Who will win the Champions Cup!?

The Champions Cup quarter-finals are...
Leinster vs La Rochelle (5:30pm)
Northampton vs Bulls (8pm)
Bordeaux vs Harlequins (3pm)
Toulouse vs Exeter (3pm - Sunday)
Who is going to win the Champions Cup this year? Leinster and Toulouse will be the favourites but could La Rochelle or Bordeaux spring an upset? Plus, the remaining English sides and the Bulls.
There is also more to discuss, including the continuing logistical issues and to what extent the South African fans care about the competition.

[@thabomazwayi4422]

Im loving it. The competition has quality teams. Especially from the last 16. And the game times are perfect. 🇿🇦🇿🇦🇿🇦🏉🏉🏉

[@kerrylass2]

I put money on Bordeaux to win back in the early pool stages I was so impressed ....and I'm a Leinster fan! Praying I lose my bet . Bagged a ticket today for the match. That fecker O'Gara and la Rochelle flew straight to Cork from Cape town and are there right now plotting our downfall...lol Cmon Leinster.....☘☘☘☘☘

[@hankscorpion9939]

Bloody ROG 😂

[@MU-TH-UR]

As a french, i don't see either Exeter or Quins wining away against Toulouse and UBB. I do love Quins, probably my favourite English side, has been for years, and hopefully this game will be a try feast between 2 electric backlines, but i do think the Bordelais have too much in them and will win in the end. That should be close though, i expect Quins to keep going at it til the very end. St vs UBB : heart says Bordeaux, for i 'd love to see their entertaining game be rewarded at the highest level, but they are unknown quantity at this level of competition and Head says the much more experienced Toulouse to win fair and square. Leinster vs La Rochelle is going to be interesting, it's going to be a mind game between those 2. Hard to predict My money is on Northampton to win it vs Bulls, but not by much. Thats being said i don't see them going past either Lein or LaRog.

[@etiennetavitian3361]

It’s been two years in a row that I say it’s Leinster’s year… so I’ll say it again this year (and yes, I’m French). More seriously, if I were a Leinster fan, I’d be confident… but not serene!

[@justsceptic3085]

collabo!

[@liamwilliams6651]

I've been confident in Leinster every year since 2018 and yet we have came back empty handed every year. So I'm just taking it one game at a time this year 😅

[@Clarkgravel]

@@liamwilliams6651me too man! It‘s knock out rugby - very hard to call. I worry about Leinster closing out games though.

[@lr7694_]

As a french too, since the end of Saracens hegemony I’m afraid of Leinster but I have to admit they didn’t convert it into H cup wins so let’s see. I predict Toulouse-Bordeaux and Leinster-Bulls Then Leinster - Bordeaux in final.

[@anotherstormer]

As a South African I can only speak for myself apart from that the biggest gripe I hear from others is that its difficult to keep track of what competition is on at any given stage. We aren't used to the breaks we see over December and 6N and with the Champion's Cup on now, then URC, then back and forth. But I blame the SA media for not communicating the scheduling very well to some degree and just the general public needing to get used too the NH schedule for the rest. Only other negative for me is reading / hearing every now and again how our sides are not welcome. I mean, I get it even though its not communicated in a.. nice way more often than not. Travel will of course always be tricky for any tournament we participate in given our geographic isolation (in rugby terms- IE relative to other tier 1 rugby nations). Apart from that the pro's for me are more substantial than the con's in terms of the timing of matches being more favorable. And travelling North-South is more favorable then going East-West. And then just ITO pure rugby quality and seeing our sides getting into a position to retain and lure more of our own best players. Though to a large degree that is down to NH sides tightening the budgets as well. And the rivalries are growing. As a Stormers supporter I particularly want to get one over Ulster and Munster just as much as the Sharks. La Rochelle also moving up the "love to hate list" though it'd take something special to depose the Bulls off the top.

[@michaelvdunne]

There is no time change for South African teams. That’s a great help it’s the way they travel is the problem.

[@normanstewart7130]

Toulouse are favourites for me, after all it's a whole three seasons since their last win!. But that depends on whether Dupont is available.

[@kenrehill8775]

He and Romaine are available.

