Champions Cup XV of the Week - Quarter-Finals
European rugby returned with a bang this weekend, as the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals reminded us all that there is still plenty of life left in the 2018/19 season.
Munster got the ball rolling with a hard-fought 17-13 win away at Edinburgh, before Saracens turned on the class and routed Glasgow Warriors, 56-27, at Allianz Park. Leinster’s hopes of defending their title were kept alive on Saturday evening with a 21-18 win at the Aviva Stadium, despite an almighty scare from Ulster, whilst 14-man Toulouse pulled off a stunning 22-21 win over Racing 92 in Paris.
Those results mean that Saracens will host Munster at the Ricoh Arena and Toulouse will travel to the Aviva Stadium to take on Leinster in the semi-finals, but before we start thinking about the those match-ups, take a look at the players who made our XV of the week from a pulsating weekend of knockout rugby.
- Liam Williams, Saracens
Edinburgh’s Darcy Graham deserves a mention for an incisive counter-attacking performance against Munster, but it was hard to overlook Williams’ overall game. He was excellent in the air, as demonstrated by the ball he won over three Glasgow defenders to score Saracens’ first try, whilst he also popped up in attack, helping create mismatches and overlaps by straightening the line and drawing defenders to him.
https://twitter.com/ChampionsCup/status/1112286499192651777
- Keith Earls, Munster
He may have had 11 on his back, but the Munster man was a threat and clear-headed leader throughout the game at BT Murrayfield from the right wing. He finished both of his tries well, with the first a particularly good example of his awareness, as he took a quick tap penalty to catch Edinburgh off their guard and wove his way through the defence for the score.
- Sofiane Guitoune, Toulouse
No shortage of impressive outside centres this week, with both Alex Lozowski and Chris Farrell deserving credit for their performances. That said, Guitoune was crucial in Toulouse’s eye-catching display in Paris, with his 66th minute interception on his own try line sparking a break that brought Toulouse three valuable points and reversed what had been growing Racing momentum. He fitted in silkily well between Romain Ntamack and the outside channels and never failed to make the right decisions when Toulouse broke the line or put the ball through the hands.
- Brad Barritt, Saracens
Saracens’ captain was in typically talismanic form on Saturday, as the spearhead of a performance from the Londoners that was as incisive as it was powerful. As a direct-runner outside of Alex Goode, he consistently found gain-line success and was able to tie in multiple defenders as he did. He went over awkwardly on his ankle late in the game and Saracens will be fervently hoping he is fit and available for their semi-final against Munster.
- Teddy Thomas, Racing 92
The dancing feet of Thomas were too good to ignore on Sunday afternoon and he shifts over from the right wing at the expense of David Strettle, who had a fine game himself. Thomas’ speed, footwork and ability to shift weight at pace and remain balanced saw him slice through the Toulouse defence on multiple occasions. His defence was also solid, as he kept his depth and width well and made the correct reads, backing them up with strong solo tackles.
- Ross Byrne, Leinster
One of, if not the most importance performance of Byrne’s career to date. He stepped up admirably for the injured Johnny Sexton and was key to facilitating Leinster’s game plan. He managed the game well, had Leinster playing in the right areas of the pitch and his form with the boot was also impressive. Kicking the winning penalty in the 72nd minute, as he was hobbling around with cramp, was a mark of the fly-half’s importance at the Aviva.
- Antoine Dupont, Toulouse
The scrum-half was effervescent in Paris, as he not only provided a threat around the fringes and instilled a high tempo in his side, but was also constantly on hand as a support-runner for his teammates’ breaks. He was responsible with his game management, too, once Toulouse lost fly-half Zack Holmes to a first half red card and his teammates began to tire with the extra work required.
- Cyril Baille, Toulouse
The French loosehead held up very well against the power of Ben Tameifuna at the set-piece and made a number of telling contributions around the park, too. He saved a certain try just minutes after Holmes was red carded and helped sap all momentum out of Racing, as the hosts looked to take advantage of their man advantage.
