The short side: European giants collide and the key battle

Colin Newboult

The short side returns to Planet Rugby as we study the main talking points ahead of this weekend’s Champions Cup and Challenge Cup finals.

Champions Cup final – Saracens v Leinster

In many ways the game everyone wanted in the showpiece event. Although Leinster ousted Saracens from last year’s competition on the way to claiming their first title since 2012, they faced a Sarries team short of their best with some key players absent. This time, Billy Vunipola will line up at number eight and the Londoners have once again found their highest level in Europe’s top-tier competition. They comfortably dispatched Leinster’s intra-country rivals Munster in the last four and have played some excellent rugby throughout the 2018/19 campaign. Meanwhile, the Irish province struggled in the quarter-finals, only just beating Ulster, but were excellent in the semis where they secured a comfortable win over Toulouse. Therefore, with the defending champions overcoming those struggles from late March, the match is set up to be a humdinger.

Challenge Cup final – Clermont Auvergne v La Rochelle

It is an all-French affair in the precursor to the big event as a couple of Top 14 play-off contenders go head-to-head on Friday. After struggling in 2017/18, Franck Azema’s men have enjoyed a resurgence this season, qualifying for the semi-finals of their domestic competition following some outstanding performances. They have simply dominated the Challenge Cup and were too good for both Northampton Saints and Harlequins in the knockout stages. Although the English sides gave them reasons to be concerned, threatening to come back in the second period, you sensed it was more Les Jaunards easing off the gas than anything else. There should be no room for complacency in Newcastle, however, particularly given their history of choking, and Jono Gibbes’ charges will look to pounce on Clermont’s continual struggles in major finals. La Rochelle’s off-loading game often causes even the best teams problems and, as a result, it will probably be a much looser contest than the Champions Cup encounter, which should give the supporters a thrilling spectacle.

Player to watch – James Lowe (Leinster)

Jamison Gibson-Park’s injury has made selection slightly easier for Leo Cullen and his coaches, which means that Lowe is set to start the Champions Cup final. Due to EPCR rules preventing three ‘non-European’ players from being involved in match-day squads, Lowe was sacrificed last year, despite playing a crucial role in their run to the showpiece event. The Irish province will want as much attacking threat on the field as possible to try and break down Saracens’ stubborn rearguard, and the back three player could provide that spark. Lowe is obviously quick, with exceptional balance and footwork, but the 26-year-old is also unpredictable and Sarries will have to watch his off-loading qualities.

One-v-one battle to watch – Owen Farrell (Saracens) v Johnny Sexton (Leinster)

There are so many mouth-watering head-to-heads but, for several reasons, this is the one which most will be looking forward to. Both are fine players and linchpins of their teams in attack, but their sheer abrasiveness also sets the tone when it comes to their sides’ attitude on the day. Farrell and Sexton are wonderful competitors who thrive in these situations, but they can also be put under significant pressure and get frustrated if things aren’t going their way. Whoever is on the right side of the line when it comes to the niggle, while also being accurate with the ball, will go a long way to guiding their teams to victory.

Subplot to watch – Leinster’s 100 per cent record

Five European finals (including one in the Challenge Cup) for the Irish province, five victories so, if that effort is anything to go by, Saracens have no chance. It is a hugely impressive record from the Dubliners, who evidently relish the high pressure situations, but this will probably be the toughest game of all those encounters. They were realistically favourites for their previous matches in the respective showpiece events but that is not the case here. Sarries recently claimed back-to-backs titles and even Leo Cullen’s men will admit that Mark McCall’s charges have been the best side in the 2018/19 competition so far. That, of course, often means little when it comes to finals and the Irishmen will certainly be buoyed by their ability to thrive when it comes to these big occasions.