This week's biggest matches to watch on Rugby Pass
Challenge and Champions Cup rugby returns oop north, while some tasty Super Rugby and NRL fixtures keep the party going south of the equator.
NRL: Storm vs Panthers (Saturday, April 1, 4:30 pm HKT)
Everyone’s talking up the Panthers this season but it’s been hard to get a gauge on them in the first four weeks. Sure, they looked good demolishing the Knights 40-0 last week and dispatched the Tigers in a similar fashion, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if those two teams ended up fighting for the wooden spoon this year. Their 14-12 loss to the Roosters in Round 3 is probably a better indication, but the Storm are the one true consistent benchmark of the NRL. If the Panthers can steal 2 points off them at AAMI Park on Saturday night you can be assured they’re the real deal.
Challenge Cup: Bath vs Brive (Saturday, April 1, 7:45 pm HKT)
A long time ago, in a tournament far, far away, these two sides met in the final of the 1998 European Cup. At the time, the French side were the reigning champions but Bath won a tight game in Bordeaux to lift the first – and biggest – of their two European titles. But that was then. This is now. Bath come into the game on the back of that 53-10 loss at Saracens, their worst domestic defeat since 2002. They will be relieved to enjoy the comforts of home against notoriously poor travellers Brive, though they need to beware the howitzer boot of Gaetan Germain.
Champions Cup: Leinster vs Wasps (Saturday, April 1, 10:15 pm HKT)
This encounter, between two longtime European rivals noted for their attacking, high-intensity rugby, bears all the hallmarks of the match of the quarterfinal weekend, if not this year’s two European competitions. Leinster and Wasps top their respective domestic leagues with records that are uncannily, mouthwateringly, similar. Both sides have played 18 games in their respective competitions. Both have lost just three times. Leinster have scored more tries (79 to Wasps’ 73) and conceded fewer (38 to Wasps’ 49) but the Premiership outfit has scored more points (577 to Leinster’s 573). And there’s always the memory of Wasps win in Dublin in last year’s competition… Expect an edge-of-the-seat encounter, with a semi-final against the winners of Clermont vs Toulon the prize.
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Champions Cup: Munster vs Toulouse (Sunday, April 2, 12:45am HKT)
Random fact klaxon: Whoever wins here will set a new record for European Cup appearances when they meet either Saracens or Glasgow in the semifinal – both sides are currently locked on 156 games each. These two sides go way back, most notably nine years ago when they met in a tense final in Cardiff. The Irish side edged that game, but have not appeared in the showpiece match since, while Toulouse were crowned champions once more in 2010. For Munster, this European campaign has been a tribute to head coach Anthony Foley, who died hours before their scheduled opening pool match against Racing 92 in October. They roared through the pool phase to set up this home quarter-final at Thomond Park. Toulouse, meanwhile, edged in by denying Connacht a bonus point in the final match of the pool phase.
Super Rugby: Waratahs vs Crusaders (Sunday, April 2, 2:05 pm HKT)
A rare Sunday night game of Super Rugby sees the Waratahs host the Crusaders in a history-filled encounter in Sydney. For ‘Tahs faithful it’s a chance to remember the glory days of the 2014 final, but with that game’s goalkicking hero Bernard Foley’s fitness looking doubtful they could be in for a tough night. If this season’s form is any indication they’ll want to open up at least a 30 point first half lead if they want to withstand the inevitable Crusaders comeback. But if the Reds can get as close as the last kick of the game, the Waratahs will back themselves to go one better.
Champions Cup: Saracens vs Glasgow Warriors (Sunday, April 2, 8:00 pm HKT)
Gregor Townsend’s Glasgow entered uncharted European waters when they booked their place in the last eight of the Champions Cup for the first time in their history. It’s just their luck that the seedings meant they get to face the defending champions in their own backyard. In the past three Champions Cup competitions, only two of the 12 quarter-finals have been won by the visiting team. On both occasions, that visiting team was Saracens. Now, they are at home, with a full contingent of internationals at their disposal. Glasgow are ambitious, and they have a fair few big-game players of their own, but this is Allianz Park, where away wins are rarer than hens’ teeth.
Champions Cup: Clermont vs Toulon (Sunday, April 2, 10:15 pm HKT)
Champions Cup rivalries do not get any bigger than this. Clermont – top seeds after the pool stages – have a third European final in five seasons in their sights, but their previous two appearances ended in defeat to their Top 14 rivals and opponents this weekend. Toulon, meanwhile, scraped into the last eight by the skin of their teeth courtesy of a losing bonus-point against Saracens in the final round of the pool stages. Their reward: this apparent mission impossible at Stade Marcel Michelin – where not many visiting teams enjoy success, and where the hosts have averaged 45 points a game in Europe. Clermont also hammered Toulon 30-6 when the two sides met here in the Top 14 in January, when they destroyed the visitors’ scrum at will. A few days later, a certain Richard Cockerill arrived in the Var to take up a short-term job as consulting forwards coach.
Comments on RugbyPass
In the fine tradition of Irish rugby, Leinster cheat well and for some reason only known to whoever referees them, they are allowed to get away with it every single game. If teams have not got the physicality up front to stop them getting the ball, they will win every single game. They take out players beyond the ruck and often hold them on the ground. Those that are beyond the ruck and therefore offside, hover there to cause distraction but also to join the next ruck from the side thereby stopping the jackal. The lineout prior to the second try on Saturday. 3 Leinster players left the lineout before the ball was thrown and were driving the maul as soon as the player hit the ground and thereby getting that valuable momentum. They scrummage illegally, with the looshead turning in to stop the opposing tighthead from pushing straight and making it uncomfortable for the hooker. The tighthead takes a step and tries to get his opposite loosehead to drop the bind. Flankers often ‘move up’ and actually bind on the prop and not remain bound to the second row. It does cause chaos and is done quickly and efficiently so that referees are blinded by the illegal tactics. I am surprised opposition coaches when they meet referees before games don’t mention it. I am also surprised that they do not go to the referees group and ask them to look at the tactics used and referee them properly. If they are the better team and win, fair play but a lot of their momentum is gained illegally and therefore it is not a level playing field.
