Champions Cup Gets Serious

With the reverse head-to-head fixtures to come this weekend in the Champions Cup, all four Irish provinces are in with a good chance of progressing to the knock-out stages of the tournament.

It’s been an interesting seven days in the world of rugby. We’ve had the first of the traditional head-to-head fixtures in the Champions Cup which is always a red letter weekend in the calendar. All four provinces were in action and, with the exception of Connaught, all secured crucial bonus point victories. But that’s only half the story - Dylan Hartley supplied the other half all by himself, but more on that later!

There is still plenty of rugby to be played between now and the end of January when the final pool standings will be revealed. Some of the Irish sides are better placed than others. It’s starting to look good for Munster and Leinster in particular, but nobody’s booking any flights just yet! That said, all four are still in the hunt for a place in the knock-out stages as things stand which is more than could be said at the same time last season. The picture will be far clearer come Sunday evening.

Munster

Munster have been playing their best rugby in years over the past two months or so. Ever since the sudden passing of head coach Anthony Foley ahead of what was to be Munster’s opening Champions Cup game against Racing 92, they have rediscovered some of the edge and passion that once made them one of the most feared teams in Europe. They have won six games on the trot since that fateful day, including two in the Champions Cup. They are also top of the PRO12. Nobody gave them a chance of winning anything before the season began – they might have to rethink that one now.

Munster face their toughest challenge yet on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Welford Road to take on Leicester Tigers (BT Sport 2, Sat, Dec 17th 15.00). That may sound hard to believe following the 38-0 thrashing they received at Thomond Park last Saturday, but they won’t take this lying down and will be keen to make amends for a dismal performance. It’s the last chance saloon for Richard Cockerill’s side and nothing but a bonus point win will do. They will need to take at least ten points from their two remaining home games (against Munster and Glasgow) and then try to get something in Paris against Racing. It’s a tall order and one that may just be beyond them, even though Racing have looked poor in this tournament so far and their surprise home defeat to Glasgow last weekend has left them rooted to the bottom of Pool 1 without a single point to their name.

Munster, on the other hand, are in a very strong position with a maximum ten points from their two games so far. They top the pool, one point ahead of Glasgow, despite having played a game less than their rivals. The 2015 PRO12 champions, who actually beat Munster in the final that year, look like their main rivals for an automatic qualification place following their win in Paris which means that the game between the two in Scotstoun in mid-January, just a week after their re-arranged trip to face Racing, takes on added significance.

But one thing at a time and all eyes and minds will be on Welford Road where a losing bonus point must be seen as a minimum requirement for Rassie Erasmus’s men as Leicester look to avenge their heaviest ever European defeat. Munster have no fresh injury concerns ahead of the clash with Niall Scannell fully fit after limping off last Saturday with a dead leg.

Leinster

Leinster are also in a strong position at the top of Pool 4 as they prepare to welcome Northampton Saints to the Aviva Stadium this weekend (BT Sport 2, Sat, Dec 17th 19.30). Leo Cullen’s men are top of Pool 4 after running in five tries in a superb 37-10 win over the Premiership side in the first of their head-to-head games at Franklin’s Gardens last Friday night. However, it was the sending off of England captain Dylan Hartley for a reckless challenge on Sean O’Brien six minutes after entering the fray early in the second half that proved to be the main talking point at the end of the game. The fact that England coach Eddie Jones, who has supported Hartley despite his poor disciplinary record, was in attendance only added to the drama as the New Zealand-born hooker’s eventful career took another twist.

Hartley received a six-week ban for his actions and will miss the game in Dublin. However, opposing hooker Sean Cronin revealed that the Leinster squad are refusing to get involved in the controversy, describing it as just “noise”, and insists that they are all fully focused on Saturday’s return match. Leo Cullen’s side put in one of their strongest performances of the season at Franklin’s Gardens, with Garry Ringrose, Sean O’Brien, Rory O’Loughlin, Jamison Gibson- Park and Isa Nacewa all running in tries. Nacewa also 12 points with the boot as the Blues’ skipper continues to roll back the years with another fine display.