[@willemsteyn7808]

All 3 english teams will get knocked out in qf's. Leinster will smash La Rochelle and go all the way.

[@kennethallen3843]

Northampton to beat the Bulls. SA teams don't travel well

[@willemsteyn7808]

@@kennethallen3843 we'll see, but I have a feeling this Bulls side will not be beaten easily.

[@Obviously-by6jp]

The saints ain’t exactly easily beaten at the gardens either

[@clemfandango619]

OK, Siener.

[@johnlaw4513]

Leinster has a history with La Rochelle we shall see ,however the smart money will be on Toulouse v Leinster final .

[@Nephiism]

La Rochelle also are coming back from SA, after traveling there. I feel it is a disadvantage for them to make this kind of trip

[@finlayD853]

Bordeaux vs Harlequin is going to be like is France played Portugal, both are attacking sides but 2 different levels of sides. Bordeaux should completely outmuscle Quins and maybe even nil them

[@johnlaw4513]

Lucky you didn’t put money on that statement!

[@ryandougall]

Bulls players travelling on separate flights it's crazy that south African teams are in the competition

[@danglybit1]

That's because Investec are sponsers

[@orlandosadie6283]

Its Toulouse to loose against Leinster @ Toulouse SA sides might be on par in URC, but without a bulk of their top players it will be a tough ask to win the CC. Once they are able to host a semi or final; then the carrot might be juicy enough to excel. SA rugby must sort out ridiculous flight schedules. I love the CC because it is the ultimate club comp.

[@normanstewart7130]

Not sure I understand. Toulouse and Leinster can't meet until the final and that's in London.

[@orlandosadie6283]

@@normanstewart7130 I beg your pardon. London it is

[@MetalSonicGames]

May the best wins. While I think the Challenge Cup will not be won by a Top 14 side, I think Stade Toulousain will win the Champions Cup in either a clash of the stars vs. Leinster or vs. Stade Rochelais who can't seem to beat them in big matches. The thing that makes me think Bordeaux would (unfortunately) not get passed Toulouse if they meet in the semis is because out of 13 confrontations vs. other french sides, Toulouse won 12 of them. Clubs like Stade Français, Racing 92, USAP, la Rochelle, Clermont, Biarritz or even Bordeaux knows this all too well. Their only "loss" was a draw 22-22 in the 98 H Cup 1/2 final vs. Brive that they lost in extra-time because Brive scored more tries than them. That stat is mental lmao.

[@pdewaal100]

Part of the solution for logistics is for SA Rugby to come to the funding party so SA teams don’t have to do several legs of travel via Dubai or Doha for play offs. As for SA interest in the competition, the fact that everything from the last 8 must be played in Europe irrespective of rankings is seriously off-putting and unattractive. Unlike the URC where there is a prospect of home advantage all the way to the final.

[@pdewaal100]

The last 4, at least

[@okkertgreyvenstein5765]

I love the champoins cup, it awesome to see all these teams playing against sa teams, with the bulls Lyon game, there were highschool derby games and those games attract between 15k to 25k people come to watch it, its big in pretoria, and it was the same time as the bulls lyon game, look at what happened when it was the north south derby, loftus was full, its still a new comp and we will get used to it, if the bulls go and do well and reach the semis, it will be a great advert for the champoins cup

[@jamesgrey1227]

There were only 7,500 fans at the Bulls V Lyon game, by far the smallest crowd in the round of 16. Apparently there was a schools match on at the same time in Pretoria which attracted some 25,000 fans. Would love to know if this was actually true.

[@user-yk1gs3hs8t]

It's true

[@danglybit1]

Bulls fans need a wake-up call!..god forbid they win this competition!🤣

[@dn822]

Affies against Garsfontejn

[@alexiachamberlin8019]

I was there. The main grandstand was full and I was told there were 15 000 people there

[@danglybit1]

@@alexiachamberlin8019 the oversea commentators raised the issue.

[@georgedavis8691]

Love this competition, glad we are out of Super League. I think SA will take a few years to get the hang of it, but once we do, we will be great competitors. For now: “Go Bulls”!🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@gerardbradygerardb3872]

Leinster missed out the last two years by a point

[@Natedawg38]

Leinster - I stake my entire reputation on it.

