European Cup Semi Finals - Easter Weekend

First topic message reminder :

Saracens v Munster
Leinster v Toulouse
Clermont v La Rochelle Harlequins
La Rochelle v Sale

4 decent games coming up this weekend.

My predictions for the finals

Saracens v Toulouse

Clermont v La Rochelle

17-17 at HT

quite an intriguing game this one, no one really in command

another controversial decision at the death, yellow card at the death against La Rochelle

La Rochelle win at the death and they probably deserved to with a much stronger pack

24-20 La Rochelle

Munster as per the last 4 years good defence but no attack.

It is all they are lacking but you aren't going to win most games with one try against top teams which they seem to do to often

Sarries look 50 50 for 3 Cups in 4 years so will be one of the best teams of the Competition.

Brendan wrote:Munster as per the last 4 years good defence but no attack.

It is all they are lacking but you aren't going to win most games with one try against top teams which they seem to do to often

That's them in a nutshell

All heart but a serious lack of flair. You can go a long way on that, but not to the very top.

No-one is giving Quins an earthly in this game!

Buchanan needs to sort out his throwing.

Decent start for quins though. Good to see Walker back.

[quote="BigGee"]No-one is giving Quins an earthly in this game![/quote]

It's pretty tedious tbh, you'd think we might as well not have bothered turning up the way they're talking.

Quins controlling the game well, down two Lopez drop goals to one Smith penalty.

Clermont score a try, that might just be the buffer they need

16-3 Clermont now

Does not really reflect the game so far

Oof, suspect that's the probably the game gone now. We need the next score.

Nothing fancy from Clermont, just hard, direct running, hitting the line at pace, stretch the defence until it breaks.

Buchanan's shoddy throwing has probably been the difference.

Bam, hell of a finish from Brown! Smith pulling the strings well...

26-8 Clermont at HT

It is a long way back and Clermont very good front runners

Does not really reflect the half, but the French have been clinical and Quins have not

Quins chucking it about with abandon now and score a couple of quick tries

32-22 Clermont with 13 mins to go

This was a dead game a few mins ago

Sinclair gives away a stupid penalty for chucking a French player out of a ruck, just takes the steam out of Quins, who were playing some good stuff

32-22 thats not bad at all

If we had a lineout it could be even better!

32-27 in the end. Great fightback f4om Quins but just not quite enougj


Clermont their usual odd, amazing/lazy selves.

Well Clermont prevail, but Quins can hold their heads up high, they gave them a very good game.

Clermont v La Rochelle it is in the Challenge cup final

That is three out of 4 for me on predictions so far, though to be fair, they were all obvious calls. The most intriguing match of the weekend comes tomorrow afternoon in Dublin.

Sinckler needs his head sorting out.

But otherwise, good performance. Kunatani is some player, we should be getting Robshaw, Dombrandt and him on as much as possible, great back row combination.

Intriguing match up this afternoon - home advantage and recent European pedigree should see Leinster home but they're not on great form just now and are coming into this with no momentum.

Toulouse on the other hand are flying high and playing great rugby.

I suspect the result will depending on how quickly Leinster re-find their form, and Sexton in particular who hasn't been looking like himself for a while now.

I think Leinster will win but I'd love to see a Saracens - Toulouse final.

WTH was Garces looking at during the scrum before Munster's try?. Their TH completely folded in, while the openside hooked the ball out of the Sarries back foot.


Apologies for being late on this, but was catching up with the game while preparing the slow roasted lamb.

This one has got the makings of a classic, definitely the game of the weekend.

Looking forward to it

LondonTiger wrote:WTH was Garces looking at during the scrum before Munster's try?. Their TH completely folded in, while the openside hooked the ball out of the Sarries back foot.


Apologies for being late on this, but was catching up with the game while preparing the slow roasted lamb.

Indeed - where was the TMO too as it was pretty clear and obvious watching on TV ...

Colby looks like he could score every time he gets the ball!

Mental opening 4 minutes

First penalty to Toulouse, a good start from them

3-0 Toulouse

and Sexton gets one back

3-3

At the moment it looks, as predicted like Toulouse flair v Leinster prgamatism

was that forward?

What an atmosphere, what a game!

To quote the Aviva Stadium every time Toulouse get the ball... “Boooooooooooo”

They have some cheek accusing Scotstoun of being hostile.

Looked fine on replay

Good try from James Lowe

10-3 Leinster

Well so far the good Sexton has turned up

BigGee wrote:Looked fine on replay

Good try from James Lowe

10-3 Leinster

You've had a good weekend of rugby watching mate - are the family away??  

Kolby is lightening eh

I think Toulouse playing du pont at 10 could cost them

Toulouse perhaps a bit unlucky with a couple of calls at the ruck by Mr Barnes so far ...

Toulouse 3 should have a yellow

Silly from Gray

RDW wrote:

BigGee wrote:Looked fine on replay

Good try from James Lowe

10-3 Leinster

You've had a good weekend of rugby watching mate - are the family away??  

Unfortunately my wife dropped a cup on her foot on Friday and so can't walk anywhere. So that just left rugby!

I have been out on my bike a couple of times to be fair and I am working tomorrow!

No 43 tackles for that Gray brother then.

This game going rapidly away from Toulouse

17-3 Leinster

Eejit wrote:No 43 tackles for that Gray brother then.

I’m not sure it was him. I think it was Kaino

How stupid is Gray feeling now ...

or Kaino ?

That evens things up

10 mins for Henshaw

Penalty Toulouse

17-6 Leinster

Should the be penalty try too?

If you take Henshaw out of the picture then probably yes ...

Cronin off, that will be a loss

Fitness will be key in this game. Playing in that heat will be utterly energy sapping

JS sends one wide

Stays at 17-6 Leinster