Champions Cup, Quarterfinals - teams and predictions
PREVIEW: The latest chapter in Munster’s storied relationship with the Champions Cup takes place on Saturday as the two-time champions head to Bordeaux-Begles in the quarterfinals.
Last Saturday, Jack Crowley kicked a late drop goal in a dramatic 25-24 win at La Rochelle, coached by Munster icon Ronan O’Gara, in front of thousands of vocal, red-clad travelling fans to reach the quarters.
This weekend, the 2006 and 2008 winners, who have only failed to reach the knock-outs four times since the turn of the century, go to Stade Chaban-Delmas to face the locals’ star-studded back-line including France wingers Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey.
“Bordeaux-Begles look to play a little bit more chaotic than La Rochelle,” Munster defence coach Denis Leamy told reporters.
“These sort of players are very special players and they get them into spaces where they get really threatening and really effective, so that’s a challenge for us,” he added.
Bordeaux-Begles finished the group stages as top seeds, crossing 33 times in four games and are eyeing a first semifinal since 2021, having only been founded 19 years ago.
They beat Ulster 43-31 last weekend as Penaud scored a record-equalling 11th try in one Champions Cup campaign.
#NEWS: Munster win appeal ahead of Champions Cup quarterfinal 👇#ChampionsCup #Bordeaux #Munster #BORvMUN https://t.co/7m5wHCprzJ
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) April 10, 2025
“Anyone who’s watched them right throughout the European Cup would be really impressed by what they’ve done over the last season,” Leamy said.
“Their instinct to play running, attacking rugby, to create any sort of opportunity into a score, that’s really strong.
“I think that’s something that you have to admire and it’s for us to try and shut them down,” the former Munster and Ireland back-rower added.
That does not sound pleasant 😬https://t.co/yGvDYEmkTl
🌐#Rugby365 #EDIvBUL #ChallengeCup
ADVERTISEMENT— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) April 10, 2025
‘Tricks’
After crossing paths with O’Gara last time out, another former Munster flyhalf awaits the Irish side in the next round.
Joey Carbery, who started against Ulster before limping off early in the second half, spent six seasons in western Ireland before moving to France in 2024.
“He’s somebody we know very well,” Leamy said.
“We know all the qualities that he will bring and the tricks that he possesses,” he added.
Elsewhere, four-time winners Leinster host Glasgow on Friday having trounced Harlequins 62-0 thanks to an influential Sam Prendergast.
The Scottish side, United Rugby Championship holders, have never reached the top-tier competition’s last four and will be missing flanker Henco Venter due to suspension.
Castres head to Northampton in their first Champions Cup quarterfinal since 2002 but will be without centre Adrien Seguret, who has been banned for three weeks for a high tackle in the last 16 win over Treviso.
On Sunday, holders Toulouse travel to three-time champions Toulon, who are hosting a Champions Cup quarterfinal for the first time since winning a third straight title in 2015.
Toulouse’s last 16 win over Sale on Sunday was delayed for more than 40 minutes after a parachutist was stuck on the stadium roof before being rescued, with tournament organisers inviting the individual to a future match to make up for his bad luck.
