It always promises to be a weekend to remember, and the fourth and final group stage round of Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup matches did not disappoint.
It always promises to be a weekend to remember, and the fourth and final group stage round of Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup matches did not disappoint.
From Friday night to Sunday evening, there was compelling action as teams fought for the top two spots in their pools, or a place in the knockout rounds, with fixtures and final positions going down to the final fixture.
We now know the 32 teams that will compete in the tournaments’ rounds of 16 over the first weekend of April, and more importantly who will face who, and where.
ATR can’t wait and here’s what stood out on a great weekend of rugby…
Cracking Castres
To the good folks of Castres, I owe you an apology. Last week, I may have given Castres little chance of upsetting Munster at their Thomond Park home, but that’s exactly what they did, and in doing so with a four-try bonus point they knocked Munster into the Challenge Cup.
Castres did so with plenty of time honoured traits. Flanker Baptiste Delaporte put in a shift and led tackling with 21, while number eight Florent Vanverberghe wasn’t far behind with 18. Their pack also got to the Munster lineout, limiting it to a 76 percent success rate.
They started strongly and were soon 10-0 ahead thanks to Vuate Karawalevu’s try and a conversion and penalty from Jeremy Fernandez. When Munster found their rhythm, they hung onto their coattails and were back ahead at halftime. It was the same after halftime when the hosts went ahead, they kept going and tries from wings Geoffrey Palis and Christian Ambadiang, plus two Enzo Herve conversions gave them a well-deserved victory, despite Edwin Edogbo’s late try.
Castres may not be among France’s glamour teams, but they won the Top 14 in 2013 and 2018, and it was where Antoine Dupont learned much before moving 90 minutes up the road to Toulouse. Anyone who can win away to Munster deserves respects, and doubly so when there is so much riding on the result.
What Now Edinburgh?
Bath didn’t hang around on Friday to ensure their place atop Pool 2, scoring eight tries in their 63-10 win over Edinburgh at The Rec. They’re good, we know that, and they showed us, but what does the result show about Edinburgh?
A loss wouldn’t have surprised, but a defeat of that nature. Eight of their players missed three or more tackles, so what hope did they have? Piers O'Conor scored a lovely try, but what else was there for their fans to cheer? Yes, the were through already, but with a bit more fight they might have come half close to booking a home tie in the Round of 16.
It calls into question what the Scottish Rugby Union want Edinburgh to be. Sure, Glasgow Warriors have led the way with two United Rugby Championship (URC) titles in the last decade, but Edinburgh, currently 10th in the URC, should be giving more. Can a union with only two professional sides have one that doesn’t pull its weight?
La Roch-Hell
One point, that’s all La Rochelle needed, one point and they would be in the Champions Cup knockout rounds. Instead, they blew up at home to Harlequins, and their 27-17 defeat let Leicester Tigers in to claim fourth place in Pool 3 and leave Ronan O’Gara’s team with a trip to Newcastle Red Bulls.
There is something at play, and no doubt ATR’s French experts will be the ones to ask why, but the regular reports of O’Gara’s departure can’t help, and the team that so unexpectedly won the Champions Cup in 2022 and 2023 - in two of the best finals of all time - have not kicked on as expected.
This was a side that had grown around their five-year plan that encompassed team and academy rebuilds, along with stadium development and spreading the love of rugby around the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region. It worked but injuries, age, and key departures (Tawera Kerr-Barlow for one) have seemed to have taken their toll, as does the rise of Bordeaux-Begles.
On Sunday, there was no Gregory Aldritt, nor Nolann Le Garrec, and their absence was felt with a lack of direction. Maybe it’s time for a new plan?
That said, Harlequins will be wondering how they have finished second. Victory over The Stormers a week ago has lit a fire. Their scrum enjoyed a 100 percent success rate, and Alex Dombrandt was another force of nature and the man who they built their performance around with 15 carries. The trick now is for them to take this form back in Gallagher PREM Rugby before the break for the Guinness Men’s Six Nations kicks in.
Forza Italia
No prizes for which Six Nations coach would have been wearing the widest smile after the weekend’s action. Italy’s Gonzalo Quesada would have enjoyed what he watched, even if it was from his Milan apartment, rather than live and in person.
It started off well when Zebre booked a rare appearance in the knockout rounds. They faced the lone Georgians, Black Lion, and after they weathered an early onslaught, finished with a 28-14 win that earned them second place in Pool 1 and a home tie in the Round of 16. Quesada will have been pleased to see fullback Lorenzo Pani back in the tries, after struggling with injuries over the past couple of seasons.
Benetton have been good all season, and while they were guaranteed top spot in Challenge Cup Pool 2 after the Dragons downed Newcastle Red Bulls, they still got the job done with an impressive 38-18 win away to Lyon.
Zebre have taken their time, but are finally finding their hoofs, all of which will help Italy in the Six Nations this year, and in those to come.