Champions Cup
Champion’s Cup Semi-Finalists – Power Ranking
How we rank them.
One of the most dramatic weekends of European rugby in recent memory has set up some very tasty Champion’s Cup semi-finals. Munster got the job done in Edinburgh, to set up a meeting with Saracens, who demolished Glasgow. Leinster saw off the challenge of Ulster in an absolute cracker in the Aviva, to book their spot against Toulouse, after the French club pulled off a dramatic one point win away to Racing. After such thrilling rugby this weekend which team is looking the hottest?
- Saracens
Sarries are just looking so good right now. Putting 56 points on a team as good as Glasgow is no mean feat, and they managed this without their most important player Owen Farrell. Saracens were the only club to win all of their pool games, and just have depth and danger all over the park. Liam Williams has been one of the best in the world in his position for the past two or three years and people have been calling for Alex Goode to be playing for England for as long. He showed his versatility this weekend by taking over at 10 when Owen Farrell got called away to the maternity ward, running plays like a guy who plays 10 week in week out. Saracens have X-factor all over the
2. Leinster
The champions were run close this weekend by Ulster, but are still a dangerous proposition. Perhaps not quite on the same level as they were last year, Leo Cullen’s charges have a more difficult task ahead of them this year, as they welcome a Toulouse side in flying form to the Aviva. Leinster’s backline depth has been criticised recently, with some people saying that their “stand-ins” (the likes of Dave Kearney, Adam Byrne, Rory O’Loughlin) are not up to scratch for top tier European rugby. Of course reading this you think back to Leinster’s pool game against Toulouse in the RDS, where all these “stand-ins” played and Leinster won comfortably. A fairly safe bet for the final, with a full compliment.
3. Toulouse
Toulouse are back big time this season. Beat the champions in their first pool game, and defeated Racing in a thriller in the U Arena at the weekend after losing Zach Holmes for a high tackle in the first half. The French giants are flying in the Top 14 this year, they are ten points clear at the top of the table with only two losses from 20 games. They will not fear coming to Dublin, but you would think home advantage will play a big part for Leinster.
Embed from Getty Images4. Munster
Munster are up against it, to put it simply. They will be travelling to the Ricoh Arena to take on Saracens. Munster last played Sarries in the Aviva in 2017, at the same stage of the competition, losing 26-10. It is hard to see Munster coming away with the win here but Munster have a habit of pulling off wins when you don’t expect. Munster are in great form, but Saracens just look unbeatable these days
Embed from Getty Images
A 28-man Munster travelling squad has been named ahead of Saturday’s Champions Cup round of 16 clash against the Sharks in Durban (12.30pm Irish time/1.30pm local).
Preparations for the game started on Monday, see today’s best training pics from Thomond Park here.
Players and management will fly out tonight and arrive in Durban tomorrow evening (Wednesday) ahead of the game.
16 forwards and 12 backs will make the trip with Munster’s 23-man matchday squad to be named at 12pm on Friday.
On the injury front, Niall Scannell (shoulder) has returned to full team training and has been selected in the travelling group.
Antoine Frisch is also included after recovering from a low-grade leg injury.
On the club front, there were seven Munster players in AIL Division 1A action at the weekend.
Daniel Hurley helped Cork Constitution to a 36-19 victory over a Shannon side that included Darragh McSweeney and Daniel Okeke.
Dan Goggin, Patrick Campbell and Shay McCarthy started for Young Munster in their win over UCD.
Tony Butler was in action for Garryowen as they were beaten by Terenure College.
Munster Travelling Squad
Forwards: Dave Kilcoyne, Josh Wycherley; Diarmuid Barron, Scott Buckley, Niall Scannell; Stephen Archer, Keynan Knox, Roman Salanoa; Jean Kleyn, RG Snyman, Fineen Wycherley; Gavin Coombes, John Hodnett, Alex Kendellen, Jack O’Donoghue, Peter O’Mahony.
Backs: Craig Casey, Conor Murray, Paddy Patterson; Joey Carbery, Jack Crowley, Ben Healy; Malakai Fekitoa, Antoine Frisch; Shane Daly, Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, Simon Zebo.
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
Leinster Head Coach Leo Cullen has issued an injury update ahead of Saturday’s Heineken Champions Cup match against Ulster in Aviva Stadium.
Over 48,000 tickets have already been sold for the match. You can buy the last remaining tickets for the Round of 16 clash here.
Johnny Sexton will see a specialist on Tuesday and have a procedure on the groin injury picked up in Ireland’s Guinness Six Nations game against England which will likely keep him sidelined for the remainder of the Leinster Rugby season.
Garry Ringrose, Hugo Keenan and Caelan Doris will continue to follow the Graduated Return to Play Protocols this week.
Ed Byrne came through the game at the weekend with no issues after his return from a knee injury.
There are no further updates on:
Jamie Osborne (knee), Rónan Kelleher (shoulder), Joe McCarthy (ankle), Cormac Foley (hamstring), Martin Moloney (knee) and Charlie Ngatai (hamstring)
Images & Content from Leinster Rugby
Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to confirm the signing of centre Alex Nankivell and contract extensions for tighthead prop Stephen Archer and loosehead prop Dave Kilcoyne.
Nankivell will join the province on a two-year contract at the start of the 2023/24 season, making the move from New Zealand where he plays with Super Rugby side Gallagher Chiefs.
Alex Nankivell in action for the Chiefs against the Waratahs last April.
The 26-year-old, originally from Christchurch, has been a regular in the Chiefs’ midfield since 2017, making 58 appearances to date.
An impressive 2019 campaign saw him earn selection for the Māori All Blacks against Fiji and he also lined out for the side against an Ireland XV last summer. In November 2022 he was selected for the All Blacks XV that played Ireland ‘A’ and the Barbarians.
Front row duo Stephen Archer and Dave Kilcoyne have both put pen to paper on one-year extensions.
Between them, Archer and Kilcoyne have made 468 appearances for the province.
Munster’s second most-capped player of all time, Archer has made 255 appearances for the province since making his debut in October 2009.
The 35-year-old, who has also earned two Ireland caps, is an ultra-reliable presence in the front row and is 13 appearances short of equalling Donncha O’Callaghan’s record 268 Munster appearances.
Stephen Archer at Munster training on Tuesday.
Kilcoyne is in a rich vein of form and earned his 50th Ireland cap at the weekend with 213 Munster appearances to his name.
The 34-year-old made his Munster debut against Connacht in December 2011 and has overcome a difficult time with injuries to make 13 appearances so far this season.
Dave Kilcoyne at Munster training last month.
Images & Content from Munster Rugby
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