The Heineken Champions Cup is fast approaching the quarter final stages, with the remaining teams battling it out this weekend for a place in the final four. Just a few days removed from the Round of 16, only eight sides are left in the competition, each with the ambition of lifting club rugby’s pinnacle prize on the 20th of May.
Here is how the Quarter Finals of the 2023 Heineken Champions Cup line-up.
Friday 7th April
Leinster vs Leicester Tigers – Aviva Stadium, Dublin KO: 20:00
The weekend’s action begins at the host stadium for the final, as United Rugby Championship leaders Leinster do battle with the reigning Premiership Champions Leicester Tigers, for a titanic-scale showdown in Dublin. The tigers had to claw their way into the last eight, by fighting tooth and nail with Edinburgh in the round of 16. The tough conditions slowed the match at Welford Road, with the only try of the contest coming from Jasper Wiese.
Tigers fly half Handre Pollard was able to withstand the elements, and kicked his side clear of Edinburgh in torrential rain. 11 points from the South African’s boot kicked daylight between the two sides, on a day when the clouds failed to part. The final score read 16-6 to Leicester, in what was a real match for the rugby purists.
Leinster defeated their URC rivals Ulster in the Round of 16, and once again felt the feeling of victory at the Aviva. A 30-15 win saw tries from Ryan Baird, Jameson Gibson-Park and Andrew Porter, with Ross Byrne kicking 15 points from the tee. In the unfortunate injury absence of Johnny Sexton, Leinster would love nothing more than to win the cup on home soil for their legendary fly half. They will need to be at their best against Leicester to continue their road to glory, and do one better than their runners-up medals they got last season after their shock final defeat to La Rochelle.
Saturday 8th April
Stade Toulousain vs Cell C Sharks – Stade Ernest Wallon, Toulouse KO: 16:00
Saturday’s action commences with the five time Heineken Cup Champions hosting the South African Cell C Sharks. This is lining up to be an exhilarating contest in Toulouse, with two of the most entertaining club sides in the world set to collide. Toulouse have recently overcome the task of South African opposition, as they calmly dispatched the Vodacom Bulls 33-9 in the Round of 16.
The Top 14 leaders were at the very best, as second half tries from Emmanuel Meafou, Matthis Lebel and Thibaud Flament built a healthy lead for the five-time European Champions. Les Bleus Full Back Thomas Ramos brought his shooting boots, and added 18 points from the tee, for a shut-out victory in the South of France.
The Sharks smelt Munster blood in Durban, and an end-to-end scoring contest ensued in the opening round of the knockout stages. Munster were dragged out of their depth by a brutal Sharks’ second half performance, who ran out eventual victors at 50-35. The Sharks reach the quarter finals of their debut Champions Cup campaign, thanks to tries tow tries from Bongi Mbonambi, and one each from Jaden Hendrikse, Eben Etzebeth, Werner Kok, Curwin Bosch and Makazola Mapimpi.
Exeter Chiefs vs DHL Stormers – Sandy Park, Exeter KO: 17:30
Exeter Chiefs fans were not given an easy ride to the quarter-final, as their side fought back against Montpellier in extra time, to progress to the next round. A last-minute equalising try from hooker Jack Yeandle put the pressure on Joe Simmonds, who levelled the score to 33-33 with the final kick of the match. The Devonians were awarded the win on tries scored (5-4), and continue on track to win back the title they lifted in 2020, and add to their trophy cabinet after winning this season’s Premiership Rugby Cup.
A late penalty from Paolo Garbisi sent the match into extra time, with the score-line balanced at 26-26. Montpellier thought that they had pulled off an upset victory, with replacement fly half Louis Carbonel scoring with just seven minutes left. Yet Yeandle’s try and Joe Simmonds’ conversion ensured a showdown with the DHL Stormers in the quarter final.
The Stormers saw off Harlequins in their Round of 16 contest, with an exciting and high scoring match that was balanced on a knife-edge. In the end, fortune favoured the hosts, as the Stormers toppled the tourist Quins, by 32-28 in Cape Town. Two tries for Deon Fourie, and one each for Steven Kitshoff, Damian Willemse and Willie Engelbrecht ensured that the Stormers joined the Sharks, as the last two remaining South African sides in the competition.
Reaching the quarter finals of their maiden tournament is certainly an impressive feat, yet the Stormers will be met with a determined Exeter side. The Chiefs have numerous high-profile stars leaving Sandy Park at the end of the season, and will leave it all on the field to mark this ‘end of an era’ with the Heineken Champions Cup.
Sunday 9th April
La Rochelle vs Saracens – Stade Marcel Deflandre KO: 16:00
The closing match of this year’s quarter finals, sees the reigning champions La Rochelle, host three-time winners Saracens. La Rochelle left it late to win their opening knockout stage match, as Gloucester fans thought they had upset the odds to reach the next round. French Winger Teddy Thomas’ 78th minute try spelt disaster for the Cherry and Whites, as Ronan O’Gara’s side secured a dramatic 29-26 win.
Thomas crossed over twice for La Rochelle, with Pierre Bourgarit and Tawera Kerr-Barlow also contibuting to the points tally. Gloucester called upon their British & Irish Lions to keep them in the match, as the duo of Chris Harris and Louis Rees-Zammit kept the West Country side in the contest. Yet Thomas’ late winner sent George Skivington’s men tumbling out of the competition.
Saracens were able to avoid defeat, as twice fought back from behind to beat a resilient Ospreys side. The repeated sway of momentum shook the foundations of the Stone X Stadium, as this end-to-end contest was a far from routine win for the Londoners. England winger Max Malins secured a brace of tries, with Ducan Taylor and Tom Woolstencroft keeping Saracens’ dwindling hopes alive – a phrase not often heard when it comes to the Men in Black.
Yet Mark McCall’s side were able to overcome the early 12-point lead, and then a 10-point deficit in the second half to book their tickets to France for the quarter final.