Champions Cup: ‘New kid on the block’ set for biggest British and Irish Lions test while prolific French wingers threaten Toulouse’s crown
Another star-studded European weekend awaits, with four sides competing for a place in the Investec Champions Cup final at the Principality Stadium.
In the first semi-final, runaway United Rugby Championship leaders, Leinster, will host the defending Premiership champions Northampton Saints.
The second semi-final will be an all-French affair with Toulouse looking to continue their European defence as they come up against Bordeaux-Begles on Sunday afternoon.
Both French sides will be without some of their key stars in the clash between the Top 14’s two table toppers.
So, where will the Champions Cup semi-finals take place, and where could they be won and lost?
Leinster v Northampton Saints
When: Saturday, May 3 at 17:30 BST (16:30 GMT)
Where: Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Form
Leinster are runaway leaders in the URC and four time European champions including three finals in the last three years.
Northampton Saints are struggling in the Premiership and look all but out of play-off contention. It’s been 25 years since their sole European triumph.
Key match-ups
The battle between two British & Irish Lions hopefuls at scrum-half will have a large impact on the pace of play, with the semi-final Jamison Gibson-Park and Alex Mitchell’s biggest audition to Andy Farrell to date.
The Leinster nine’s playmaking skills will be essential in ensuring the Irish engine performs in front of an expectant Dublin crowd, with his game management crucial to the side’s tempo control.
On his day, Mitchell’s influence is as great as any and with a man-of-the-match performance against Bristol Bears on Saturday, Saints fans will hope for a repeat performance with his quick ball and unpredictable running game key.
Another key battle will be in the back-row with former World Rugby Player of the Year, Josh van der Flier, one of Europe’s biggest forces, coming up against Henry Pollock, the new kid on the block, who has been revolutionary for the English side.
The Leinster flanker’s dominance around the breakdown will be difficult to contain while Pollock’s aggression, running game and mystery will be pivotal in poking holes through the often impenetrable Leinster defence.
Where the game could be won or lost?
If Northampton can continue their discovery of Saturday’s performance and a resemblance to last season’s attacking flair, then they may be able to offer a match for Leinster’s experienced, structured play.
The visitors will need to compete at the breakdown knowing that Leinster will punish mistakes and kick their goals off the tee – containing the threat of the hosts’ back-row will be key.
It’ll come as a shock to no one that the Saints will have to find holes and get over the gain line if they want to seal an unlikely, season defining victory in Dublin.
Their half-back pairing of Fin Smith and Mitchell must be firing on all cylinders.
Leinster provide RG Snyman and James Ryan update for Champions Cup semi-final
Bordeaux Bègles v Toulouse
When: Sunday, May 4 at 16:00 local (15:00 BST, 14:00 GMT)
Where: Matmut Atlantique
Form
For Bordeaux, this is their maiden Champions Cup semi-final following a dominant quarter-final win over Munster – they trail just behind their opponents in the Top 14.
Toulouse are the defending European champions and sit 10 points clear of Bordeaux at the summit of the Top 14.
Key match-ups
The hosts have two of the most in-form European players in their ranks, with Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey on both wings, who have been prolific for club and country.
Natural finishing and lightning speed will make containing the hosts’ wide players a significant challenge if they want to reach another final and attempt to defend their crown.
For Toulouse, their French full-back, Thomas Ramos, will have his work cut out as the last line of defence while the impetus of Lions hopeful and captain, Jack Willis, at the breakdown could set the tone for the game.
Sunday’s semi-final is a contest that screams for the undeniable quality of Toulouse’s Antoine Dupont, who has been ruled out with a knee injury – this leaves big shoes to fill at scrum-half for Toulouse as Maxime Lucu is a potent threat at the base.
Where the game could be won or lost?
Two free-flowing running games will go head to head in Bordeaux, with it likely to be a high-scoring affair between the two top-ranked French sides.
The blistering pace out wide of the home side will look to target any of the defending champions’ vulnerabilities defensively, while the visitors will look for an edge up front.
Dominance at the set-piece and breakdown will be highly influential in deciding which of the French giants makes the trip across the Channel for the final in May.