Saracens and Exeter prepare for Champions Cup Semi-Finals

The Champions Cup semi-finals begin tomorrow.

Here are some predictions and background information for the prestigious last four.

Racing 92 vs Saracens

Their quarter final victory last week gave Saracens arguably their greatest victory as a club. Whilst they have a packed trophy cabinet in recent years, the fine & points deduction for salary cap abuse will have tarnished some of their success in the eyes of many. Since they qualified for the quarter final against Leinster they have lost, or are in the process of losing, a huge amount of talent from their squad. For a side stripped of regular first teamers and of meaningful competitive fixtures after lockdown, to produce such a strong performance was testament to the spirit of the culture created at the club.

Their success though has brought them another huge challenge in their semi-final opponents, travelling to Racing. A replay of the group stage fixture which saw Saracens defeated by a 20 point margin in Paris will be a huge mountain to climb and must surely be a challenge too far. If any club can continue to defy their critics, its Saracens. But given that Racing scored 36 points on the road in the quarters at Clermont Auvergne, no defensive mugs, and boast a dominant pack and an electric backline that are quickly got back into form.

Prediction – Racing 92 by 12, but close at half time.

Exeter vs Toulouse

The second semi-final would appear to be a far closer tie to predict. Both teams went through the group stages undefeated (Exeter from a tougher group) and are coming into the match in good form after scoring five tries in each of their respective quarters. Whilst it is Exeter’s debut in the final four of the competition, there will be an unfamiliar feeling amongst their opponents as, despite their historic dominance of European rugby, it will be their first semi-final since Toulouse lost to Leinster in 2011. Rob Baxter moved to defuse rising expectations by correctly stating that promotion was their greatest success as a club, but his story may change at the final whistle.  

 Of the four semi-finalists, Toulouse are the side that set the pulses racing the most. The flare and skill level that was the staple diet of French rugby for so much of their history, is being reborn in the South of France. Whilst Northampton exposed some defensive weaknesses against Exeter at the weekend the game will surely be decided by whether Toulouse can do the same. Gut Feel is that Exeter have enough power upfront to dominate the breakdown and slow down the Toulouse attack.

 Prediction – Exeter by 7