Today in Sports
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket
  • DMCA
  • Disclaimer
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Contact us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket
No Result
View All Result
Today in Sports
No Result
View All Result

Champions Cup semi-finals: Best head-to-head matchups

May 2, 2025
in Rugby
0
Home Rugby
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter


You might also like

Australia 21-18 Fiji: international rugby union Test – as it happened | Australia rugby union team

Davante Adams Compares Matthew Stafford To Aaron Rodgers

Junior Boks captain hails ‘unbelievable defence’

The Champions Cup semi-finals take place this weekend, and the squad lists look more like Test squads than club ones. 

Leinster hosts Northampton Saints in the first game, while Toulouse travels to Bordeaux Begles for the other. 

All four teams have done incredibly well to get to this point, going on varying journeys with a whole host of teams played. 

Now, it is the best of the best, and this weekend is sure to bring the drama. 

Here, Charlie Elliott goes through some of the best matchups from the two games. 

Sam Prendergast v Fin Smith 

This one goes without saying. Two young and extremely talented fly-halves who will be hoping to be on the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia this summer. 

Both are different players, with Prendergast being more of a livewire that has been questioned for his lack of defensive capability, while Smith is a much more consistent player who seems to not be fazed by anything that is thrown at him. 

Alongside their half-back partners, Jamison Gibson-Park and Alex Mitchell, it is effectively a Test quality match. 

With Andy Farrell only expected to take three number tens on the tour, there may only be enough space for one of these talents, and whoever comes out on top in this huge game will do their chances a world of good. 

James Lowe v Tommy Freeman 

Two outstanding wingers in their own right, this could again be a battle that has a huge say on Lions selection. 

Freeman has been outstanding all season despite Saints’ struggles, coming up with some magnificent moments and playing to his strengths. 

The England international is more of an ariel threat and a power play, which is similar to Lowe in that both of their running is extremely explosive. 

Kiwi-born Ireland international Lowe is more of an all-round player, often being used for his playmaking ability as much as his skills on the wing. 

Similar heights and both pretty bulky , both can send  huge statement to Andy Farrell with a big performance. 

Tadhg Furlong v Emmanuel Iyogun 

Both Furlong and Iyogun are very well-rounded players considering they are props, so this will not only be a battle of scrummaging but also will be about who can impact around the pitch. 

They are similar players in many ways, powerful and strong set-piece wise, but also always looking for touches on the ball to make some powerful runs forward. 

Iyogun has a few inches advantage height wise, but sometimes that is not always the best attribute for a prop to have. 

With Furlong being 32 years old and Iyogun only 24, the Ireland international trumps him in terms of experience. 

The Saints prop has a lot of potential, and this game may see him realise that. 

Guido Petti v Jack Willis 

Bordeaux’s game against Toulouse will see some of the best players in the world face off against each other and picking just a few matchups was incredibly hard. 

Petti v Willis on the flanks could be the key battle in which this game is won, forwards-wise at least. 

Willis is captain of Toulouse and has been unbelievable all season, he makes every aspect of rugby look easy and glides through games week in, week out. 

Petti can play at lock as well as flanker and seems like the perfect player for the Bordeaux forwards, he just keeps things ticking and gets the ball out to the backs brilliantly. 

With the Argentina international joining Harlequins next season, the motivation of going out with a bang in a Bordeaux shirt may see him go up another notch. 

Louis Bielle-Biarrey v Ange Capuozzo 

Pure pace. Bielle-Biarrey and Capuozzo are both wonderful players to watch by virtue of being a couple of the quickest and most agile players in the sport. 

Capuozzo usually finds himself in a 15 shirt, but he will play on the wing against Bordeaux, a position that he is more than comfortable in. 

Meanwhile, Bielle-Biarrey is an out and out winger, who knows where the try-line is and how to score. 

LBB and fellow winger Damian Penaud both start for France, and if the hosts can get the ball out wide to them as much as possible, it could be a long game for Capuozzo and co. 

