Darry Worthington previews what is lining up to be a blockbuster set of Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals. The Bulls are the last South African outfit left in the comp and will face Northampton Saints in England.
After a compelling Ro16 that saw a couple of big upsets, the Heineken Champions Cup moves to its quarter-final stage and there are some absolutely cracking games headed our way this weekend with the pick of the quarters seeing a repeat of last year’s final with Leinster and La Rochelle squaring off.
Darry Worthington runs the rule over this blockbuster in the making and the other three knock-out clashes below.
Saturday 13 April
Bordeaux 1/14 | Draw 33/1 | Harlequins 15/2 (16:00)
Handicap
Bordeaux (-17.5) 17/20 | Harlequins (+17.5) 17/20
Bordeaux were one of the sides that really impressed in the Round of 16 as they hammered a Saracens side sans Owen Farrell 45-12. While the North Londoners were without their talismanic pivot, Bordeaux’ win was still impressive with Saries still fielding a host of seasoned English internationals.
Louis Bielle-Biarrey was the star of the show for the Begles with the winger grabbing two of Bordeaux’s six, while the impressive young Mateo Garcia also grabbed a double and was at the forefront of the Begles’ solid attack. Both players will once again be key to the Top 14 outfit’s cause against English opposition.
While Bordeaux eased to a comfortable Round of 16 win, Harlequins were made to sweat for their victory with URC outfit, the Glasgow Warriors, putting up a real fight at the Stoop this past weekend.
Trailing 21-25 with less than five minutes of the fixture remaining, ‘Quins went to the corner and set a rolling maul which resulted in replacement hooker Sam Riley going over for the match-winning try.
Verdict: Harlequins (+17.5) 17/20
The battle between Marcus Smith and Mateo Garcia should be worth the entrance fee alone with both pivots in fine fettle. I think this one will be tighter than the handicap suggests.
Leinster 2/7 | Draw 20/1 | La Rochelle 29/10 (18:30)
Handicap
Leinster (-8.5) 17/20 | La Rochelle (+8.5) 17/20
It’s the big one next up with Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle squaring off against Leo Cullen’s Leinster. The two sides played out an epic final last season with La Rochelle running out 26-27 in a famous come-from-behind victory. And while Leinster did inflict a spot of revenge during this season’s pool phase winning 9-16 victors in France, that game was of far less significance compared to this weekend’s encounter.
The hosts for Saturday’s fixture made short work of Gallagher Premiership side Leicester, winning 36-22 at the Aviva Stadium. Having conceded the first try of the game, Leinster would then burst into life scoring three tries to take a 22-10 lead into the break.
And while there were jitters early on in the as the Tigers hit back from a rolling maul and Leinster went down to 14 men after a yellow card for a deliberate knock-down, an intercept try from Ireland international Robbie Henshaw, swung the game in the Irish Province’s as they added a further try to their tally while Leicester could only grab a consolation try late in the piece.
La Rochelle were forced to work harder for their win, which was expected as they were taking on the Stormers in Cape Town. Having trailed 16-0 with just over a half hour left in the clash, it looked like La Rochelle would see the title defence come to an end. The French outfit had other ideas, however, as they responded with two quick-fire tries from pick and goes to move into the lead with
18 minutes left in the encounter.
They would then extend their lead to five points with another effort from close range. With ten minutes remaining in the clash, La Rochelle faced a siege from the Stormers but managed to weather it until the final minute of the game when the hosts crossed the whitewash to go within a point of winning the fixture. Mannie Libbok would pull his kick wide, however to break the Cape sides’ hearts.
Verdict: Leinster (-8.5) 17/20
I think La Rochelle will be rather fatigued after their epic clash in Cape Town and with more travel in store, Leinster will be by far the fresher team. I can see the Irish Province pulling away from their French opponents in the final quarter of Saturday’s clash.
Northampton 2/9 | Draw 25/1 | Bulls 33/10 (21:00)
Handicap
Northampton (-10.5) 17/20 | Bulls (+10.5) 17/20 *forecast handicap
Next up we have Gallagher Premiership leaders, the Northampton Saints, playing host to the final South African side standing in the Champions Cup, the Blue Bulls.
The hosts continued their fine run of form last weekend as they registered a solid 24-14 win over a very tidy Munster outfit. Locked up at 14-14 at half-time, the Saints knew they would need to up their game in the second half and they did with George Henry finishing a brilliant team effort from deep in his side’s own half and then producing a superb bit of individual brilliance for his second which would ultimately kill off Munster.
While the Saints were given a real challenge, the Bulls had no such issues as they hammered Top 14 side Lyon 59-19 at Loftus. Jake White’s men were full of industry and used their physical dominance to bully Lyon into submission. While their forwards were at the crux of the big win, their backs were also brilliant with ball in hand.
Despite a massive victory, coach Jake White was not left happy following the conclusion of the fixture as his side were forced to wait on the Northampton versus Munster result to determine whether his team would host the Irish side or, as they have now had to do, book flights to England.
The former Springbok coach made a good point about travel for the South African sides stating “Two weeks ago we went to Leinster and it took us 28 hours to get there and 27 hours to get back, and whether we like it or not it comes at a cost. Whether we fly business class [or not]. I am fortunate the board pays business class for our starting team, which is a fantastic gesture.
“It is a huge bonus [for the starting XV] but no sporting team flies 28 hours and with eight different airplanes, some to Birmingham or London where they are going to land at different times.”
Verdict: Bulls (+10.5) 17/20
While I think the Bulls European adventure ends here, I do think they will make an absolute fist of it. I’ll be backing them on the plus handicap.
Sunday 14 April
Toulouse 1/33 | Draw40/1 | Exeter 11/1 (16:00)
Handicap
Toulouse (-21.5) 17/20 | Exeter (+21.5) 17/20
The quarter-finals come to a close with a French-Anglo affair as Top 14 giants Toulouse play host to Gallagher Premiership outfit Exeter at the Stade Ernest-Wallon this Sunday evening. The hosts come into this one as red-hot favourites with the bookmakers, and considering the star-laden squad they have, that’s completely justified.
That aforementioned squad was at their best this past weekend as they hammered domestic foes Racing 31-7. The old firm of Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack were reunited and oh did it feel so good for Toulouse fans with the duo pulling the strings in a composed performance.
The Chiefs found the going a bit tougher in their Round 16 derby fixture as they came up against a determined Bath outfit. Strange weather conditions, including sun and rain showers, made for difficult handling and both sides were guilty of making basic mistakes in the first half. Exter were by far the better side during the final half-hour of the fixture, as they cut out the errors and overturned a 7-15 deficit with two tries from close range.
Verdict: Toulouse (-21.5) 17/20
Toulouse are one of the best club sides in the world. I can’t see Exeter keeping pace with them. My money is on a big Toulouse win.
