The short side: Games to watch and Kolbe’s comeback

Colin Newboult
Add as a preferred source on Google

The short side returns to Planet Rugby as we study the major talking points ahead of this weekend’s third round of pool games in the Champions Cup.

Champions Cup games to watch

Northampton Saints v Leinster

The two form teams in Europe collide at Franklin’s Gardens on Saturday in what should be a wonderful clash between the Pool 1 pacesetters.

Both have two wins to their name after the opening couple of rounds while on the domestic front the Saints have won four out of five while Leinster have been victorious in all seven of their games – quite a start to the campaign when thinking they have been without key players.

In contrast, Northampton have been less hit by absentees and one non-World Cup selection, Rory Hutchinson, has been a standout for them in the early rounds. Last week he was joined in midfield by new signing Matt Proctor and that looks like a classy combination moving forward.

There are individual clashes all over the field to watch out for at the Gardens and one wonders whether Leinster will finally come unstuck against a Saints side that’s developing at an incredible rate under Chris Boyd. What a game this is to kick off Saturday’s European action.

https://twitter.com/SaintsRugby/status/1202259368668024833

Munster v Saracens

After struggling to a draw against Racing 92, Munster have another tough test in the form of the defending champions, who are back in the qualification picture following their dominant victory over the Ospreys.

Of course, Saracens have to be primarily focused on domestic matters, given their 35-point deduction for salary cap breaches, but the Londoners have stated that they still have European aspirations. So it did come as a surprise to see Mark McCall field a weakened side for the clash at Thomond Park on Saturday.

McCall’s decision is a boost for the Irish province, who need a victory heading into the reverse fixture in London. Should they succumb to a team that they don’t have a great recent record against then their chances of reaching the knockout stages will have diminished significantly.

Johann van Graan’s charges will ramp up the intensity, however, and it will be for the visitors to respond. It is, to an extent, an opportunity for the English outfit to express themselves with little expectation or pressure on McCall’s team in the Champions Cup this year but, with minds potentially elsewhere, this is a chance for the hosts to put themselves in a good position in Pool 4.

Team to watch – Clermont Auvergne

After dismantling Harlequins in the opening round, Clermont were hugely disappointing in Ulster a week later, but this is an opportunity for the Frenchmen to get back on track.

Bath have already seen their qualification hopes take a significant dent following successive defeats, while injuries to key players has left them short of numbers. To their credit, they were competitive against a strong Sarries outfit in their recent Premiership encounter, but the difference in ability and experience was evident.

Les Jaunards will hope to show similar qualities on Friday but they can’t really afford any more away day blues, after already faltering at the Kingspan Stadium. Despite the obvious talent in their ranks, Clermont did not turn up in Round Two and they will be wary of suffering the same fate at the Rec.

A loss will not be catastrophic for their qualification hopes, with their home form so impressive, but it will certainly hurt them should they only just sneak into quarter-finals and have to face one of the top seeds away from the Marcel Michelin.

Player to watch – Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse)

After his heroics in the Rugby World Cup and a decent rest period following the trophy tour around South Africa, Kolbe is set to return to Toulouse colours this weekend for their Champions Cup clash with Montpellier at Stade Ernest Wallon, much to the delight of all rugby fans.

Kolbe was one of the brightest stars in Japan as he terrorised defences throughout the tournament and it was fitting he would have the last say in the final with that brilliant score against England. Blessed with a magnificent step, it will be good to see him on the field again.

The Bok won’t have it easy on his return to action, however, as when he comes off the bench it’s likely he’ll go up against Nemani Nadolo in what will be a must watch.

One-v-one battle to watch – Dan Biggar (Northampton) v Johnny Sexton (Leinster)

This pair are two of the world’s leading playmakers and their duel will be one of the highlights in this highly anticipated showdown between Pool 1’s leading sides.

Biggar has hit the ground running and delivered two excellent performances which helped Northampton to impressive victories in their two previous fixtures. His goal-kicking has been superb and he contributed 20 points as Saints claimed a 25-14 victory against Lyon at Franklin’s Gardens in their tournament opener before finishing with a 15-point haul in their next match – a 35-32 triumph over Benetton at Stadio Monigo.

The Wales international showed in that encounter that he is a player with big match temperament as he slotted the winning penalty in injury time. Biggar will once again be crucial to Saints’ cause but he faces a stern test against Sexton, who will be expected to give Leinster some much needed attacking momentum.

Sexton delivered a good all-round performance in Leinster’s opener and contributed 11 points, courtesy of three conversions and a try, as last year’s tournament runners-up notched a 33-19 win over Benetton at the RDS Arena. Leinster’s next match was an arm wrestle at Lyon but the Irish province got over the line with Sexton contributing eight points via the kicking tee in a narrow 13-6 victory.

The 2018 World Rugby Player of the Year’s game management is amongst the best in the business and, if his forwards provide him with good ball, he should be influential. Biggar is no slouch in that department, however, and will be keen to build on his fine start to the competition with another authoritative display. Whoever comes out on top in this battle should also finish on the winning side.

Best of the rest – Crunch time in the Champions Cup

With the tournament’s league phase reaching its halfway stage this weekend, we should have a clearer picture of who the front-runners and also-rans are after this round’s matches.

The action kicks off at the Recreation Ground on Friday where Bath host Clermont in the Pool 3 match and the Premiership side knows that another defeat – after losing both their previous games – will make it very difficult for them to advance to the next round, while a win for second-placed Clermont and a win for Harlequins – who are third – at table-toppers Ulster could blow the pool wide open.

In Pool 5, Toulouse could consolidate their position at the top of the standings if they beat Top 14 rivals Montpellier while Connacht travel to Kingsholm where they face Gloucester, who are winless after the opening two rounds.

Elsewhere, La Rochelle will be hoping to notch their first win when they host Glasgow Warriors in their Pool 2 fixture while they and Glasgow will be hoping that Sale Sharks can do them a favour by beating the pool’s pacesetters Exeter Chiefs at the AJ Bell Stadium. Meanwhile, Lyon will be determined to do the same as La Rochelle – by winning their first match of the campaign when they host Benetton – and in doing so, stay in touch with Northampton and Leinster in Pool 1.

In Pool 4, Racing 92 are set to face a struggling Ospreys side, and a win for the Parisian outfit could move them to the top of the table if Saracens manage to get the better of Munster at Thomond Park.

Features