After a long break, the Anglo-French European Champions Cup returns this weekend for the knockout stages – here are our Quarter-Final previews.

Wasps vs Exeter Chiefs

The weekend begins in insatiable style, with a game between two of the Premiership’s most entertaining teams to watch. Much has been written of Wasps’ incredible rise up the table, and the quality of rugby they have been playing in doing so, but it’s easy to forget that Exeter romped to victory at the Ricoh Arena earlier in the season. They will travel with no fear whatsover. There are personal battles to savour all over the pitch, but Elliot Daly against Henry Slade (returning to the ground where he broke his leg) in the outside centre channel will be box office.

It takes a brave man to bet against Wasps at the moment. And yet… they have to stop winning at some stage. They love to play a quick game, so Exeter’s defence will have to be at its very best. Their victory here in the league was based on brute power, rolling their way over for a handful of tries from mauls. Do that again, and they can cause an upset. Exeter by 2.

Saracens vs Northampton Saints

The second all English affair is a rivalry that is rapidly becoming one of the best in the league. Saracens and Northampton aren’t traditional foes, but they have faced off so frequently in recent times that they are the best of enemies. And much like Exeter going to Wasps, Northampton have an unusually good record at Allianz Park, with some notable victories there in recent times – including a win by five points a little over a month ago.

But that was against a Saracens team without its England stars. Since they have been reabsorbed into the team, Sarries have hit the unstoppable heights they set at the beginning of the season, with Owen Farrell once again playing like a man possessed. And although Northampton have developed as the season has unfolded, it’s extremely difficult to see them getting a win over the side that must be the current favourites to lift the trophy. Saracens by 9.

Leicester Tigers vs Stade Français

Sunday’s first game is the only one of the weekend that actually features teams from two different nations. Leicester and Stade met in the pool stages, but much water has passed under the bridge since then. The Tigers are playing some glorious rugby at the moment, but seem to have completely forgotten how to defend (or more likely, they are struggling to adjust to the ways of new defence coach Scott Hansen). Stade, meanwhile, are wallowing dangerously close to the relegation zone in the Top 14, which will mean one of two things: they throw this game as they focus on league survival, or they go out with nothing to lose and express themselves as they forget about their league woes for a weekend.

It will more likely be the latter, and we could be in for an open game at Welford Road. The back-lines include the likes of Veainu, Betham, Tuilagi, Goneva, Vuidarvuwalu, Camara and Danty, so it should be a lot of fun. At Welford Road, you have to make the Tigers slight favourites. Leicester by 5.

Racing 92 vs Toulon

And last but by no means least we come that unique French derby between the two clubs with the biggest chequebooks in the lands, and owners with the biggest egos to boot. Toulon have bragging rights coming into the game, having beaten Racing at their home ground not two weeks ago, but owner Mourad Boudjellal has taken the bizarre step of announcing that the game is already lost for his side. Quite how that motivates the players, no-one is quite sure. Matt Giteau wears 10 for the visitors, and he lines up opposite Dan Carter for Racing – probably the most exciting one-on-one duel you are going to see this season.

Toulon may have won here recently, but it was the exception to a pretty poor run of form that they are in, including a home loss to Clermont last weekend. No-one is doubting their ability to turn it on for the big occasion, however, particularly looking at some of the names in their team. But there is the sense that Racing are fed-up of being the nearly men when compared with their more illustrious rivals from the South, and having been knocked out with a last gasp kick at this stage last season, they should go at least one further this year. Racing by 6.

How do you see the weekend going? Leave your thoughts below.

By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images