The Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup Quarter-Finals take place this weekend several URC sides in action.
The Quarter-Finals have finally arrived with several of our sides in action across the weekend in the Investec Champions Cup and the EPCR Challenge Cup.
First up, in the Champions Cup, it’s first versus second in the URC when Leinster host Glasgow Warriors at the Aviva Stadium.
Both teams had comfortable wins against Premiership opposition in the last 16, but are fully aware that this weekend will not be a walk in the park for either side.
Glasgow head coach Franco Smith believes Leinster are the favourites but they will head into the tie knowing anything is possible.
“Leinster have huge depth and they are probably the most talked about team in world rugby at the moment,” Smith said
“It will be the toughest task we’ve had in a very long time. We must go there with a mindset that you can achieve on the day, so looking forward to a big challenge but they are definitely the favourites.”
The Warriors did it the hard way in the URC last season, beating Munster and the Vodacom Bulls away from home to life the trophy at the Grand Final in Pretoria and Leinster head coach Leo Cullen knows they will be a huge threat.
“You saw particularly away from home last season, winning away in Thomond in the semi-final, and then they won away in Loftus in the final so they are pretty comfortable being on the road,” he said.
“They have a hell of a lot of threats across the board.”
Staying with the Champions Cup, and Munster fans will be hoping for another famous day in France after their heroics against La Rochelle when they take on a Bordeaux-Begles side who made light work of Ulster in the last 16.
Munster have been boosted by the return of Alex Nankivell, with Thaakir Abrahams also passed fit after he was forced off in that win last weekend.
Bordeax have former Munster talisman Joey Carbery in their squad and Munster coach Denis Leamy is fully aware what that means for preparations.
“Joey will know us inside out,” Leamy said.
“He’s worked with pretty much everyone in the building so he’ll have a good idea of what we’re trying to do but ultimately we’ll just have to put our best foot forward and do it really, really well, and hope that that’s good enough.”
“Joey’s a top-class player and we were sad to see him go, he’s definitely a loss to the building here,” he added. “Look, when guys want to go and seek other opportunities and sample a different culture etc, you just wish them the best.
“Everybody’s pleased for Joey and how it’s going for him and hopefully he has a very successful season, domestically, just not on Saturday.”
Over to the Challenge Cup, and four URC teams are in action, starting with an all-league affair between Edinburgh and the Vodacom Bulls on Saturday afternoon, before Ospreys host Lyon.
Then it’s over to the Dexcom Stadium in Galway as Connacht host French giants Racing 92 in their quarter final.
“Racing have such a big side with lots of quality that they could bring a number of teams over here,” Connacht coach Colm Tucker said,
‘We have to be focused on the threats they bring but our main focus is us and what we do”
>>>Story courtesy of https://www.unitedrugby.com/latest<<<
