When is it, where is it on, who else is playing this weekend?
Leinster face Toulouse in the semi-final of the European Rugby Champions Cup this Saturday, April 29th. Kick-off is at 3pm in the Aviva Stadium. In the competition’s other semi-final, fixed for 3pm on Sunday, La Rochelle take on Exeter at the Matmut Atlantique in Bordeaux.
How can I watch it?
RTÉ 2′s free-to-air live coverage of the match begins at 2pm, and it’ll also be shown on BT Sport. The Irish Times will be covering the match across the weekend, with live-blogs, match reports, reaction and analysis.
What’s happened in the competition so far?
Leinster haven’t missed a beat in the Champions Cup this season. They breezed through the opening rounds, dispatching of Pool A opposition Gloucester and Racing 92 – both at home and on the road – at a canter. As the competition amped up, in the last-16, Leinster adapted to a wet surface at the Aviva Stadium in early April to beat Ulster 30-15. Leicester, their quarter-final opponents, didn’t pose much of a threat – the province scored six tries on the way to a 55-24 victory.
Toulouse are also undefeated in the competition this year. They held out against Munster in Thomond Park on their first outing last December, and have grown into the competition since. They also scored 50-plus points in their quarter-final tie: a 54-20 win over Cell C Sharks at home.
What happened the last time?
Leinster and Toulouse also met at this stage of the Champions Cup last year. A sublime Leinster performance dethroned the then-defending champions, with Hugo Keenan, Josh van der Flier and James Lowe all crossing the try-line to help run up a statement scoreline of 40-17. Leinster would ultimately lose out in the 2022 Champions Cup final, undone by Ronan O’Gara’s La Rochelle.
What are Leinster’s chances?
This is a season defining clash for both clubs, and given the gravity of the occasion, variables will be at play. This is not a cut-and-dry affair.
“When it comes down to it, it’s 15 blokes against another 15 blokes on the pitch,” Toulouse lock Jack Willis said. “An incredible atmosphere ... but I’m sure there will be a few Toulouse supporters heading there as well.”
Leinster are favourites, top seeds, and on paper, should win. This is despite the conclusion of Leinster’s 17-game unbeaten run at the weekend, when they fell to Bulls, 62-7, in the United Rugby Championship.
But Toulouse, five-time winners of Europe’s top rugby competition, should not be written off. Toulouse secondrow Richie Arnold said this week that his side are much stronger than the team that lost to Leinster in the Champions Cup semi-final last year.
“I think [we’re in a better place],” the Australia international said. “I think we learned a lot from last year’s defeat, just watching them, how they play.”
[ Toulouse have that old European hunger back and that should worry the restOpens in new window ]
Team news
With Robbie Henshaw ruled out with a quad strain picked up in training on Monday, Leo Cullen has been forced to change his midfield as Charlie Ngatai comes in for his first game since the start of January to partner Garry Ringrose. Jimmy O’Brien switches wings to cover the injured James Lowe, with Jordan Larmour coming in on the right.
Ugo Mola has named the same Toulouse starting XV which beat the Sharks 54-20 in the quarter-finals three weeks ago, and all of whom were rested for last weekend’s 19-10 defeat away to Stade Francais.
LEINSTER: Hugo Keenan; Jordan Larmour, Garry Ringrose, Charlie Ngatai, Jimmy O’Brien; Ross Byrne, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong; Ross Molony, James Ryan (capt); Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Jack Conan.
Replacements: John McKee, Cian Healy, Michael Ala’alatoa, Jason Jenkins, Ryan Baird, Luke McGrath, Harry Byrne, Ciarán Frawley.
TOULOUSE: Thomas Ramos; Juan Cruz Mallía, Pierre-Louis Barassi, Pita Ahki, Matthis Lebel; Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont (capt); Cyril Baille, Peato Mauvaka, Dorian Aldegheri; Richie Arnold, Emmanuel Meafou, Jack Willis, Thibaud Flament, Francois Cros.
Replacements: Julien Marchand, Rodrigue Neti, David Ainu’u, Alexandre Roumat, Rynhardt Elstadt, Alban Placines, Paul Graou, Arthur Retiere.
