The Hollywoodbets Sharks advanced to the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup, while the Bulls were trounced by Northampton in their Champions Cup quarterfinal as we look back on the weekend’s last eight results from the respective competitions.
Champions Cup QFs: Saints bulldoze Bulls Bs
Northampton Saints romped to a 59-22 demolition of the Bulls at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday to dash the Pretoria side’s semi-final hopes. Concerns surrounding travel fatigue led Jake White to controversially name a second-strong outfit for the trip up north, ruffling plenty of European feathers in the process, with the gambit ultimately not coming off and Northampton cantering home despite leading by just 28-22 at the break.
Elsewhere, Leinster avenged their last two Grand Final defeats to La Rochelle with a big 40-13 victory over Ronan O’Gara’s side at the Aviva; Harlequins withstood a valiant Bordeaux fightback to claim a thrilling 42-41 win at the Stade Chaban-Delmas and Blair Kinghorn scored 23-points as Toulouse thrashed Exeter Chiefs 64-26 at the Ernest-Wallon.
The semi-finals, to be played to be played on the fourth and fifth of May, see Leinster face Saints in Dublin and Toulouse host Harlequins.
Juarno Augustus powers over for Northampton Saints 💪
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) April 13, 2024
A South African putting South Africans to bed 🔥
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Challenge Cup QFs: Hollywoodbets Sharks hold off Edinburgh
The Hollywoodbets Sharks beat Edinburgh 36-30 at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday to become the first South African franchise to advance to the last four of a European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR) competition. They will tackle Clermont Auvergne, who defeated Ulster 53-14 at the Marcel Michelin on the same day, in the first semi-final at The Stoop in London on 4 May.
Although the Durbanites conceded two late tries, their victory was a comfortable one and John Plumtree’s men should be favourites to claim the title from here on out.
The other semi-final (5 May) will see Gloucester, having beaten Ospreys 23-13 at Kingsholm on Friday, face Benetton, 39-24 winners over Connacht in Treviso on Saturday,
Got to love this dive from Bongi 😂
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) April 13, 2024
We are into the final stages of the Challenge Cup quarter-final in Durban 🏉
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