The short side: Racism, revenge and turmoil

Colin Newboult
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The short side returns to Planet Rugby as we study the major talking points ahead of this weekend’s action in the European Champions Cup.

Champions Cup game to watch

Bristol v Clermont Auvergne

There are a number of mouth-watering clashes this weekend but this may well be the most entertaining as two free-flowing sides go head-to-head at Ashton Gate.

Since returning to England’s top flight, Pat Lam’s Bristol have been a joy to watch and were rewarded with a place in the Premiership play-offs in 2019/20 and a Challenge Cup title. They duly enter Europe’s top-tier competition for the first time since 2008 and will no doubt look to display their quality on the biggest stage.

The Bears certainly have the individual ability, while Lam and his coaching staff are extremely savvy coaches, but injuries have taken their toll recently. Semi Radradra is the latest to be on the treatment table after sustaining a knee problem playing for Fiji against Georgia in the Autumn Nations Cup – a situation that did not leave the Bristol boss best pleased – and Clermont will duly fancy their chances on Saturday.

Inconsistency has plagued Auvergne since finishing as Top 14 runners-up in 2018, with Franck Azema’s men in the midst of a rebuild, but there is plenty of potential in their ranks.

In 2020/21, Les Jaunards have recorded six victories in nine and have a game in hand over the teams above them, which means they go into the contest in reasonable form.

Clermont should therefore have the wherewithal to claim the win, but Bristol are a smart team with a wonderful spirit. The West Countrymen’s triumph over Northampton last time out showed their resilience and they will certainly go into the game with no fear.

Montpellier v Leinster

The imperious Irishmen begin their quest for a fifth Champions Cup title with a potential banana skin against Montpellier. On form, it should be reasonably comfortable for Leinster, who have once again dominated the early stages of the PRO14 campaign.

Leo Cullen’s men are still unbeaten, winning all seven of their matches with bonus-points, and as a result they are among the favourites to regain their crown. The core of the squad which was successful in 2018 remain and that experience will no doubt be beneficial this weekend.

As for the French outfit, their season has been hit by Covid but, when they have played, Philippe Saint-Andre’s side have not exactly convinced. Their record reads three victories and five defeats in eight, leaving them down in 11th position in the table, but Montpellier’s previous outing was impressive.

They managed to inflict a rare home defeat on Clermont Auvergne with their pack producing an outstanding effort at the Marcel Michelin.

Saint-Andre will look for a repeat of that display when Leinster visit on Saturday. It is a forward eight which has both depth and quality, while at half-back new signing Cobus Reinach has settled into life impressively.

His darts around the fringes have added an extra dimension to Montpellier and the visitors will have to be wary of that threat. However, an unprepared Dublin team is a rare sight indeed and no doubt Cullen and Stuart Lancaster will have them ready for the fight.

Leinster should ultimately have enough to dispatch their opponents but, like the other featured game above, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the hosts emerge triumphant.

Player to watch – Guido Petti (Bordeaux-Begles)

Bordeaux selected a fully-loaded team for their Champions Cup opener against Northampton Saints on Friday, which interestingly included the under-fire Petti.

The Pumas second-row was one of the three, alongside Santiago Socino and captain Pablo Matera, to initially be suspended by the UAR for discriminatory social media posts before that punishment was oddly rescinded by the governing body.

UBB have decided not to take action, with Petti apologising and his team-mates accepting the lock’s apparent contrition. It is a potentially damaging stance to take, however, particularly when French rugby have previously been criticised for their approach to other serious matters such as head injuries.

You rather question their desire to deal with these issues and whether the demand for sporting success takes precedence over any moral obligation for these clubs.

Even so, Petti’s mind must be rather muddled at the moment and it will be intriguing to see how he plays in his first game back. Similarly, how will opposition fans, players and coaches react? It could be a tough few weeks for the Argentina international.

One-v-one battle to watch – Jacob Stockdale (Ulster) v Cheslin Kolbe (Toulouse)

Both are wearing 11 on their backs, but they will likely go head-to-head on Friday, just like the duo did in the 2019/20 quarter-finals in September. On that day, Kolbe was utterly magnificent and left the Irishman rather embarrassed, scoring twice by stepping inside off his right foot.

While it was majestic from the South African, for a player of Stockdale’s standing it was extremely poor defence, but he has an opportunity for revenge this weekend.

The Ireland wing has the advantage of being on home turf this time around and will hope he gets more ball to show his attacking quality. Ulster are in good shape in the PRO14, winning all eight of their matches so far, and they will go into the match with confidence.

However, it has been a difficult few weeks for Stockdale. The back three player struggled at full-back, enduring a wretched game versus France in the Six Nations and failing to really impress in the Autumn Nations Cup, but being back on the wing and in familiar surroundings may just be the perfect tonic.

Subplot to watch – The turmoil at Sale Sharks

It always seemed as though Steve Diamond would never leave Sale. The truculent but often charismatic director of rugby was a fixture of the club, first as a player and then as a coach, before returning after a nine-year hiatus to lead operations in Greater Manchester.

Diamond has done outstanding work in taking the Salford-based outfit from Premiership strugglers to genuine challengers over the past decade. With the help of new investment, the former Sharks hooker put together a squad of genuine quality, one which only missed out on last season’s play-offs due to a Covid-19 outbreak at the club.

They similarly look set to compete at the top end this season but the news of his departure has left everyone stunned. Sale was in Diamond’s blood and he seemed determined to lead the team to their first league title since 2006.

However, his exit leaves a rather large hole and the squad have to regain their focus quickly when they take on Toulon this weekend. The Frenchmen aren’t the team they used to be, but it is certainly not the easiest task when you have just lost such a key figure within the club.

Best of the rest

There’s always excitement across all games in the Champions Cup and this season is no different, with teams eager to get a fast start out of the blocks. Saturday matches we haven’t mentioned already include a possible thriller at the Rec between Bath and Scarlets, Wasps’ trip to the Dragons and Edinburgh taking on La Rochelle. Those game are all in Pool 1 in a new look to the competition this term.

Sunday provides four fixtures and the action kicks off with Lyon hosting Gloucester before reigning champions Exeter Chiefs get their title defence underway with a potential banana skin against Glasgow Warriors. They should have enough to come through that one with some breathing space, however, and then the focus shifts to Paris where Racing 92 host an always entertaining Connacht outfit, with the round ending in one of European club rugby’s most famous venues, Thomond Park, as Munster tackle Paul Gustard’s Harlequins.

 

Bristol