh Arena.
This year, though, Rob Baxter’s men might be about to crack the code, hosting quarter-final opponents Northampton on Sunday with a semi-final against Toulouse or Ulster if they topple Saints. Potentially Leinster’s biggest threat.
French threat is a powerful one
French clubs have traditionally featured at the business end of European Cup competitions and this season is no exception with a powerful trio of Toulouse, Clermont Auvergne and Racing 92 all in quarter-final action.
Clermont and Racing face each other, guaranteeing at least one French semi-finalist, while four-times European champions Toulouse are expected to overcome Ulster. Eight of the previous 24 European finals have been won by French teams.
Bristol geared for Challenge Cup success
Bristol have already achieved stated goals of a top-six Premiership finish and qualification for next season’s Champions Cup, but there is potentially more available to them.
They face a Challenge Cup quarter-final against the Dragons on Friday at Ashton Gate, then it is Bordeaux-Begles or Edinburgh in a home semi-final if they topple the Welsh outfit. With star summer arrivals like Semi Radradra and Kyle Sinckler making their presence felt, Challenge Cup silverware could certainly end up in the west country next month.
"I definitely believe I wouldn't be the player I am if I hadn't been told from a young age I was too small"@harry_thacker talks @BristolBears , Pat Lam, leaving Leicester Tigers & the difference it makes when someone believes in you, with @heagneyl ???https://t.co/xZh0FnE9p1
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) September 13, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
77 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to comments