[@zebinmarais4697]

The only reason the Bulls don’t stand a chance is because Jake White has already decided they lost the game before the flights! He is famous for it, when he is afraid of good international players as competitors he down talks his players to protect his reputation in case of a loss. In my opinion with a looser mentality why even bother getting on a flight?

[@johnwhite6620]

Realistic not delusional

[@clivenichols5770]

What about Saints ? They are on fire at the moment best attack I have seen for a long time running the ball from everywhere ?

[@jackdooley2911]

Won’t Toulouse be without DuPont for the semifinal and final? That’s right around the time of the Olympics. Anyone know?

[@kenrehill8775]

Final in may, Olympics end of July. No.

[@khanyisagusha4336]

The stadiums would be full in south Africa if all our star players like Malcom and pollard were playing in S.A and not overseas. The cups is still new so it will grow with time.

[@leonswanepoel6899]

The South African teams had even more transport issues and challenges whwn they played Superrugby. I think they will adapt quicket and we could see one of them winning thw Champions Cup sooner than you think.

[@conoroloughlin8249]

Leinster fan. Wont lie this match makes me nervous. They must improve on last weeks performance if they are to get tge win. Take nothing for granted Leinster we all thought would have the better of this side two years in a row take nothing away very close games small margins we could be here saying leinster are rhe most successful team in European history with 6 stars on their jersey but we ain't. They need to use the pain they have felt previously turn that to a positive and close out the last 10 minutes and be 2 scores a head. Here's hoping for a Leinster win take nothing for granted 💙

[@Outlaw-of2lt]

Difficult task for bulls away although they are one of the best at home bulls are brilliant

[@nicolasnott2739]

What do you think about moving Feyi Waboso to 12?

[@alfredreynolds5]

Bold call! See no reason to at the moment. He’s the perfect replacement for Jack Nowell I think. Does so much good work off his wing and is still early in his career. Let him develop on the wing. You?

[@nicolasnott2739]

@@alfredreynolds5 I think he keeps demanding to be a centre. Would be a killer combination with Lawrence for England too.

[@JamesOCallaghan-zk6mt]

Losing James Ryan in last years final in my view was a big problem for Leinster. Having McCarthy this year is great. But would love to have Ryan too

[@thibautmerlin2376]

If Bordeaux beat Harlequins, what will be complicated for them will be to compete in both top14 and champions cup final rounds. I believe they don't have the depth (yet) to compete in both competitions.

[@kenrehill8775]

I’ve just listened to someone say “it could be Toulouse but it could be anyone from 4 teams”, that’s such clinical analysis Alfie, do you get paid for that?

[@alfredreynolds5]

As I say Toulouse and Leinster my favourites. But not writing off Bordeaux and La Rochelle. 👌

[@kenrehill8775]

@@alfredreynolds5 it would be joyous to see another Irish quarter final choke, la Rochelle are more than capable, as we’ve seen the last two years. Leinster are going to have to cancel out the LR forwards, not sure how they can do that.

[@alfredreynolds5]

Yeah I actually agree. It’s funny because I have Leinster as one of my favourites but it’s very possible they lose this weekend.

[@kenrehill8775]

@@alfredreynolds5 not that I’m punching down on ireland by any means………you can’t criticize a nation who’s national team have never lost a rugby World Cup final.

[@michelgandilhon6613]

For me, Leinster are the clear favourites. La Rochelle are playing less well this year. The team is only fifth in the league and lacks physical freshness due to too many games played since the World Cup, whether in the H Cup, VI Nations or Top 14.

[@kenrehill8775]

They’re favourites every year…………….

[@jackkennedy8100]

You don't get jet lag flying north to south.

[@ryanhart6113]

Didn’t super rugby suffer from even worse travelling scenarios when the South African teams were involved?

[@michaelvdunne]

There is big time difference between South Africa and Australia and New Zealand. Not so with Europe and South Africa.

[@jacquescoetzee47]

On paper, yes. But unfortunately South African teams have to fly via Doha and Dubai to get to Europe which essentially means it’s about as bad. The Bulls have to take 8 connecting flights to get to England this weekend.