Last Friday’s result leaves Leinster on eleven points after three games, one clear of Top 14 side Montpellier, with Castres and Northampton some way back on five and four points respectively. Northampton Saints must win at the Aviva to have even the slightest chance of qualifying for the knock-out stages, while a home victory will leave Leinster in a very strong position with a home game against Montpellier and a trip to Castres to come in January. A bonus point win could prove crucial in terms of seeding, but that is looking too far ahead at this stage as Montpellier remain well in the hunt at this stage following their bonus point win over Castres at the Altrad Stadium last weekend despite losing Romanian tight head Davit Kubriachvili to a red card in the 18^th minute.

Whatever happens at the Aviva on Saturday evening, Leinster fans will have one eye on the result in Castres as well. They will be without out-half Joey Carbery who faces up to two months on the sidelines following an ankle operation. However, Ross Byrne deputised ably when he came on at Franklin’s Gardens last week and is sure to start on Saturday.

There is plenty of history between Leinster and Northampton Saints in this competition and the Irish side will be taking nothing for granted after what happened when the sides met at the same stage back in 2013. After a thumping 40-7 win in Franklin’s Gardens, Leinster were denied even a losing bonus point by a late Northampton try on a freezing night at the Aviva. It proved fateful as Leinster were drawn away to eventual winners Toulon in the quarter-finals. They will be hoping to avoid a repeat on Saturday.

Ulster

Ulster put their poor performance in Bordeaux in the previous round well and truly behind them as they beat Clermont Auvergne 39-32 in one of the greatest games the tournament has ever seen. Neil Doak’s side ran in five tries to secure a winning bonus point, but may be left to rue a late Clermont rally which saw them reduce the deficit to within seven with their fourth try to grab two bonus points of their own to stay on top of Pool 5.

Any notions that Clermont would travel badly, like so many other Top 14 sides, were cruelly dismissed within 69 seconds at the Kingspan Stadium when flanker Peceli Yato burrowed over for the opening score over the game. But tries from Luke Marshall, Iain Henderson and Paddy Jackson saw Ulster ahead 22-18 at the break in a high octane game, with Chris Spedding crossing and Morgan Parra adding a further eight points with the boot for the visitors.

Marshall secured the bonus point with his second try of the game just after the break before Charles Piutau outstripped the Clermont defence shortly afterwards. Jackson added the extras each time and a penalty to make it 39-18 with just over a quarter of the game to go. But Clermont refused to fold and Chris Abendanon and Damien Chouly both crossed, with Parra converting both to set up a nervous finale, but Ulster held on for a deserved win.

The result means that Clermont have 12 points from three games, three clear of Bordeaux and Ulster in second and third respectively. Exeter are out of the reckoning on two points after going down to a surprise defeat to Bordeaux at Sandy Park. Ulster face a huge challenge at Stade Marcel Michelin and, after failing to get even a losing bonus point in Bordeaux in round two, must get something from the game to keep their hopes of qualification alive. It’s a tough ask, but with players like Piutau, Jackson, Pienaar, Bowe and Marshall in their ranks, they might just be able to cause an upset. Having said that, it’s probably not the way to bet and they will more than likely need nine points from their games at home to Bordeaux and away to Exeter to have any chance of progressing.

Connacht

Connacht will be looking for a big performance when Wasps visit The Sportsground this weekend after drawing a disappointing blank at the Ricoh Arena last Sunday. The Premiership side secured a bonus point in a 32-17 win, with controversial winger Kurtley Beale announcing his return to the fold with a try and a yellow card. Pat Lam’s side were well in the game heading into the final quarter just three points adrift at 20-17, but two late Wasps tries sealed the bonus point and ensured that the visitors went home with nothing.

The result leaves Connacht needing to win the return fixture to keep pace with Wasps who are three points clear on 12 at the top of Pool 2. Connacht are second on nine, with Top 14 side Toulouse a further point back in third on eight after securing a comprehensive 36-6 bonus point victory over Italian minnows Zebre at Stadio Lanfranchi. That game was abandoned after 63 minutes due to foggy conditions, but the result stands and gives the three-time winners just their first win in six games in the competition. They will be looking to secure another bonus point victory in the return fixture this weekend which will heap additional pressure on Connacht to get a result themselves on Saturday.

Pictures: Getty Images/David Rogers

There is plenty of great Champions Cup rugby on the eir Sport pack this weekend. Go to www.eirsport.ie for more details.