The European Cup draws towards the Final with two french giants battling against the cream of the Irish and English leagues in the semifinals.
Reigning European Cup champions, Toulon, are aiming for a fourth European final in five seasons.
And although they are on the opposite side of the semifinal draw from French compatriots Clermont, successes for both of these teams could see a repeat of last years Final.
Last year’s Final saw Toulon just pip Clermont by a solitary point.
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There have been six European Cup semifinals between English and French clubs since the tournament started in 1995 with the countries currently level at three wins apiece.
We take a look at the 2 Semi-final matches:
Saturday 26 April
Toulon vs Munster:
Stade Vélodrome – Kick-Off: 16:30 SA Time (16:30 French Time, 14:30 GMT, 15:30 BST)
Toulon, the reining champions take on Munster – who have tasted European Cup glory themselves twice – in the first semifinal match at the Stade Vélodrome.
The french side are so far unbeaten in the competition and received good news earlier in the week when star flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson, as well as South African-born hooker Craig Burden, were declared fit.
Toulon will be taking form as well as historical impotence into the clash, at the same stage last year the french side dispatched fellow semifinalists Saracens, which saw them march on to take the Cup.
Munster are not strangers to the business end of the European cup either, having played in 11 semifinals in their hostory – a record they took from Toulon.
In a knock-out game such as this it is very hard to call a out-and-out favorite, however Toulon coach Bernard Leporte believes his team’s home ground advantage will be the thing that edges it for them.
“The match is 51-49 percent in our favour, we have a slight advantage in that we are playing at home, at the Velodrome, even if one recalls that last year we went away to Saracens in the semi-finals and won,” Laporte said.
Munster’s Paul O’Connell realises the challenge that they are up against in facing the giants of French rugby, comparing them to the All Blacks.
The caliber of players on the Toulon side is something that could make Munster’s day very difficult.
They will have to get the better of the likes of Jonny Wilkinson, Matt Giteau, Bryan Habana, Drew Mitchell, Carl Hayman, Juan Smith and Juan Fernandez Lobbe if they are to keep their European dream alive.
“It’s kind of like the feeling you get the week before you play New Zealand,” O’Connell said.
“If you’re not [at your best], if guys aren’t prepared to go beyond where they’ve been all season, you know you could almost end up getting embarrassed.”
“Mentally they’re probably a team that will challenge you more than any other.”
“They can push you around the place with sheer power but they’ve incredible talent then, incredible steppers, incredible footballers and they’ve obviously got massive gas all over the pitch as well.”
“Not just in the backline but in the pack as well. You know you’re going to be challenged every single way possible.”
Teams:
Toulon: TBC
Munster: TBC
Referee: Wayne Barnes
Assistant Referees: JP Doyle, Luke Pearce
TMO: Graham Hughes
Saracens v Clermont:
Twickenham Stadium – Kick-off: 16:30 SA Time (15:40 BST, 14:30 GMT, 16:40 French Time)
Saracens have had a rough time of it at Twickenham in the European Cup with English son, Jonny Wilkinson, the chief destroyer the last time Sarries looked to reach a Final.
Wilkinson’s semifinal record 24 points steered the big spending French side Toulon into the final for the first time with a 24-12 triumph last year.
Saracens have not had a good run against Clermont either, they have met on three previous occasions with the French team triumphing each time.
This is Clermont third successive European Cup semifinal. They lost their first to Leinster in 2012 before defeating Munster in Montpellier last season.
Clermont hooker, Benjamin Kayser, has admitted his team are still smarting after last years dramatic loss in the Final against Toulon.
He knows Saracens will be a tough challenge regardless of the previous results they have put over the English club.
“The worst thing for us to be thinking about going into the game is that we beat them 22-3 in 2012. That’s not going to happen again. They are a much better team now,” Kayser said.
“That game went unbelievably well for us. We didn’t expect to win like that. Saracens were a very dominant team at the time and we managed to do really well.
“The teams have evolved since then so there is really no point thinking about that game again. Nothing will be written before the final whistle.”
“We will have to be extremely clinical, extremely disciplined and have a fantastic defence. Saracens are a team that will have a right go at the opposition so we need to show a lot of composure in defence.”
“The influence of the Vunipola brothers is huge and Chris Ashton has joined the club, they’ve got a lot more of a threat in their ball-carrying.”
“They’re very, very clinical, very well organised and their strategy is well in place.”
“They’ve got threats everywhere, in the forwards and the backs, and they’re more of a complete side than they were two years ago.”
Teams:
Saracens: TBC
Clermont: TBC
Referee: Nigel Owens
Assistant Referees: Alain Rolland, Leighton Hodges
TMO: Gareth Simmonds
Teams for Toulon v Munster semi final:
Toulon: 15. Delon Armitage; 14. Drew Mitchell, 13. Mathieu Bastareaud, 12. Matt Giteau, 11. Bryan Habana; 10. Jonny Wilkinson (c), 9. Sebastien Tillous-Borde; 1. Xavier Chiocci, 2. Craig Burden, 3. Carl Hayman, 4. Danie Rossouw, 5. Jocelino Suta, 6. Juan Smith, 7. Juan Fernandez Lobbe, 8. Steffon Armitage.