[@alfredreynolds5]

Yeah for sure.

[@alexandregarcia9726]

​@@jacquescoetzee47 Absolutely not. I've done it many times (more than 10 times probably and from the Cape) and stopping in Dubai is absolutely not a problem. Cannot even compare.

[@nicolaasvanderkruk5029]

A big problem here in South Africa are the times these games are played at. We are used to rugby at 5 and 7 o'clock in the afternoon, not around midday where most of us are busy AND round the same time when school rugby games are being played. I have been to two of the Bulls previous Champions Cup games that were played in the evening and I myself really enjoy the Champions Cup, but I do think South Africans are not yet used to this competition. Also another small factor the sun is scorching hot here in Pretoria and very few people wants to sit in this sun.

[@robw7676]

Notthampton vs Bulls is an 8pm kick off this round.

[@armandlubbe4935]

South African's perspective on the Champions cup: So I think there is a huge buyin into the Champions cup. Last year there was less but just mainly because people were new to it and were still coming to grips on the URC. I think there's a much bigger buyin in the Champions cup this year. The travel problems that South African teams are facing is an issue and I feel the limits placed on what flights are allowed to get etc is just silly and some might say it's even done so intentionally to hamper South African teams: Solution: SARugby should buy/allocate a rugby or rugby private planes for these types of travel situations even if it's just for the big games like Play off matches that are overseas, that way short term notice flights are much easier to arrange and it's direct flight. If SArugby doesn't want to or can't, influential clubs like the bulls with Billionaire Owners Patrick Motsepe and Anton Rupert should provide for their club such a private plane, to help them and have an edge on the travel factor. The other thing mentioned on the crowds in South Africa for the champions cup. So there is a bit of a misunderstanding from outside viewers thinking that there isn't as much interest in the champions cup than the URC and that a South African side needs to win to boost attendence and or gain more traction. The interest and attraction for the match is there, there's just more local factors that played into last weeks attendence numbers. for example the Bulls vs Lyon game, the reason why there wasn't that many people was because of the kick-off time, A) 13:30 on a Saturday is an unusual time for rugby at Loftus for the past 10 years. B) There was a massive school's rugby event nearby with Garstfontein playing against Affies Highschool, and if anyone knows, school rugby in South Africa is also a huge event and the thousands of kids, parents were there instead of the game because they can obviously not ditch their kids or nephew's etc to go and watch the game.C) Lastly in SA, there quite a few people who work on Saturday's as well until 2pm. So if it weren't for these factors there would have been a lot more people at the game. Also there was I think roughly 8000 people at Loftus which is almost capacity crowd for many UK stadiums that I have seen during the URC and Champions cup, the only difference is as you said it just looked emptier because Loftus has a capacity of 50000 people and the people who were there, are sitting in the shaded area because it's 13:30 on a Saturday in South Africa and it was hot haha.

[@danglybit1]

hope you got that off your chest!

[@alexavogadri777]

Exeter 💪

[@readesiun988]

The Bulls match was very hot conditions , cameras on the shady side

[@danglybit1]

Cant see Leinster losing this one!..Bulls LaRoc, Exeter and Quins going home..

[@richard-king-]

The things Leinster did poorly are the things La Rochelle will murder you for. Leinster will need to be much better, or for La Rochelle to be as bad as they were last weekend

[@subbie5498]

how were they bad? beating stormers in cpt is not easy

[@Clarkgravel]

@@subbie5498Maybe mate, but the injuries didn‘t help the Stormers cause. May have turned out differently.

[@danglybit1]

LARoc were less impressive than Leinster...Leinster to win by a big margin!

[@kenrehill8775]

I pray for La Rochelle doing one on Leinster again. No, Bordeaux are not genuine contenders, but they’ll beat quins.

[@danielgriffin9431]

Get the feeling it’s Bordeaux ‘s year .. tho Toulouse Leinster & La Rochelle could prove me wrong 😮

[@kenrehill8775]

No Irish team has a Record of choking at the quarter final stage, ever, ever, ever. You can’t criticise a Nation who’s National team has never lost a World Cup final.

