Investec Champions Cup semi-final storylines including Croke Park sell-out and ‘nothing to lose’ Harlequins

Dylan Coetzee
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Split with Toulouse duo Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack, Marcus Smith and Leinster players.

Split with Toulouse duo Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack, Marcus Smith and Leinster players.

The Investec Champions Cup is back this weekend with only four teams remaining in the race to European glory as Leinster host Northampton Saints and Toulouse host Harlequins.

It is set to be a blockbuster weekend of action with the final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London almost within sight for the teams.

Croke Park sell-out

Leinster will not be hosting Saints at the RDS Arena and instead have sold 82,300 tickets at Croke Park which is the home of the Gaelic Athletic Association.

The tickets sold out in a matter of a couple of hours and it’s set up to be quite the occasion with Saints on the prowl for the double and Leinster desperate to bring some silverware back home after several seasons without.

It is the first rugby game in the stadium since 2010 and it was also used for a Champions Cup inter-pro derby between Leinster and Munster the year before.

The ticket sales exceed the tournament attendance record for a single game and the setting of a semi-final is very fitting. It is going to be nothing but a blockbuster at the famous ground.

Leinster need to deal with playoff hoodoo

The Irish giants last won silverware in the 2020/2021 season where they claimed the last edition of the PRO14 which transformed into the United Rugby Championship thereafter. Since that title win the side has stumbled when it comes to the playoffs in both Champions Cup and URC.

They have had a golden run in European competition where their strong pool stage has had them playing home games for the whole back end of the tournament. Throw in the inevitable severe Leinster-dominated crowds at Croke Park and there is a perfect chance for the side to advance.

The quality in the Leinster team is very obvious with the majority of their lineup being starters for Ireland. Pound for pound only Toulouse can come close to matching them on paper so it is time for Leinster to shake off their playoff woes and bring some silverware home.

One gets a real sense of desperation to get back to winning ways in the Leinster camp.

Can Saints defy the odds and keep their double dream alive?

Northampton have grown so much this season, particularly in the second half where they not only grabbed hold of the Premiership table but also flexed their muscles in European competition.

What their recent run has handed them is a shot at a spectacular double but Leinster serve as a massive hurdle for their dream season. As good as the Saints have been the reality is at a loaded Croke Park against an extremely high-powered Leinster side the odds are stacked against them.

The experience and nous of their leaders such as Courtney Lawes will be imperative on such a big occasion. Ultimately, regardless of the result, Saints will come away from the clash with positives that they can carry into the remainder of the season.

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Toulouse are European royalty for a reason

The French giants are the most successful team in the competition’s history with their five stars sitting proudly above their badge. Holding the lead for the most titles does not come by chance and every single season it is a primary goal to win the Champions Cup and further underline their status as the most decorated European side in history.

Like clockwork, they are in the mix yet again and look lethal after the return of the world-class half-back pairing of Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack. Similar to Leinster, the French side has not won a title outside of the Top 14 since they won their fifth star in the 2020/2021 season and they will see this as a chance to go to an unprecedented sixth title.

It is easy to see how much the Champions Cup means to Toulouse when considering Dupont’s schedule between Sevens and 15s, notably how he has been allowed time in the shorter format but is required to be back with his club for the back end of this tournament. Nothing short of the trophy in hand is success for Toulouse and that’s why they have their star man raring to go.

Nothing to lose makes Harlequins dangerous

Toulouse face Harlequins who are in their first semi-final ever in this tournament making them a very dangerous side to face. By nature, the Premiership side, under the control of Marcus Smith, is audacious in how they play as they throw everything at defences whenever possible. Now the fact that they have already written their own history means there is little to lose for Quins and gives them a free swing.

Man-for-man Quins are outdone by Toulouse but the fearless maverick nature of the side makes for a fascinating matchup as the French giants have the weight of the crown on their heads where even a final is not enough.

It is tailor-made for a player like Smith who rarely needs any encouragement to throw himself into a game. Make no mistake Quins are up against it but they are just the kind of team you never write off.
Game on in France where fans can expect tries galore.

READ MORE: Northampton Saints sweating on key duo’s availability for Champions Cup showdown with Leinster

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