1 Go to commentsI’d be fascinated to see what other candidates you all might have for the Lions captaincy role. Let me know, below 👍
1 Go to comments“ planning for the next cycle….” Sigh ill-advised language Elton old juice bean. Ppersonally glad you self-eliminated yourself, there were better players in the position around you.
3 Go to commentsRegardless of best in world etc. Lawes was outstanding against Leinster and has been all season. Looked like three try saving turnovers. His turnovers also contributed to NH scores. Immense performance.
2 Go to commentsDickson now considered the top ref in England it appears. Good that these series are getting one NH and one SH ref.
1 Go to commentsI don’t think any coach or selector would ever rely on Blackadder being available for selection. I didn’t think it would be possible but he has easily eclipsed Ennor as they most injured player of all time. IMO a symptom of today’s game where players are required to carry at least 10kg of extra mass from when they first hit the scene in their early 20s. Some players respond well to this, maybe due to genetics allowing them to recover faster, or not having reached their peak natural weight yet, but for others the constant training to maintain their weight eats away at recovery time and they spend most of their careers injured.
4 Go to commentsThanks for the lesson Nick! I presume that targeting gaps is situational because if a ball carrier straightens the line they can't be allowed a gap to run into? It feels like you need depth if you're going to pass it wide and plenty of variety - straight running, kicks just in behind, cross kicks etc. BTW what an incredible bench Toulouse had this week. People complain about Leinster being stacked but they need to be at the very highest level.
18 Go to comments2015 was by far the best team. They have had many good backlines over the years but the 2015 team was one of the few to have an absolute world class forward pack - all of them international quality. 6 ABs, 1 future English player, and one that would have gone on to ABs had he not been forced to retire due to concussion. This current team doesn’t have the same size and experience at lock, but providing they can keep this many talented young players (who have all significantly increased their profile this year) together for another 2 years they could eclipse the 2015 team.
2 Go to commentsAnd I’ve just seen RA has topped up the offer to Paisami and extended it beyond 3 years and he’s signed. Great news
78 Go to commentsInteresting watching Amaua starting to fire. No idea why he was pulled so early against the Reds.
4 Go to commentsNice to read something positive about Vunivalu; it doesn’t happen often. I despair for rugby in Oz. Unless some form of compensation for the teams producing players is devised, there is no obvious way for us to combat poachers coming to grab players in their prime with bigger pay cheques. A return to the SR crowds we were getting in 2010-2014 and a quadrupling of the TV deal would be a start but I don’t see how those things happen. Perhaps the government could be encouraged to deliver tax breaks like in Ireland?
78 Go to commentsI wasn’t aware that the blitz targeted space so, as usual, something learned from reading one of your articles, Nick. Watching the game live I attributed the Saints’ inaccuracy to their own mistakes and nerves. Perhaps some credit to the Leinster D.
18 Go to commentsGotta give it to you Graham, you support your players and team to the hilt. There may be strains of exaggeration laced throughout but gotta love the passionate parochialism.
2 Go to commentsNice one Nick. No doubt Vunivalu’s involvements and work rate are improving this year in attack, but I still think he is too raw on the defensive and backfield part of his game to be considered as a starter. Wales would just kick and run it to his side all night as the brumbies have done to good effect in the past. But, his size/power will keep him in the convo with Mark N leaving and Petaia’s injury record. Hunter definitely enjoying an injury-free run this season and being given the keys by Kiss - I have always been a fan of his. All I’d say is that his triple threat has been evident since 2020/21. I remember him making a grubber for a petaia try after the siren to beat the Brumbies in Canberra after the 80th minute in 2021. Lastly, Jock Campbell, who I know isn’t at the top of your list, I thought had alot of positive involvements in the saders game including both of Tim ryan’s tries and Mcreights
78 Go to commentsAg please, Pieter Stef Du Toit has played circles around this clown.
2 Go to commentsJust celebrating the Bok’s 1648th consecutive day as RWC champions. They are also the Qatar Airways Cup winners, which I know BennieBoy cares about a lot.
2 Go to commentsGood to here positive stories towards Aus Rugby. Although that might be the case, and highers up are right about Jordie, I wouldn’t stress trying to retain him. What I have seen of him in recent times is that he’s not using that something special. I feel there a better ‘something special’ options coming through that they won’t have to compete with league for, hell even in Kerevi and Paisami (isn’t it great to finally see his ability getting recognized, probably taking this article in isolation too much here).
78 Go to commentsgreat article! I wonder whether we will we see Ireland adopt the Nienaber blitz? All the teams who have tried it so far (SA included) have gone through significant teething problems in the first season; Ireland could possibly be in the unique position of being able to switch to a hard blitz in season 2 of a world cup cycle and already have so many players used to the system that it can be implemented seamlessly.
18 Go to commentsThey probably left another 20 on the field to be fair. Also - the officiating was… ordinary.
1 Go to commentsblackadder isnt a key player at all you cant say hes been the best player or a key all black when hes injured every week
4 Go to comments