What to Look Out for in the European Rugby Champions Cup Semi-Finals?
by Steve Ashfield | by Yunchu Li
Exciting Weekend Lies Ahead
We're down to the last four in the 2023-24 European Rugby Champions Cup. We'll have new winners this season after La Rochelle were knocked out by Leinster in the quarter-finals.
There are four clubs remaining, two from England, one from France and the other from Ireland. They'll be battling it out this weekend for a place in the final. That takes place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on May 25. Could it be only the second all-English final?
It's been noticeable that there have been some high-scoring games in the knockout stages of this competition. Each of the four winning quarter-finalists scored at least 40 points. Home teams have been doing well too with only two of the 12 knockout matches being won by the away teams. Could we see two more matches that are full of points this weekend? Don't forget you can check all the European Rugby Champions Cup betting odds on Sportytrader.
Stade Toulousain Bidding to Reach Record Eighth Final
The top seeds in the European Rugby Champions Cup knockout stages are Stade Toulousain. The team from Toulouse in France have won this trophy more times than any other club. They host Harlequins on Saturday May 4 looking to reach a record eighth final.
On five occasions they have lifted the cup, most recently in 2021. They've also reached the final in both 2004 and 2008 and have been hugely impressive in this season's competition.
They topped Pool B after winning all four of their matches and scoring 178 points. In the last 16, they beat fellow Top 14 side Racing 31-7. English Premiership opposition was faced in the last eight with them destroying Exeter Chiefs 64-26.
Stade Toulousain are second in Top 14 and home advantage is so important for them. All 11 of their home games in that league have been won this season with over 400 points scored. Just one more big effort on home soil will see them in yet another final. Keep up to date with the games by going to our European Rugby Champions Cup livescore.
Harlequins Out to Cause Another Surprise
Out to prevent Stade Toulousain reaching the final are Harlequins from the English Premiership. They are the fifth seeds in the knockout phase of this competition and have already faced their semi-final opponents in the pool stages.
That match didn't take place in France but in England. It wasn't a good day for Harlequins as they were beaten 47-19. They won their other three pool matches to qualify for the last 16. That round saw them beat Glasgow Warriors by four points. A tough quarter-final draw saw them travel to Bordeaux Begles who were strongly fancied to win the match.
Harlequins had a great first half and went into the break leading 28-12. Will Porter (above) scored two tries for them. The home side fought back in the second half but Harlequins held on for a stunning 42-41 victory. They'll need to be in top form again if wanting to reach their first ever final. It could even be only the second all-English final (the other being in 2007). Make sure you read the European Rugby Champions Cup betting tips of our rugby experts.
Third Successive Final for Leinster?
Leinster fans are getting used to cheering on their team in European Rugby Champions Cup finals. The past two years have seen them reach the final but lose narrowly to La Rochelle. They have won the competition on four previous occasions (most recently in 2018) and beating Northampton Saints on Sunday May 5 will see them reach an eighth final.
The Irish club could easily have won their last three finals. The combined losing margin was only seven points. This season has seen them in top form and they are second in the United Rugby Championship.
Leinster won Pool D in the European Rugby Champions Cup with all four of their matches being won. That saw them seeded second in the knockout stages. In the last 16, they beat Leicester Tigers 36-22. Another home match followed in the quarter-finals with them avenging their 2022 and 2023 losses to La Rochelle, beating them 40-13.
Northampton Saints Chasing a Double
An exciting end to the season lies ahead for the Northampton Saints. They are top of the English Premiership and on Sunday travel to Leinster for their semi-final match in the European Rugby Champions Cup.
Northampton won this competition in 2000 but their only other appearance in the final was 13 years ago when losing to the club they face this weekend.
The Saints topped Pool C with all four of their matches being won. Seeded third in the knockout stages, they have had two big home wins. The last 16 saw them beat Munster and then they defeated a depleted Bulls team 59-22.
Northampton have lost their last two away games in the English Premiership and conceded 93 points. An improvement on those performances is definitely needed this weekend. They have won away against Glasgow Warriors and Munster in the pool stages so one more big effort this weekend might just see them shock the home side.
Odds to win the European Rugby Champions Cup
- Leinster, odds of 1.91
- Stade Toulousain, odds of 2.1
- Northampton Saints, odds of 15.00
- Harlequins, odds of 34.00
odds from bet365
