The action started on Friday night as Bristol Bears brushed aside Dragons in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals with a scintillating display from the hosts at Ashton Gate. Rugby fans can book Springboks Vs British And Irish Lions Tickets on our website on exclusively discounted prices.
Saracens then produced a stunning display to end Leinster’s
undefeated season in a rematch of last season’s Champions Cup final, with the
visitors winning 25-17 in Dublin.
Meanwhile, Edinburgh and Scarlets were knocked out by French
Top 14 outfits Bordeaux Begles and Toulon, respectively, while Ulster suffered
a similar fate against Toulouse. The weekend’s action concluded with an
all-English battle at Sandy Park, where Exeter Chiefs stormed into the
Champions Cup semi-finals with victory over Northampton Saints.
ITOJE
INTENSITY ROCKS LEINSTER
The meeting between reigning champions Saracens and last
year’s beaten finalists Leinster at the Aviva Stadium was always marked out as
the game of the weekend. And it certainly didn’t fail to deliver as gluttony of
British & Irish Lions featured for both teams in the quarter-final
showdown, which ended in victory for the clinical visitors.
2017 tourist Maro Itoje was among those who enhanced his
reputation, with the second-rower at the heart of Saracens’ outstanding
defensive effort against the men in blue. Elliot Daly also impressed with two
huge penalties to put the visitors 22-3 ahead at half-time, while Mako
Vunipola’s herculean scrummaging and 16 tackles were just as influential.
The Irish province responded after the break with tries from
Andrew Porter and Jordan Larmour, with Johnny Sexton converting, but it
ultimately proved too little, too late. Sunday’s Champions Cup finale then saw
another Lion land a telling blow as Jack Nowell demonstrated his quick feet to
beat multiple defenders and score against Northampton Saints.
Nowell’s score just after the restart allowed the hosts to
stretch their lead at Sandy Park and despite strong resistance from Saints,
Exeter emerged triumphant 38-15 to reach the last four of Europe’s premier
competition for the first time in their history.
EARL
OF ASHTON GATE
There is already a wealth of options for Warren Gatland to
choose from in the back row for the 2021 Tour but it looks like Ben Earl’s name
could be added to the list. Earl has made a huge impact for Bristol Bears since
joining on loan from Saracens and he was right in the thick of the action again
during their thumping win over Dragons.
While two-time Lions tourist Jamie Roberts was making his
debut for Dragons, it was Earl who deserved all the headlines for his double in
the 56-17 victory at Ashton Gate. The 22-year-old benefitted from a superbly
worked move by Semi Radradra and Charles Piutau for his opening score, racing
over for Bristol’s second try after Dragons had started brightly.
Radradra then combined with the openside again minutes later
before Earl slipped past Jordan Williams with a magnificent sidestep and
crossed for his second of the evening.
KOLBE
A CLASS ABOVE AGAIN
French teams enjoyed a successful weekend in both European
competitions as Racing 92, Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Toulon all secured their
safe passage to the last four stages. Finn Russell, another 2017 tourist,
pulled the strings expertly for Racing 92 as they overcame fellow Top 14 side,
Clermont – including the key pass for Louis Dupichot’s opening try.
Elsewhere, three-time tourist Leigh Halfpenny, who was
player of the series in 2013, showed his class despite Scarlets slipping to a
narrow 11-6 defeat to Toulon. Halfpenny kicked a couple of penalties and denied
a certain try with a last-ditch tackle but Italian giant Sergio Parisse’s try
ultimately proved the difference in France.
But it was Cheslin Kolbe’s performance for Toulouse that
will have drawn the attention of Lions fans, with the South African winger
scoring another brace in his side’s 36-8 win over Ulster.
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