We look ahead to this weekend’s Champions Cup quarterfinals, with the Stormers taking on Exeter at Sandy Park and the Sharks tackling Toulouse at the Ernest-Wallon.
Friday 7 April
Leinster 1/9 | Draw 40/1 | Leicester Tigers 58/10
Handicap
Leinster (-15.5) 17/20 | Leicester (+15.5) 17/20
Leinster, still unbeaten this season, punished an ill-disciplined Ulster outfit last weekend to come away from the Aviva with a comfortable 30-15 win. Leo Cullen’s squad boasts as many as 14 members of Ireland’s Grand Slammers in their ranks, and they’ll doubtless be eyeing even more success in Dublin with the competition’s Grand Final set to be played in the Irish capital on 20 May this season.
Tigers’ purple patch continued against Edinburgh at Welford Road in a game they won 16-6, their sixth victory in succession. They’ve shot up the Premiership standings, now occupying third, and will need every bit of that momentum as they gear up for the ultimate test here.
Spearheaded by in-form Handre Pollard, Tigers have proven their quality over the past few months, but they should be the latest side to succumb to the seemingly unstoppable force that is Leinster.
Leicester on the plus.
𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗸𝗶𝗰𝗸 🦵
— Leinster Rugby (@leinsterrugby) April 5, 2023
Where were you when Johnny Sexton kicked the winning penalty against Leicester Tigers to secure our first @ChampionsCup in 2009? 🤔#LEIvLEI #HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/cL8FJ1zFKA
Saturday 8 April
Toulouse 21/100 | Draw 25/1 | Sharks 36/10
Toulouse put the Bulls to the sword in their round of 16 tie, easing to a 33-9 win to keep alive their hopes at claiming what would be a record-extending sixth Champions Cup title. Despite coach Ugo Mola insisting the Durbanites are favourites heading into this one, there’s no question that a loss for the French club would be nothing short of a massive shock.
While the Sharks have been the standout SA team in the competition, smashing a good Munster side 50-35 in Durban last week, the absence of Eben Etzebeth and Jaden Hendrikse will do them no favours. Toulouse are an entirely different beast, particularly at the Ernest-Wallon, and the Sharks, tenacious though they are, have done little to suggest they have the overall game to challenge the 2021 winners.
Sharks on the plus.
Our very own Tarzan was swinging into action on the field! 🙌#FearTheFin #HeinekenChampionsCup #SHAvMUN pic.twitter.com/BoMEi6EyNa
— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) April 4, 2023
Exeter 33/20 | Draw 23/1 | Stormers 51/100
Handicap
Exeter (+4.5) 9/10 | Stormers (-4.5) 9/10
Chiefs’ gruelling extra-time defeat of Montpellier last week would have taken a lot out of them. Though they will have the added boost of the Sandy Park faithful behind them on Saturday, they could find themselves running our of steam in the final quarter.
That said, the Capetonians must be pretty knackered themselves. They’ve flown to and from Dublin over the past fortnight and have now jettisoned off to London for this weekend’s clash in Devon. They played some characteristically sparkling footy in their 32-28 win over Harlequins last week, and a similar performance could jus be enough for them.
This one could be the tightest quarterfinal of the bunch. Get on Exeter at (+4.5) 9/10.
Gets better every time you watch it... https://t.co/Fbl410dR6A
— DHL Stormers (@THESTORMERS) April 4, 2023
Sunday 9 April
La Rochelle 34/100 | Draw 24/1 | Saracens 24/10
Handicap
La Rochelle (-7.5) 17/20 | Saracens (+7.5) 17/20
The clash of the weekend. Reigning champions La Rochelle edged a brave Gloucester outfit 29-26 at the Marcel Deflandre in the round of 16, but they’ll need a vastly superior showing to see off Saracens. The hosts are second in the Top 14 and, despite a strong campaign thus far, Sarries are a notoriously difficult nut to crack.
After a tough few years, Mark McCall’s side are back to their best. They’re 11-points clear at the summit of the Premiership and, really, it looks like it’s theirs to lose at this point. With standards at the club as high as they are, they’ll definitely be eyeing a Champions Cup and Prem double this season.
Get on Sarries here at 24/10.
The score to get us 🔙 level!@Alex_goode0 ➡️ @AndyChristie43 ➡️ @max_malins7 🟰 𝗧𝗥𝗬 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘!
— Saracens Rugby Club (@Saracens) April 3, 2023
Check out all the highlights from yesterday's thriller 🍿#YourSaracens💫
