What a weekend of European Rugby! Personally I thought that all four semi-finals across the Champions and Challenge Cup were enthralling games.
While I saw some people complaining that Munster versus Saracens at the AVIVA was boring I beg to differ because I couldn’t take my eyes off the contest. In Lyon, Clermont Auvergne and Leinster were embroiled in a classic of a different kind while over in the Challenge Cup we had niggle in La Rochelle and heartbreak for Bath in Paris. The weekend just gone had something for everyone and I’m already counting down the days before the two finals at BT Murrayfield.
It is in Dublin where I’ll commence this reflection and it wouldn’t be fair to Saturday’s winners if I didn’t start with a word or two about them. Just when you think that Saracens have impressed you enough they seem to take it up another notch and I sat there quietly applauding the way that they managed the intensity of the atmosphere at the AVIVA Stadium and kept such a firm hold of the match itself.
Together Richard Wigglesworth and Owen Farrell drove the agenda and the latter is certainly my vote for this season’s European Player of the Year. Following the game Mark McCall praised the backbone of their victory - their defence - while Rassie Erasmus conceded that the reality is that Saracens are 10-20 points better than his team right now. That wasn’t a slight on Munster's players in the slightest, it was a nod to just how dominant Saracens are in Europe right now.
Switching over to match in Lyon and it was a very different game but nevertheless another corker. The manner in which Clermont started certainly took me by surprise but like so many the question mark as to whether they could continue at that rate was always present in my mind.
The real test of Franck Azema’s men was when Leinster were back within touching distance and had the momentum in their favour. Clermont’s of old would have cracked at that point and instead this squad had more of an element of composure about them. That said had Dan Leavy’s disallowed try stood I could be writing a very different article about Clermont right now. Would they have continued to hold off Leinster’s efforts had they not been given that breathing time? Who knows?
In this match we saw players excel as individuals, potentially more than at the AVIVA Stadium where it was more about the collective as opposed to the individual. At the top of that list were a trio of Clermont players David Strettle, Camille Lopez and Morgan Parra. The first showed his full box of tricks and looked utterly electric in the Lyon sunshine. Clermont’s fly-half illustrated to us that the art of the drop-goal isn’t dead and that it should be utilised much more within the modern game. While Morgan Parra looked more composed than we’ve seen him in European play-offs before and his partnership with Lopez is a key driving force for Clermont Auvergne.
I cannot finish reflecting on the weekend’s European semi-finals without popping a few thoughts down about the two losing sides. Both Munster Rugby and Leinster Rugby have turned heads this European season for a number of reasons and the duo look set to prosper for years to come given the age profiles of their squads and the relatively short time that they’ve spent together.
Munster have dealt with the tragic death of Anthony Foley in a manner that has left us all in awe of their bravery. On the field they’ve found their form and style as the season has progressed and it is one that will continue to grow with time. The spine of Munster’s team - their 8, 9 and 10 - have been superb and there’s no questioning the fact that Conor Murray was greatly missed at the AVIVA Staidum.
When it comes to Leinster Rugby equally Leo Cullen and Stuart Lancaster have really ironed out how they want the province to play and the dividends are now being showcased week after week. Joey Carbery has emerged from being a relatively unknown academy player to an individual that opponents have to do a lot of homework on while Garry Ringrose also has talent in spades. Both he and Brian O’Driscoll aren’t fond of the comparisons that are made between the two of them but when the young centre scores tries like he did in Lyon how can you not discuss their similarities?
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| Guess which player the top tweet is about!? |
Personally I expect both Irish provinces to use this European season as a springboard for future success and it wouldn’t surprise me if one won the competition in the next few years.
It was a captivating European weekend in the Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup also delivered its fair share of drama and action. The time between now and the two finals will pass in an instant and then it will be the turn of BT Murrayfield to host Europe’s showpiece event.
To borrow one of Ugo Monye’s phrases ‘the rugby romantic’ side of me would have loved to be sitting here and talking about a Munster versus Leinster Final in the Champions Cup and Gloucester Rugby versus Bath Rugby Final in the Challenge Cup. However the two finals that will take place on the 12 and 13 of May will make for intriguing viewing and most certainly will finish the 2016-17 European season in style.
To borrow one of Ugo Monye’s phrases ‘the rugby romantic’ side of me would have loved to be sitting here and talking about a Munster versus Leinster Final in the Champions Cup and Gloucester Rugby versus Bath Rugby Final in the Challenge Cup. However the two finals that will take place on the 12 and 13 of May will make for intriguing viewing and most certainly will finish the 2016-17 European season in style.
European Champions Cup Final
Saturday, 13 May - ASM Clermont Auvergne v Saracens
17:00 KO - BT Murrayfield
Sky Sports / BT Sport / beIN Sports / FR2
European Challenge Cup Final
Friday, 12 May - Gloucester Rugby v Stade Francais Paris
20:00 KO - BT Murrayfield
Sky Sports / BT Sport / beIN Sports / FR4