[@subbie5498]

toulouse bordeaux bulls leinster

[@lr7694_]

Totally agree and then Leinster-Bordeaux

[@johnlaw4513]

Lucky you didn’t put money on that

[@normanstewart7130]

Jake White got his excuses in early at the weekend😂

[@thomaspollock5709]

Yes leinster was good but not great which gives the question will they be good enough to hold out Northampton s great power that i watched gives ne feeling leinster will be bullied in dublin with the power Northampton big boys.leinster have big men too but they will have to be better .ill go Leinster 28to 26northamton

[@Kwhyte7]

Exeter, Bordeaux, Leinster and Northampton to make semis. Leinster to beat Bordeaux in the final 😎

[@michaelodonnell824]

There is no way Exeter are going to beat Toulouse in Toulouse

[@Kwhyte7]

@@michaelodonnell824 miracles do happen

[@finlaybarlow7711]

Exeter 🤣🤣🤣🤣. Exeter barley beat Newcastle, they won't even get within 35 points of Toulouse

[@Kwhyte7]

@@finlaybarlow7711 A guy can dream

[@hankscorpion9939]

I'd take that!

[@rainbowman7986]

As a South African, I love the competition. Great format and great teams playing. However, I don't like the South African teams playing in the CC. I would rather let the South African teams focus on the URC and then play Currie Cup when the other URC team play the Champion Cup. Because at the moment SARU wants to cancel the Currie Cup... and as a South African the Currie Cup is more important.

[@jannieconradie8900]

Affies vs Garsfontein school rugby 25000 fans..same time bulls played Lyon.

[@thomasjohnbirks132]

Leinster

[@jannieconradie8900]

Leinster will take this one..

[@Footballassassins]

Don't rule out bordeaux

[@michaelodonnell824]

A key question for the Leinster / La Rochelle match is who is the referee. An advantage that Leinster have is that the overtly anti-Irish Wayne Barnes has retired (Whenever Barnes was refereeing, Irish teams either won by a Cricket score (ie they took the referee out of the equation) or they lost (ie Barnes's bias handicapped them)). Last year, there were some decidedly dodgy decisions that did not favour Leinster... So the referee is incredibly important. If we get a fair and unbiassed referee, then Leinster will probably win. If we get some Barnes acolyte, Leinster may as well not turn up...

[@robw7676]

Barnes wasn't biased against Ireland or Leinster, he just didn't put up with Sexton's gob.

[@michaelodonnell824]

@@robw7676 In the first Irish international match, that Racist, anti-Irish person refereed , gave a yellow card to a Welsh player and it was so obviously a Red that it was upgraded to a Red. After the violent Welsh thug came back on, Barnes showed his TRUE Colours by awarding the Welsh a penalty in front of the Irish posts while simultaneously Carding Stephen Ferris. The citing committee looked at that from all sides. Not only could they not detect any Yellow card offence, they could not even see a penalty offence. Barnes, the Arrogant anti-Irish, Racist, never apologised either to Irish Rugby or personally to Stephen Ferris, because he's an Arrogant, anti Irish, Racist.

[@hankscorpion9939]

As a fan, whenever Barnes was announced as the ref for Ireland or Leinster games, it always felt like we were already a couple of scores down. So glad he is gone.

[@mikecopson6908]

The attendance at Bulls vs Lyon was very poor c8000. The SA teams have fabulous players and are great to watch but there’s utter apathy from the home fans. In contrast, Bordeaux and Northampton were rocking at the weekend and what this tournament is all about. The SA games are a distraction, negative impact on players via travelling and a massive financial headache for anyone travelling / playing there. Europe isn’t here to underpin SA club rugby. The URC should expand Scottish, Italian and expand to Spanish / Portuguese even Georgian club involvement, remove the circus involving SA fixtures. Would be massively better supported and reinstate the integrity of a European club rugby tournament

[@robw7676]

💯

[@clemfandango619]

Don't care as long as its not Leinster.

[@Doritos2011]

Well it will be

[@user-fq5xq4gw3h]

Munster fans cheering for rog again

[@pscot9620]

Rog fan boys .