Saturday, April 12
Bordeaux-Begles v Munster
(Stade Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux – Kick-off: 16.00; 14.00 GMT; 15.00 UK time)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Bordeaux-Begles by three points
Teams:
Bordeaux-Begles: 15 Jon Echegaray, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Yoram Moefana, 12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Matthieu Jalibert, 9 Maxime Lucu (captain), 8 Pete Samu, 7 Guido Petti, 6 Mahamadou Diaby, 5 Cyril Cazeaux, 4 Adam Coleman, 3 Ben Tameifuna, 2 Maxime Lamothe, 1 Jefferson Poirot
Replacements: 16 Connor Sa, 17 Matis Perchaud, 18 Sipili Falatea, 19 Pierre Bochaton, 20 Marko Gazzotti, 21 Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, 22 Yann Lesgourgues, 23 Pablo Uberti
Munster: 15 Thaakir Abrahams, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Tom Farrell, 12 Alex Nankivell, 11 Andrew Smith, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Craig Casey, 8 Gavin Coombes, 7 John Hodnett, 6 Peter O’Mahony, 5 Tadhg Beirne (captain), 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Oli Jager, 2 Diarmuid Barron, 1 Josh Wycherley
Replacements: 16 Niall Scannell, 17 Mark Donnelly, 18 Stephen Archer, 19 Fineen Wycherley, 20 Tom Ahern, 21 Conor Murray, 22 Seán O’Brien, 23 Alex Kendellen
Referee: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia)
Assistant Referees: Ben Whitehouse (Wales), Ben Breakspear (Wales)
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)
Northampton Saints v Castres
(Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton – Kick-off: 17.30; 16.00 GMT; 18.30 France time)
Head-to-Head
Last 2 Meetings
Prediction
@rugby365com: Northampton by eight points
Northampton Saints: 15 James Ramm, 14 Tommy Freeman, 13 Burger Odendaal, 12 Fraser Dingwall (captain), 11 George Hendy, 10 Fin Smith, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Henry Pollock, 6 Josh Kemeny, 5 Alex Coles, 4 Temo Mayanavanua, 3 Trevor Davison, 2 Curtis Langdon, 1 Emmanuel Iyogun
Replacements: 16 Henry Walker, 17 Tom West, 18 Elliot Millar-Mills, 19 Tom Lockett, 20 Tom Pearson, 21 Tom James, 22 Rory Hutchinson, 23 George Furbank
Castres: 15 Theo Chabouni, 14 Geoffrey Palis, 13 Vilimoni Botitu, 12 Jack Goodhue, 11 Rémy Baget, 10 Louis le Brun, 9 Jeremy Fernandez, 8 Abraham Papalii, 7 Baptiste Delaporte, 6 Mathieu Babillot, 5 Leone Nakarawa, 4 Gauthier Maravat, 3 Will Collier, 2 Gaetan Barlot, 1 Quentin Walker
Replacements: 16 Loris Zarantonello, 17 Lois Guerois-Galisson, 18 Aurelien Azar, 19 Simon Meka, 20 Romain Macurdy, 21 Baptiste Cope, 22 Santiago Arata, 23 Julien Dumora
Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Gianluca Gnecchi (Italy), Morne Ferreira (South Africa)
TMO: Stefano Roscini (Italy)
Sunday, April 13
Toulon v Toulouse
(Stade Mayol, Toulon – Kick-off: 16.00; 14.00 GMT)
Head-to-Head
Last 5 Meetings
Prediction
@rugby365com: Toulouse by five points
Teams:
Toulon: 15 Melvyn Jaminet, 14 Gaël Drean, 13 Leicester Fainga’anuku, 12 Jérémy Sinzelle, 11 Gabin Villiere, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Baptiste Serin, 8 Facundo Isa, 7 Esteban Abadie, 6 Lewis Ludlam, 5 Brian Alainu’uese, 4 David Ribbans (captain), 3 Beka Gigashvili, 2 Teddy Baubigny, 1 Dany Priso
Replacements: 16 Mickael Ivaldi, 17 Jean-Baptiste Gros, 18 Emerick Setiano, 19 Swan Rebbadj, 20 Matteo le Corvec, 21 Ben White, 22 Marius Domon, 23 Selevasio Tolofua
Toulouse: 15 Thomas Ramos, 14 Juan Cruz Mallia, 13 Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12 Pita Ahki, 11 Blair Kinghorn, 10 Romain Ntamack, 9 Paul Graou, 8 Alexandre Roumat, 7 Jack Willis, 6 François Cros, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Dorian Aldegheri, 2 Julien Marchand (captain), 1 Cyril Baille
Replacements: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Rodrigue Neti, 18 Joel Merkler, 19 Clement Verge, 20 Anthony Jelonch, 21 Naoto Saito, 22 Paul Costes, 23 Matthis Lebel
Referee: Matthew Carley (England)
Assistant Referees: Karl Dickson (England), Hamish Smales (England)
TMO: Andrew Jackson (England)
Source: AFP
