EPCR Challenge Cup Quarter-Final Preview

There is no English representation left in this year’s EPCR Challenge Cup, but with three sides from France, two from Wales, and one each from Italy, Scotland and South Africa, there is an eclectic mix of teams remaining in Europe’s second tier.

Scarlets vs Clermont (Friday, 8pm)

Despite sitting 13^th in the URC, Scarlets have been excellent since the turn of the year.

Last week’s 19-7 win over Brive in the round-of-16 backed up their perfect run in the pool stages and Dwayne Peel’s side are now unbeaten in their last seven home games in all competitions. 

Alongside recent wins over the Sharks and the Bulls in the URC, the Welshmen are genuine contenders in the Challenge Cup.

However, they’ll have to go up another level this week as three-time Challenge Cup winners Clermont visit Parc y Scarlets on Friday night.

Clermont were bumped out of the Champions Cup in the group stages after recording just one win from their four group games.

That left them with a round-of-16 visit to the West Country as Christophe Urios’ side took on an in-form Bristol Bears. 

An impressive 33-26 win, in which they lost just one ruck all game, behind Damian Penaud’s dazzling performance leaves them as tournament dark horses heading into this week.

Toulon vs Lyon (Tomorrow, 12:30pm)

Saturday features an all-French rematch of last year’s Challenge Cup final with Toulon out to exact revenge against an in-form Lyon.

Lyon’s 30-12 victory in last year’s final secured their first-ever European title, and their first major title in nearly 90 years.

Despite clinching a spot in the Champions Cup, Pierre Mignoni’s side only managed one win from their four games against Saracens and the Bulls, dropping them back into the Challenge Cup.

However, they enter this quarter-final tie with momentum. Lyon have won six of their last eight games, including a superb win away from home last week against Stade Francais in the round-of-16.

Toulon are also on a red-hot run. The four-time Challenge Cup runners-up have won eight of their last nine games in all competitions and seven on the spin at home.

Having not qualified for the Champions Cup after a poor domestic campaign last season, Toulon have looked a class above with four wins over Bayonne and Bath in the pool stages before a comfortable win over the Cheetahs last week.

The tournament favourites certainly have an air of confidence ahead of this clash, heightened by the fact that they beat Lyon in the Top 14 just over two weeks ago, but will be without superstar winger Cheslin Kolbe who suffered a long-term foot injury in their win over Lyon.

Benetton vs Cardiff (Tomorrow, 3pm)

The sour taste of Benetton’s 69-21 win over Cardiff on the final day of last season still lingers for Dai Young’s men as they head to Italy looking to avenge their loss.

Benetton have never gone further than the quarter-final stage in any European tournament, but following last week’s 41-19 thumping of Connacht, the Italians have a chance to make history.

After dropping their opening group game, Benetton recorded three wins in a row to reach the knockout stages and have grown tremendously as the tournament has gone on.

Nine Italian internationals reside in the starting lineup, including captain Michele Lamaro, whilst former Wasps duo Jacob Umaga and Marcus Watson also feature.

They’ll face a Cardiff side full of confidence after Jarrod Evans’ late penalty secured a thrilling win over Sale Sharks in the round-of-16.

This week will no doubt be the biggest test of the campaign for the two-time Challenge Cup winners, but with Taulupe Faletau, Josh Adams and Mason Grady headlining a strong side, confidence will be flowing throughout the squad.

Glasgow Warriors vs Emirates Lions (Tomorrow, 8pm)

The closing quarter-final clash features the only South African side remaining in the competition as the Lions travel to Scotstoun to take on a beaming Glasgow side.

The Warriors have been in sensational form this season and they’ve only lost one of their last 14 games and sit fourth in the URC.

The Glaswegians were rampant last week. They piled on 73 points against the Dragons with hooker Johnny Matthews becoming the first-ever player to score five tries in a game for the club in their record-breaking win. 

The reintroduction of Scottish internationals into Franco Smith’s side has provided a shot of momentum and 12 of them feature in the starting lineup this week, including dynamic centre pairing – Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones.

Glasgow have never reached the semi-finals of a European competition, and with the Lions making the longwinded journey from South Africa this week, they have never had a better chance to break that duck.

However, the South Africans come in as the only side that have beaten Glasgow in the last four months and are looking to create history themselves.

Bidding to become the first South African winners of the Challenge Cup, the Lions have been excellent in their inaugural campaign. They backed up their two wins and a draw in the group stage with a resounding 51-28 against Racing 92 in Johannesburg last week.

However, this is a different kettle of fish. Glasgow haven’t lost a home game in 14 months, so this week requires a special effort if Ivan van Rooyen’s side are to provide the upset of the weekend. 

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