European Rugby Champions Cup 2015: Semi-Final Fixtures, Live Stream, Predictions
The four finest teams in European rugby union will square off this weekend, with each desperate to secure their place in the final of the 2015 Champions Cup.
To be dubbed kings of the continent represents a major incentive for the sides involved, with Clermont Auvergne, Saracens, Toulon and Leinster all vying for a spot in the Twickenham showpiece on May 2.
Here’s the full schedule ahead of these two titanic clashes and a closer look at how the action is likely to play out over what should be an engrossing weekend.
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| Match 1 | Clermont Auvergne vs. Saracens | Saturday, Apr. 18 | 3:15 p.m. |
| Match 2 | Toulon vs. Leinster | Sunday, Apr. 19 | 3:15 p.m. |
Live Stream
Match 1: BT Sport Now (UK), beIN Sports Connect (US)
Match 2: Sky Go (UK), beIN Sports Connect (US)
Clermont Auvergne vs. Saracens
In hammering Premiership leaders Northampton 37-5 in the previous round of this competition, Clermont Auvergne made a massive statement.
The French outfit played incisive, effective and daring rugby in that demolition and they’ll be desperate to repeat the trick when welcoming Saracens to the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard this weekend.
Franck Azema's side will have the lingering scent of revenge in their nostrils, too, as Saracens savoured a semi-final triumph over Clermont at this stage last season:
Given the impeccable standards showcased in that cornerstone win over Northampton, it’s a performance that would potentially be tough to replicate for the French side. But Clermont’s centre Jonathan Davies thinks they can still improve further, per the Press Association (via the Guardian):
"The plan is to replicate it. People have been talking about it as the complete performance, especially in the first half. But I noticed during the game that as a squad we have so much quality we should expect to deliver that sort of intensity, accuracy and execution on the ball.
It was no surprise to me that we delivered a performance like that.
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It’s a game that represents a huge opportunity for each side. On myriad occasions these two have come close to lifting the ultimate prize, but when it comes to the crunch, the burden of expectation seems to weigh heavy on the shoulders of these star-studded squads.
With that in mind, the home support should sway this one in Clermont’s favour. They have some major momentum behind them in this competition and have the quality required to overcome a Sarries team that is undeniably talented but perhaps not as exciting as Clermont.
Prediction: Clermont Auvergne 23-15 Saracens
Toulon vs. Leinster
Not too dissimilar to the aforementioned duo, both Toulon and Leinster will renew their rivalry in the Champions Cup, after the French outfit toppled the Irish side at the quarter-final stage in 2014. It was a result that paved the way for Toulon to be crowned kings of Europe for the second consecutive season.
On the cusp of this semi-final at the Stade Velodrome, the signs are looking ominous once again when it comes to the reigning champions. Indeed, Leinster fly-half Jimmy Gopperth hailed Toulon as the finest side on the planet at the moment but thinks his team can learn from last season’s 29-14 loss, per Brendan Fanning of the Guardian:
"There was a lot of opportunities we left out there. We didn’t play well and yet 60-odd minutes in we were still in touch with them.
So we’re going to take a lot of lessons out of that game and a lot of positives but we’re going down to their patch and they are probably the best team in the world at the moment, with all the superstars. It’s going to be a hell of a task but we will give it every shot.
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Toulon certainly boast a staggering array of quality within their ranks, including dangerous backs such as Delon Armitage, Bryan Habana and Mathieu Bastareaud. In addition, given the nexus of this squad has been involved in their previous triumphs, they know what’s needed to get over the line at this stage of the competition.
If they are going to win, they may have to do so without one of their talismanic figures, though, as noted by BBC Sport:
Even without Leigh Halfpenny, it’s tough to see anything other than a comfortable Toulon victory. While Leinster have an excellent European pedigree and a strong pack bristling with Irish internationals like Jamie Heaslip and Cian Healy, the panache and power the reigning champions boast in their back line will be too much for the visitors to handle.
To stand any chance, the Irish outfit must get a foothold in the game at the breakdown. But over the course of 80 minutes, Toulon will have too much up front, too much speed out wide and too much strength in depth.
Prediction: Toulon 27-18 Leinster
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