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.