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Champions Cup XV of the Quarter-Finals

By Alex Shaw
Our Champions Cup XV for the quarter finals

We have our Champions Cup semi-finals.

Racing 92 will entertain Munster in Bordeaux, whilst the Scarlets will travel to Dublin to take on Leinster in an all-PRO14 affair.

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We picked out our XV of standout players from this weekend’s quarter-final action, but do you agree?

 

  1. Chris Ashton, Toulon

There has been no shortage of classy performances from Chris Ashton down on the Côte d’Azur this season but to play to this level at a position he’s still becoming accustomed to, in a high-pressure game at a cauldron like Thomond Park, is certainly noteworthy.

Ashton defended excellently, posed a threat whenever he joined the line in attack and covered the ground effectively in answer to Munster’s peppering of Toulon’s 22.

Leigh Halfpenny is also worth of mention here, particularly for his goal-kicking masterclass.

 

  1. Andrew Conway, Munster

Conway produced a moment of magic on Saturday that will not quickly be forgotten at Thomond Park.

In addition to providing a result-defining try, Conway also chased hard and defended impressively against a Toulon side that certainly tested Munster in the wider channels through Ashton and Semi Radradra.

 

  1. Sammy Arnold, Munster

The young Irish centre was in fine form at Thomond Park on Saturday, putting in a remarkably impressive shackling performance on Toulon’s titanic midfield of Ma’a Nonu and Mathieu Bastareaud.

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Not only did Arnold have both of those powerful carriers wrapped up defensively, he also shone with some smart carrying lines and dovetailed very successfully with Rory Scannell in a Munster back line shorn of several regular starters.

La Rochelle’s Arthur Retiere, usually a scrum-half, also shone at the position this weekend, as did Damian Penaud.

 

  1. Hadleigh Parkes, Scarlets

Nods to Scannell, Isa Nacewa and Brad Barritt, here, but Parkes was a class apart this week with his silky-smooth play outside of Rhys Patchell.

His performance on Saturday epitomised what a well-rounded centre Parkes has become under Wayne Pivac, with really no areas to significantly critique and the basic skills executed flawlessly.

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  1. Marc Andreu, Racing 92

The diminutive wing sparkled at Stade Marcel Michelin on Sunday, causing Peter Betham all sorts of problems in defence.

In addition to running in a try, Andreu’s neat footwork and quick change of pace saw plenty of Clermont defenders commit to him and this created space and opportunities for the rest of his teammates.

Toulon’s Radradra was also in impressive form, despite being on a losing side in Limerick.

 

  1. Johnny Sexton, Leinster

A classy and efficient performance from the Irish fly-half, who dealt flawlessly with the pressure Saracens put on him.

It wasn’t a Leinster performance with the overt puppeteering we often see from Sexton, but the 32-year-old just quietly controlled the action with simple kicks and simple passes and allowed the execution and composure of those around him to shine through.

 

  1. Maxime Machenaud, Racing 92

The Frenchman was run close by his national teammate Morgan Parra and the ever-impressive Conor Murray.

Machenaud took his form from the Six Nations into the Champions Cup and controlled the tempo perfectly for Racing. He moved up and down the gears as required by his team, kicked accurately at goal and exposed holes with good, flat passing on the gain-line.

 

  1. Mako Vunipola, Saracens

Incredible work rate from the loosehead, who put in 77 minutes of non-stop carrying, tackling and rucking.

He was put under pressure from Leinster in the first two scrums but then responded strongly, dealing with the ever-present threat of Tadgh Furlong as well as possible. When Saracens’ handling and composure failed at times in Dublin, Vunipola’s stayed consistent and effective.

 

  1. Ken Owens, Scarlets

Pierre Bourgarit, Owen’s opposite number on Friday, had a very impressive game, but it was a tone-setting performance from the Welshman, with the captain leading from the front throughout for the Scarlets.

Owen’s lineout throwing was exceptional, he was tireless in defence over the entire 80 minutes and made some critical carries around the fringes to keep the Scarlets moving forward.

 

  1. Mohamed Boughanmi, La Rochelle

Boughanmi brought significant impact off the bench for La Rochelle and it had looked like he might be the spearhead for a French revival in Llanelli.

His carrying was impressive, but it was his scrummaging which really shone, as he helped the replacement La Rochelle front-row turn the screw on a Welsh unit which had previously had the number of the visitors.

Tadgh Furlong put in his accustomed multi-faceted performance, too.

 

  1. Tadhg Beirne, Scarlets

Beirne certainly rode his luck a little at Parc y Scarlets, with referee Luke Pearce erring on the side of caution on a couple of potential yellow card offences, and Beirne didn’t hesitate to make the most of that leniency.

The power he brought in the tight was critical to Scarlets’ game plan, he made himself known at the set-piece and for a man of his height, he had no right to win the turnovers on the ground that he did. Another accomplished, if slightly fortunate, performance from the Irishman.

 

  1. James Ryan, Leinster

Both Dave Attwood and Leone Nakarawa stood up for Toulon and Racing 92 respectively, but it was the young lock that looked a class apart in the five shirt this weekend.

He had no trouble engaging in the physical arm wrestle that the Saracens pack posed, and he won that duel in emphatic fashion. Set-piece contributions, neat handling and effective footwork all complemented a bruising physical performance.

 

  1. Peter O’Mahony, Munster

Munster’s talismanic flanker was a predator at the lineout, not only outright stealing two throws from a usually very reliable Toulon set-piece unit, but also constantly muddying the throws Toulon did connect on, making it very difficult for the French side to get any kind of quick and secure ball.

He was also highly influential at the breakdown, clearing out with power and accuracy throughout.

 

  1. Dan Leavy, Leinster

It took something special to outdo the all-round showing from Toulon’s Facundo Isa and that’s what Leavy delivered on Sunday.

He preyed on Saracens at the breakdown, either slowing their ball or exploiting holes in their defensive line on the rare occasions that the Londoners decided to commit extra men to the contact area. He was full value for the man of the match award he picked up.

 

  1. CJ Stander, Munster

Like Vunipola, a place earned by sheer, mountainous work rate.

It was far from the most dynamic performance that we have ever seen from Stander, but the No 8 refused to be budged on the gain-line, piling up jackhammer-like tackles and short, powerful drives around the fringes.

Yannick Nyanga also put in a good showing for Racing down in the Auvergne.

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J
Jon 7 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 9 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

37 Go to comments
A
Adrian 11 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

37 Go to comments
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