5 Bold Predictions for Rugby Champions Cup Semi-Finals
Four teams remain in the hunt for this season's European Rugby Champions Cup, and this weekend's semi-final slate sees Saracens take on Wasps, while Leicester Tigers look to oust Racing 92 from the competition.
The giants of England and France have dominated the knockout stages of the tournament, and we're guaranteed to have at least one side from the Aviva Premiership lining up in Lyon next month.
A collection of titanic European powers have fallen by the wayside in sensational fashion already, and the surprises could keep coming this weekend as the continental spotlight turns toward English shores.
Looking to the semi-final matchups, we provide five bold predictions for the last four as Europe's elite make their last dash for the 2015-16 Champions Cup curtain call.
1. No Tries in Nottingham
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Leicester Tigers exuded a ravenous look en route to their 41-13 thumping of Stade Francais a fortnight ago, and they find themselves up against even tougher French opposition in the shape of Paris monolith Racing on Sunday.
Vereniki Goneva went over twice in that quarter-final clash to account for a third of the Tigers' six-try haul, and the Champions Cup recently attested to Richard Cockerill's side having the most tries of any team in the tournament so far (30).
But Racing are a different beast, a team that limited defending European champions Toulon to 72 scoreless minutes in their quarter and conceded the fewest points of any team in the pool stage (70).
Young hooker Harry Thacker (pictured) helped lead Leicester to a hugely valuable 30-24 at Northampton Saints last Saturday, and the Tigers may well consider themselves favourites at Nottingham's City Ground.
Cockerill's men have scored at least two tries in each of their home European matches this weekend, but a drilled Racing team has proved itself capable of frustrating foes this season, foreign territory or not.
2. Wasps Sting Sarries in Extra Time
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The inaugural Champions Cup campaign treated us to an extra-time semi-final between Toulon and Leinster, and we're backing history to repeat itself when Saracens meet Wasps at Reading's Madejski Stadium on Saturday.
Just four points separates the two teams at the top of the Premiership, with their places in the play-offs already sealed, giving each team license to give their semi-final clash everything they've got.
Ex-England back Austin Healey told BT Sport's Rugby Tonight that Wasps' aerial game will be a major factor in whether they can turn Mark McCall's 2014 finalists over in Reading, and they certainly have the talent to do so.
While Wasps' attack is mighty, Saracens' defence may be considered their greatest threat, and Saturday's tie appears as a prime example of the unstoppable force meeting the immovable object.
Over the space of 80 minutes, those two powers could well cancel each other out and force extra time in the semi-finals for the second season in succession, with head coach Dai Young's side taking the victory.
3. Charles Piutau Collects Man of the Match at Madejski
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Charles Piutau's one and only season with Wasps has been a revelation, the only downside being he'll depart for Irish outfit Ulster at the end of the campaign, as has been known since before he moved to Coventry.
The New Zealand international demonstrated his importance to the cause with a two-try display against Exeter Chiefs, with the latter of those scores, along with Jimmy Gopperth's conversion, sealing a last-gasp 25-24 win.
Piutau was unsurprisingly awarded man of the match for that display, and the in-form speedster will once again have a vital role to play against Saracens.
Not only should Wasps be taken up for an underdog upset, but expect to see Piutau once again revel in the occasion, contribute to the scoreline and collect another man-of-the-match gong as Wasps head through.
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4. Dan Carter Can't Salvage Racing Result
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After going through a period of uncertainty following injury to the fly-half, Racing confirmed on Friday that star playmaker Dan Carter will start against Leicester on Sunday, per the club's official Twitter account.
It's been a whirlwind first season back in Europe for the the 2015 World Rugby Player of the Year, but even Carter's brilliance won't be enough to push the Parisian outfit through to the Lyon finale.
Expect the Kiwi superstar to contribute a large bulk, if not all of Racing's points in their trip to Nottingham—as long as he stays fit—but Leicester's attacking threat will be enough to give Freddie Burns the means to kick the Tigers to a win.
5. It's 2007 All over Again
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Racing 92 have a big weight on their shoulders as they hope to keep France in Europe's premier competition, but the challenge of a semi-final in England against a flying Leicester team will likely prove too great.
Not since 2007 have we had an all-English European final, and who were the teams who made up the climax in Twickenham all those years ago? Leicester Tigers and the then-named London Wasps, of course.
Saracens have been the Premiership's form team in recent years, and Racing have every reason to be confident heading into the semis, boasting one of the most star-filled squads in the northern hemisphere.
However, in a year where Conor McGregor suffered his first defeat in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and Leicester City are on track to win the Premier League, it's time for the underdog to rise in rugby, too.
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