Replacements: 16. Jean-Charles Orioli, 17. Alexandre Menini, 18. Martin Castrogiovanni, 19. Virgile Bruni, 20. David Smith, 21. Maxime Mermoz, 22. Michael Claassens, 23. Konstantine Mikautadze.
Munster: 15. Felix Jones; 14. Keith Earls, 13. Casey Laulala, 12. James Downey, 11. Simon Zebo; 10. Ian Keatley, 9. Conor Murray; 1. Dave Kilcoyne, 2. Damien Varley (c), 3. BJ Botha, 4. Dave Foley, 5. Paul O’Connell, 6. CJ Stander, 7. Sean Dougall, 8. James Coughlan.
Replacements: 16. Duncan Casey, 17. James Cronin, 18. John Ryan, 19. Donncha O’Callaghan, 20. Tommy O’Donnell, 21. Duncan Williams, 22. JJ Hanrahan, 23. Denis Hurley.
Teams for Saracens v Clermont Auvergne semi final:
Saracens: 15. Alex Goode; 14. Chris Ashton, 13. Marcelo Bosch, 12. Brad Barritt, 11. David Strettle; 10. Owen Farrell, 9. Neil de Kock; 1. Mako Vunipola, 2. Schalk Brits, 3. James Johnston, 4. Steve Borthwick (c), 5. Mouritz Botha, 6. Kelly Brown, 7. Jacques Burger, 8. Billy Vunipola.
Replacements: 16. Jamie George, 17. Richard Barrington, 18. Matt Stevens, 19. Alistair Hargreaves, 20. Jackson Wray, 21. Richard Wigglesworth, 22. Tim Streather, 23. Chris Wyles.
Clermont Auvergne: 15. Lee Byrne; 14. Sitiveni Sivivatu, 13. Benson Stanley, 12. Wesley Fofana, 11. Naipolioni Nalaga; 10. Brock James, 9. Morgan Parra; 1. Thomas Domingo, 2. Benjamin Kayser, 3. Davit Zirakashvili, 4. Jamie Cudmore, 5. Nathan Hines, 6. Julien Bonnaire (c), 7. Damien Chouly, 8. Fritz Lee.
Replacements: 16. Ti’i Paulo, 17. Vincent Debaty, 18. Clément Ric, 19. Julien Pierre, 20. Gerhard Vosloo, 21. Thierry Lacrampe, 22. Mike Delany, 23. Noa Nakaitaci.
The Toulon v Munster game is on Sunday, kick off 16.40 SAST
Northampton beat Harlequins in the first Amlin Challenge Cup semi final played tonight (Friday).
Final Score: Northampton 18/10 Harlequins (2 tries for Northampton, 1 for Harlequins)
London Wasps are at home to Bath in the other Amlin Challenge Cup semi final on Sunday, kick off 13.00 BST, 14.00 SAST.
Result- Saracens 46/6 Clermont! 2 tries for Ashton
Pity didn’t get to the bookies was wanting to go for a Saracens Munster accumulator.
im going to back munster.
juan smith knocks it 5m from his own tryline. munster have an attacking scrum within a minute
scrum penalty to toulon. wilkenson to relieve some pressure
penalty against stander not rolling away. wilkenson going for goal
easy 3. 3-0 to toulon
toulon try to run from their own tryline and concede a penalty out wide
kicked over by munster flyhalf keatley.
3-3
munster kick through putting toulon under serious pressure. they are unable to control the ball but it goes out
bloody hell ive kissed watching cj standers speed and strength. what a player
another scrum penalty. the munster loosehead already on the wrong side of the ref.
good attack and handling from toulon. giving mitchell and habana the ball. they lose it but a penalty given for a high tackle and wilko has another shot…
need I say? it went over. 6-3 to toulon
Picked Touloun by 6
Then again, I picked Sarries by 6 and they blew that margin out of the window
jeepers another penalty. carl hayman putting on some serious pressure
*scrum penalty
@ nortierd:
yars nortierdier
@MB
Afternoon Macro
I enjoy this rugby
Their refs even seem more accomplished as well
Some hell of a good players on display
toulon on attack get the maul going munster doing a good job holding it up but the ln someone comes from the side and collapses the maul… go figure, wilko to have another shot at goal and misses.
@ nortierd:
he hasnt been bad but that last penalty was a bit of a surprise, no way he could say munster collapsed it. justice that wilko missed
another lenalty and wilko doesnt miss this one. great kick from 46odd meters out
Wilko won’t miss twice in a row
good attack from munster. and toulon in lobbe concedes a penalty. should be a shot at goal
@26
Not just thinking of today’s ref, thinking in general.
I enjoy Nigel Owens the most
It just never seems like there are so many controversies as during the SR, but maybe it’s because I don’t follow the press there like over here
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