- Jamie George, Saracens
A man on the match performance from the hooker, who showed no signs of fatigue from the recent Guinness Six Nations. He checked off the boxes at the lineout and in defence efficiently, before proving to be an immovable thorn in Glasgow’s side as an attacking ball-handler. His carries, passing and intelligent positioning and running lines had him repeatedly unlocking the Glasgow defence.
- Cedate Gomes Sa, Racing 92
The replacement tighthead did a good job of anchoring and locking out the scrum once he came on and he helped swing momentum in the favour of the Parisian side. He made a number of dominant tackles, too, as well as helping slow down Toulouse’s ball at the breakdown. His carrying also brought impetus for Racing as they began to wear out the depleted Toulouse side.
- James Ryan, Leinster
The young lock has shone previously in a Leinster team that has run away with matches, but on Saturday he showed all of the grit and determination that is critical in seeing out a tight affair. His powerful carries around the fringes tended to bring a metre or two and kept Leinster moving forward, whilst not sacrificing ball security against a predatory Ulster pack. With others cramping up around him, Ryan looked like he could play another 40 minutes.
- Maro Itoje, Saracens
Itoje shifted into the second row in the second half and just edged out Munster’s Tadhg Beirne for this spot. Beirne shaded it in terms of influence at the breakdown, but Itoje was the more prominent ball-carrier and was pivotal shutting down Glasgow with his speed in the defensive line, even late in the game when his side had the result comfortably wrapped up. He showed no signs of rust after his recent layoff with injury.
- Peter O’Mahony, Munster
A mountainous defensive performance from the flanker, who was constantly at the heart of Munster’s efforts to repel the Edinburgh attack. With the Scots controlling and managing possession and territory well, Munster had to make numerous important defensive stands, with their captain often leading the way. His physicality in the tackle was particularly impressive, with his side able to keep players on their feet and rely on O’Mahony to make dominant solo tackles.
- Jordi Murphy, Ulster
It was a productive homecoming for Murphy in terms of performance, if not in result. He was a force at the contact area and in the defensive line for Ulster, providing them with multiple momentum-killing moments when Leinster were in attack. It wasn’t quite enough on the day, but both he and Marcell Coetzee can be proud of their contributions to a stellar game in the Irish capital.
- Viliame Mata, Edinburgh
A valiant effort in defeat from the Fijian number eight, who was the most likely ball-handler among the forwards to make something happen at Murrayfield. He gouged the Munster defence multiple times as a carrier, was a safe pair of hands fielding kicks and also made himself known defensively, putting in a complete shift in the defensive line and at the contact area. Leinster’s Jack Conan was also impressive, but didn’t quite have to shoulder so much of the burden as Mata did in his match-up.
Watch: Stephen Ferris discusses Ireland’s form heading into the Rugby World Cup
Comments on RugbyPass
I knew who wrote this article from the first few words in the headline…lol. The red card actually did the ABs a favour. It galvanized them, only then did they step up a gear. Before that there was zero momentum.
102 Go to commentsFirstly the foul on Bongi was a planned move just like the NZ master plan with Bryce Lawrence you kiwis are filthy fux perhaps try to play a cleaner game next time I doubt that’s possible tho but don’t worry world rugby is on yr side they trying to take away all the BOKS strengths to help all you weakling as Jeremy Clarkson would say LA OO ZA ERR..🤣
102 Go to commentsAbsolutely spot on Ben. I certainly wouldn't gloat over a win like that. Frustrating as it is it's done and dusted and history will forever show the result.
102 Go to commentsHo hum.
102 Go to commentsNo question they were the better team. But that is the beauty of sport isn’t it!
102 Go to commentsEveryone is into Hurling in Ireland according to Porter, but only 11 of Ireland's 32 counties enter a team into the national competition. Same old blarney.
