European Rugby Champions Cup semi-finals: 5 things we learned

1. Fine margins

As is so often the case, both semi-finals hinged on one moment, so fine are the margins which decide games with players under such intense pressure. In an ideal scenario, it would always be a moment of genius befitting of the occasion. Take Brock James’ clever chip which sat up nicely for Wesley Fofana to score the decisive try in the first semi-final. James recognised that both Wigglesworth and Goode were out of position and he executed the little dink to perfection. On the flip side are the costly errors. And Ian Madigan will rue that decision to throw a wild miss pass into the welcoming arms of Bryan Habana. A little too overeager to make Leinster’s extra man count with Ali Williams in the bin, Madigan presented a gift to Habana who has made a career of taking interceptions of just that ilk.

2. Close but no cigar

Both Leinster and Saracens came within a whisker’s breadth of taking unlikely wins in France, or as close as you could possibly have imagined with thorough but admittedly limited game plans. Despite the massive budgets of Toulon, Clermont and others in the Top 14, the margins remain incredibly small, and don’t look like expanding despite fears. English teams, some more than others, can keep up with the big spending French with the increase in the salary cap, while Ulster and Munster have recently demonstrated their intentions in the market with a couple of marquee signings of their own. Toulon in particular are strong, yet Leinster could quite easily have taken their place at Twickenham despite scoring only one try in 180 minutes of knockout rugby, I firmly believe that the gap isn’t as massive as some would have you believe. No doubt the #MOCout campaign will focus on their creative failings but he deserves credit for almost pulling off a result which was allegedly cast in stone before the game kicked off in Marseilles.

3. There for the taking

A third successive European success is within their grasp but Toulon are currently miles from their best, and their grip on European silverware looks less secure than it has in the two previous seasons when nothing could stand in their way. Though the slippery conditions contributed to some of the erroneous play by both sides, Toulon were as ineffective as I have seen them in a long time for large parts. In what was a scrappy game, those in rouge et noir were guilty on numerous occasions of ill discipline which could have cost them on another day. Bakkies Botha was fortunate not to spend 10 minutes in the bin for a string of blatant offences right under the nose of Wayne Barnes in the first quarter, while Ali Williams was punished accordingly after playing the role of the lumberjack in bringing down Devin Toner in the air. Not a malicious offence, but it was indicative of their discipline in the game. Conditions didn’t exactly encourage running rugby and semi-finals aren’t usually known for it, but the lack of ambition from both sides was a little disappointing. Freddie Michalak looked disgruntled to be replaced in the second half; he didn’t have his best day, but frankly his options were often lacking, with lazy runners in the midfield offering little in the way of support to the diminutive half-back. His last contribution, a nothing garryowen with a half-hearted chase of his own very much summed up his, and Toulon’s, afternoon with ball in hand.

4. International intrigue

Joe Schmidt, in attendance at Marseille, and Stuart Lancaster will have been interested observers this weekend. From an Irish perspective, only Mike McCarthy starting in Leinsters pack wouldn’t be considered first line in the Ireland eight, and he did himself no harm with a first-rate performance, but Schmidt’s Six Nations-winning pack looks in good shape, as to a man they excelled against an ageing but formidable Toulon pack. Jordi Murphy stood out playing at blindside, a position currently occupied in the Irish pack by Peter O’Mahony, but a fit again Murphy looks like a capable deputy not only there but right across the back-row. As an aside, should Stuart Lancaster decide to make Steffon Armitage an ‘exception’ then we can hopefully look forward to the renewal of his battle with Sean O’Brien which was a highlight of this contest. On the English side, a lot of mid-week chat centered on the outstanding form of Nick Abendanon, another of the Englishmen abroad making a case for national inclusion. On the day, however, it was a home-based fullback who came up with the goods; Alex Goode. The Saracens fullback was exceptional, perhaps playing with a point to prove with Abendanon making the headlines, but it certainly leaves you questioning whether there is the necessity to make ‘exceptions’ when the depth in English rugby is quite strong as it is. Maro Itoje was another to impress, on his first European start. This World Cup probably comes a year too soon but his display of power in the back-row and second-row against Clermont could yet see him emerge as a late contender or a reserve to cover injuries, nonetheless he’s definitely one to blood as soon as possible.

5. Choking no more

The perpetual choker, a bottler on the big occasions – sportsmen and women sometimes cruelly get labelled as such. Brock James had that reputation up until tea time on Saturday evening, but not anymore. Not only did he provide the outstanding moment of skill in the game with that clever chip which completely changed the complexion of the game and essentially proved to be the match-winner, but it was a nerveless display in a cauldron of pressure. Returning from injury, French international ten Camille Lopez sat on the bench presumably in case another James catastrophe was forthcoming, but on the bench he remained as the Australian out-half showed no signs of bottling, but instead delivered a flawless display with the boot and rightfully took home the plaudits and a man of the match award. With Lopez back in the picture, it’ll be a big decision as to who gets the nod for the final.

By Dave Blair (@viscount_dave)

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images