Champions Cup Round 4: The Irish Fixtures

Overall, it was a successful Round 3 for the Irish contingent; a mighty 89-7 victory for Leinster against Montpellier, a gritty 3-point win for Munster over Castres, Ulster managed to brush Northampton Saints aside 24-20 with the only loss coming from Connacht, who just missed against the tough outfit of Leicester, 29-28. 

 

Bath vs Leinster: 

Leo Cullen’s men will fancy their chances of bagging another five points when they travel to The Rec. to meet Bath. The latter have had a torrid season overall thus far and things were not improved in Round 3 when they fell to La Rochelle 39-21. 

 

Leinster, on the other hand, were unstoppable, taking out their frustrations from the past weeks – which saw them have their Round 2 fixture against Montpellier called off, for which they were forced to take a 28-0 loss after Covid was detected in their squad. Montpellier may have won that game on paper, but they certainly felt the wrath of the blue wave of Leinster when they finally met out of the pitch.  

 

 

 

If Leinster carry that same form into The Rec., there could be another massacre on the cards.  

 

Match facts: 

 

• Bath have faced Leinster more often than any other team in the Heineken Champions Cup (12); however, they have lost 10 of their 12 games against them, including each of their last four encounters. 

 

• Bath Rugby have lost their last 10 games in the Heineken Champions Cup (excl. Cancelled fixtures), only Sale Sharks (L16) have endured a longer losing run in the competition amongst English teams; they have lost 14 of their last 15 games against Irish teams in the Champions Cup, but their solitary win in that run came at home against Leinster (19-16 in 2015/16).  

 

• Leinster won their Round3 fixture 89-7 against Montpellier Hérault Rugby, their biggest win in the Heineken Champions Cup and the joint-third biggest victory by any team in the competition; Leinster lost their last away game in the competition but have not lost consecutive away games since a run of four defeats across the 2015/16 and 2016/17 seasons. 

 

• Leinster have averaged the most carries (138), metres (1179), passes (209), defenders beaten (32 )and offloads (17) per game of any team in the Heineken Champions Cup this season. 

 

• Leinster’s James Lowe has made six line-breaks in the Heineken Champions Cup this season, more than any other player,  five of those breaks came in the last round against Montpellier Hérault Rugby, the most for any player in a single game this season. 

 

 

Ulster vs Clermont: 

Ulster started strongly against the Saints, running in two quick tries in the opening quarter to build a workable platform from which they navigated to victory.  

 

 

 

Fullback Mike Lowry delivered a particularly sharp performance, reflecting on the game afterwards: 

 

“It was certainly enjoyable!” he said. “It was also seriously tough; Northampton play a great brand of rugby and throw the ball around. They caused us a lot of problems, but once again it broke up a wee bit and we got our hands on the ball a bit more. It was a good game for the neutrals to watch; we talked during the week that both teams like to play. That’s the type of game I love to play and really enjoyed it today.” 

 

This week, the northern Irishmen will lock horns with Clermont, who managed to stick one on Sale last weekend. 

 

 

 

 

 

Stade Francais vs Connacht: 

Connacht’s Round 3 fixture left a bitter taste in their mouths – a taste which they will hope to replace with something more enjoyable this weekend as they travel to Stade Jean-Bouin where Stade Francais lie in wait. 

 

Connacht found themselves on the wrong side of a one-point game as they narrowly lost out to the powerful Leicester Tigers. It was a match Connacht should have won after having built up an 18-point lead but squandered their position in the final quarter, letting Leicester back into the game to take the honours at the final whistle.

   

 

“We can’t change what happened there on Saturday – unfortunately we all wish we could do that final quarter again but we can’t,” Connacht boss Andy Friend said. “That is where we sit at the minute. 

 

“I know there is belief in this squad, belief in everything we try and do. That’ll hurt for a few days and then we’ll come back with the aim of doing what we need to do in Paris and try to get a win there. 

 

“There is an honest belief in the squad and while that Leicester defeat will knock us and dent us into touch, it is not a knock to our confidence – it is just a punch to the guts. 

 

“It was ours for the taking and we didn’t take it. We have to wear that. Whatever does not kill us makes us stronger, so we will be back and we will be OK. 

 

“We said from the start of the competition that we want to be the first Connacht team to get out of the pool stages and get to the knockout stages. We still have that belief and I know we can get there and do that.” 

 

Turning attention to Stade Francais this weekend, Friend said:

 “For us we’re not thinking about results elsewhere. All we’re focused on is going to Paris, take what we learned from last week and hopefully finish our Pool stage on a high. If we can do that then we can celebrate a great achievement of reaching knockout rugby in this competition.

 
With dry weather and their 4G pitch it’s looking like it’ll be a fast-tempo game, so we’ve selected a side that reflects that.”

 

 

 

Munster vs Wasps 

Munster will look to carry their winning momentum from Round 3 into this weekend when they tackle Wasps at Thomond Park. 

 

The men in red managed a second consecutive victory over Castres in a typically gritty encounter last weekend: 

 

 

 

Of the victory, van Graan said: 

 

“You don’t just come here and win. We spoke about an 80-minute performance and we certainly got that. Everybody gave it their all and we’re very happy with the four points. 

 

“We had one or two uncharacteristic errors with the lineout five metres from their line – one in the first half and one after 70 minutes. The one that mattered, though, we finished. 

 

“I thought we had some very good attacking passages. One or two balls went to ground in the 22, but I thought from a performance point of view, there was some really good stuff.” 

 

Looking ahead to the Wasps clash, van Graan shared his thoughts: 

 

“We play next Sunday, which gives us a nine-day turnaround, so we’ll take the three days and recover – it was a short, six-day turnaround from our previous game against Ulster. 

 

“We’ll regroup and look at our resources – obviously, in this competition, if you’re good enough to go further, home advantage is crucial. 

 

“We’ve put ourselves in a really good space, so it’s a massive game for us against Wasps next Sunday.” 

 

Van Graan is correct; the game should be massive. Wasps are looking good at present, managing to down defending champions Toulouse in the previous round.