1 Go to commentsLet’s be honest. The draw and scheduling in the World Cup was a joke but South Africa found a way after having to go the hard (nearly impossible) way to the Cup Final via France and England. NZ had a hard game against France (lost) and had 5 weeks to prepare for the Quarter, 3 weeks knowing it was Ireland. NZ theerfore had to win one big game against an Irish team who played SA and then Scotland 7 days before. They won and it was de facto a semi final because they were playing a relatively weak Argentina team and it was a walk over. In the final a very rested NZ team was playing a very tired SA team and still lost. They couldn’t score more than 11 points. Put another way SA had to find a way to win while tired and they achieved that. NZ should thank their lucky stars that they fixed the scheduling in 2015 otherwise they would be dealing with a Bok treble.
102 Go to commentsPerhaps if Bongi wasn’t targeted and removed from the game in the first 3 minutes it would have been quite a different game. Maybe if NZ also faced the same competition the Boks faced to their win NZ would have looked quite different. The final score shows who outplayed who.
102 Go to commentsRubbish article! Abuladze played most of Exeters matches when fit. He got injured against Glasgow a while ago and is out for the rest of the season, thats why he hasnt played for Exeter and Georgia recently. Do some proper research next time!
1 Go to commentsGotta love it when kids throw their toys out the pram and can’t hack it with the grown ups debate. Here’s looking at you turlough! 😉🤣
148 Go to commentsThey lost the game period move on
102 Go to commentsSpringboks won! Stop winging. You can change the game however much you and your rugby colonizing IRB want to and the Springboks will win you at that too. Your mind is colonized my friend get a life
102 Go to commentsBen, nobody gets fooled anymore by selective and biased data to support an hypothesis. Games are decided on such small margins these days that you win some and lose some, and dominance is a thing of the rugby past. Look at the RWC circle of fortune…. Ireland beats SA who beat France who beat NZ who beat Ireland. And so it goes on. Match officials help to eliminate real indiscretions. If they had been with us years before, no doubt results would have been different. Remember Andy Haden’s dive from a lineout in 1978 for which a match-wining penalty was awarded? Wales should have beaten the ABs that day. They took the loss like the gentlemen they were.
102 Go to commentsWith all the analysis and how good the all blacks were.The fundamental mistake with the ABs is that this is a test match and not an exhibition.There is no better team(country) in world rugby than the Boks that knows how to win a test match(we are post masters at this).We know our rules, we have the discipline, we tackle like beasts, we take our points and we never give up.I now have educated the ABs supporters(at least say thank you).Please stop “bitching” , accept what the outcome is and move along swiftly.
102 Go to commentsAnd they came from behind to win two big games before the final. No one can say what would have happened. Had the boks gone behind the game plan changes and the result may changes. Ifs and ands are irrelevant. The boks won. Neutral critics enjoyed the games they played. Its not a popularity contest. Get over it and move on.
102 Go to commentsI'm happy for the people of SA to get a second WC. And I mean that. I was very disappointed with this man's “stand on the hand” incident with Josh Van Der Flyer (Ireland). Ireland's downfall in the last WC was they did not rotate their first 15 as the head coach probably should have. That said, I'm happy for SA and genuinely hope it lifts the mood in their country. Ireland did beat them in the first match of the tournament. And before the trolls start trolling ….. please don't bother. Etzbeth said recently that the Irish players said after the match “see you in the final”…..this was actually wishing the SA team the best of luck in the rest, the Irish team were not dismissing the AB’s. This is what Etzbeth was implying. But he was wrong. I no longer live in Ireland. But I hope to see them lift that cup before I pass. Anyway, congratulations SA. 👍
12 Go to commentsMore bloody click bait. Dan Carter has said absolutely nothing. As he should do. Poor journalism again from a site that should know better
9 Go to commentsOh god please help these loosers get over it!!!! You lost. Doesn't matter how many times you dummies are gonna analyse the game, you still lost and we are still Rygby World Champions….get over it, you lost.
102 Go to commentsThe next Willie le Roux. SA are made not to use him.
3 Go to commentsDan has always been as controversial as tea with milk so we were never going to get any definitive answer. So DMac for the win.
9 Go to comments