It’s Champions Cup semi-final weekend! Leinster face Northampton before a tantalising clash between Toulouse and Harlequins. Darry Worthington previews.
The iconic Croke Park is where this weekend’s Champions Cup semi-finals will get underway with an Irish-Anglo affair as last season’s runners-up Leinster play-host to current Gallagher Premiership leaders, the Northampton Saints.
Saturday 3 May
Leinster 1/9 | Draw 28/1 | Northampton 58/10 (18:30)
Handicap
Leinster (-14.5) 9/10 | Northampton (+14.5) 9/10
This will be a rather emotional moment for Leinster rugby as they return to Croke Park for the first time since 2009 when they, in a touch of irony, met fellow Irish Province Munster in a Champions Cup semi-final. So there should be something of an extra edge to Leinster this weekend, especially considering they are taking on an English outfit at this hallowed ground.
The hosts of Saturday’s encounter were mightily impressive in the Champions Cup Round of 16 and quarter-finals beating the Leicester Tigers 36-22 and followed that up with a magnificent 40-13 win over La Rochelle in a replay of the 2022-23 Champions Cup final. They were also one of the form sides in the pool phase of the competition, topping Pool 4 with four wins from four starts.
The Saints will know they have a mountain to climb this weekend as Leinster don’t often lose home games. While the odds are stacked against them, the Saints are a competent outfit and are top of the Gallagher Premiership for a reason.
It won’t be the first time Northampton have travelled to Ireland this term, with the Saints registering an impressive 23-26 away win over Munster in the final pool phase round. That was one of their four victories in the pool phase in which, like Leinster, they produced a flawless run.
The Saints were to meet Munster again, beating the Irish side 24-14 in the Round of 16. They then hammered an understrength Bulls side 59-22 in the quarter-finals.
In terms of both teams’ recent form, Leinster’s seconds have just endured a tough old tour of South Africa going down 44-12 to the Lions in Johannesburg and 42-12 to the Stormers in Cape Town, while Northampton have beaten Leicester 40-17 and then went down 41-32 to Harlequins at the Stoop.
In terms of team news for this one, Leinster have been handed a major boost with Irish internationals Garry Ringrose and Jimmy O’Brien returning to training this week, while there’s not much news coming out of the Saints camp at the time of writing.
Verdict: Northampton (+14.5) 9/10
While I do reckon Leinster will take the honors here, I think the Saints will make a real game of it which is why I’m on the plus handicap for this ne.
Two of the best attacking sides in Europe lock horns in Sunday’s Champions Cup semi-finals with French giants Toulouse taking on English club side Harlequins.
The hosts head into this one as firm favourites with the bookmakers but you can never write off this ‘Quins side that has already registered a knock-out round win in France this term.
Sunday 5 May
Toulouse 1/20 | Draw 35/1 | Harlequins 9/1 (16:00)
Handicap
Toulouse (-19.5) 9/10| Harlequins (19.5) 9/10
The hosts will be desperate to reach their first Champions Cup final since they won the competition back in the 2021-22 season. Standing in their way is a Harlequins side littered with talent including mercurial English pivot Marcus Smith, who has been in sensational touch this term.
Toulouse followed up a brilliant pool phase campaign, that saw them win all four of their first-round fixtures on their way to topping Pool 2, with a solid Round of 16 showing as they registered a 31-7 win over domestic foes Racing 92 that booked them a Quarter-Final date with Exeter. Despite a slow start, Toulouse made short work of Exeter beating the Gallagher Premiership side 63-26 in France.
‘Quins, who were also in Pool 2 during the group phase, weren’t able to go four from four during the early salvos of the Champions Cup with their one pool phase defeat coming at the hands of this weekend’s opponents, who beat them 19-47 in December. ‘Quins are a far better outfit now, however, as their knock-out phase results attest to with the English side beating Glasgow 28-24 in the Round of 16 before securing a dramatic 41-42 quarter-final win over the Bordeaux Begles.
In terms of recent form, the hosts have won four of their last five games across all coemptions with their only defeat being a narrow 20-19 loss to Toulon a fortnight ago. They bounced back with a solid 32-12 win over Racing 92. Harlequins have also gone four from five and also suffered a domestic defeat a fortnight ago as they went down 37-21 to Sale before bouncing back with a nine-point win over Gallagher Premiership leaders, the Northampton Saints.
Verdict: Toulouse (-19.5) 9/10
I feel this game is a bridge too far for ‘Quins and my money is on a second half blitz from Toulouse seeing them past the handicap.
