I settled down on the couch yesterday in anticipation
of an enjoyable afternoon’s rugby on the TV. The remaining two European
Champions Cup quarter-finals were all French affairs and promised some French
flair – or so I thought. I have to say I was bitterly disappointed and found my
fingers fiddling with the remote control and channel hopping far too often.
Both games turned out to be penalty fests with not a try to be seen or likely
to be seen. Not great fare for the neutral observer even though both games were
fiercely and evenly fought with the result in doubt to the end
The first featured Bordeaux-Begles and Racing 92 with
the odd penalty in fifteen giving Bordeaux-Begles a last gap 24-21 victory. Neither
side managed to get the blood coursing through the veins with their attacking prowess
but there was plenty of grunt from the two large packs of forwards.
The second tie surely had to be better with French aristocracy on
the field with Clermont Auverne taking on Toulouse. Admittedly it was
wet, but there was yet more blood and guts with the teams going at it hammer and
tongs but not really looking to be able to crack the stern defences. This time
there were only eleven penalties with Toulouse taking the spoils 12-21.
This was not a great advertisement for rugby but I don’t
suppose either Bordeaux-Begles or Toulouse give a hoot. They take their place
in the semi-finals where they will face off against each other. It has to be more
entertaining, doesn’t it?
The other quarter-finals were much better to watch.
Leinster recorded an excellent win at reigning champions Exeter where the teams
scored three tries apiece with some outstanding wing play on view. Leinster had
the upper hand once they had recovered from the early concession of two Exeter
tries and the boot of substitute fly half Byrne with five penalties made sure
that they kept Exeter at arm’s length for a 22-34 victory.
Sale, who had looked so good against the Scarlets,
were brought down to earth with a bump at La Rochelle who totally outplayed
them with a thumping six try 45-21 victory. What would La Rochelle have done to
the Scarlets I wonder?
So, the second semi-final will be La Rochelle at home
to Leinster which should be interesting. At least the Pro 14 has some
representation in a tournament dominated by the French and Leinster do look to
have the wherewithal to become champions again. What is not a great year for
the English continues.
The semi-finals for the Challenge Cup are: Bath v
Montpellier and Leicester Tigers v Ulster with the teams that put paid to Welsh
hopes the previous weekend all losing out in the quarter-finals. Home advantage
may well be the telling factor in these two semi-finals but Ulster who looked
impressive in their victory at Northampton may have something to say about
that.
It is a pretty bleak picture if you are Welsh with the
Regions once again way off the pace in the Champions Cup and this time not even
featuring in the latter stages on the Challenge Cup. The hordes of foreign
imports that populate the most successful team squads has an awful lot to do
with it, I am sure. Leinster seem to manage pretty well with a select few imports though and there are signs that the French are bringing through some impressive
young home-grown players. The lack of Welsh success always raises the question
of finance which I do not intend to go into here.
At least Wales continues to be competitive on the international stage. We’d better enjoy it while we can!