The Italy international is capable of making something out of nothing, and once he breaks through, there is no chance of catching up. 

But if anyone can, it is Louis Bielle-Biarrey.

READ MORE: Champions Cup and Challenge Cup semi-finals: Fixtures, Where to Watch and Previews



Source link

Tags: ArgentinaAustraliaChampionsChampions CupcupEnglandFeaturedFranceHarlequinsHeadtoHeadIrelandItalyLeinstermatchupsNorthampton SaintsSemifinalsToulouse
Share30Tweet19

Recommended For You

Australia 21-18 Fiji: international rugby union Test – as it happened | Australia rugby union team

by TODAY IN SPORTS
July 6, 2025
0
Australia 21-18 Fiji: international rugby union Test – as it happened | Australia rugby union team

Key eventsShow key events onlyPlease turn on JavaScript to use this featureSummaryBut for now, I’ll leave you with Angus Fontaine’s match report from Newcastle. Thanks for joining me...

Read more

Davante Adams Compares Matthew Stafford To Aaron Rodgers

by TODAY IN SPORTS
July 5, 2025
0
Davante Adams Compares Matthew Stafford To Aaron Rodgers

The Los Angeles Rams made a splash earlier this offseason when they signed Davante Adams to a two-year, $46 million contract at the start of free agency. Adams...

Read more

Junior Boks captain hails ‘unbelievable defence’

by TODAY IN SPORTS
July 5, 2025
0
Junior Boks captain hails ‘unbelievable defence’

Riley Norton praised the Junior Springboks’ heroic defensive effort after his team’s 32-22 win against England at the World Rugby U20 Championship on Friday. South Africa fought back...

Read more

Tupou needs to tame Lions to earn Wallabies recall

by TODAY IN SPORTS
July 4, 2025
0
Tupou needs to tame Lions to earn Wallabies recall

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt wants Taniela Tupou to send a reminder about what he can bring to the Test arena when the powerhouse prop squares off against the...

Read more

How to watch Lions v Waratahs on TV – channel and UK kick-off time

by TODAY IN SPORTS
July 4, 2025
0
How to watch Lions v Waratahs on TV – channel and UK kick-off time

The British Lions' tour continues with a clash against the Waratahs in Sydney on SaturdayThis article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we...

Read more
Next Post
Arsenal open to William Saliba Real Madrid transfer swap

Arsenal open to William Saliba Real Madrid transfer swap

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related News

The place offseason strikes leaves Jets in a wide-open AFC East

The place offseason strikes leaves Jets in a wide-open AFC East

May 12, 2024
Aston Villa enter race for Arsenal and Chelsea target

Aston Villa enter race for Arsenal and Chelsea target

January 24, 2025
Israel Adesanya begins to really feel it as soon as once more

Israel Adesanya begins to really feel it as soon as once more

August 14, 2024

Browse by Category

  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Racing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis
Today in Sports

Get the Latest Sports News and Updates on TodayInSports.net. Soccer News, Basketball News, Baseball News, Golf News, Boxing News and More!

CATEGORIES

  • Athletics
  • Baseball
  • Basketball
  • Boxing
  • Cricket
  • Football
  • Golf
  • MMA
  • NBA
  • NFL
  • Racing
  • Rugby
  • Soccer
  • Tennis

Recent News

  • Canada coach reveals why David chose to join Juventus
  • Chelsea set £50m asking price for Arsenal transfer target as talks accelerate
  • Mohammed Kudus prefers Tottenham transfer over Chelsea
  • Contact us
  • Cookie Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • DMCA
  • Get the Latest Sports News and Updates on TodayInSports.net.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions

Copyright © 2024 Today in Sports.
Today in Sports is not responsible for the content of external sites.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Featured News
  • Football
  • Basketball
  • Baseball
  • More
    • Rugby
    • Golf
    • Boxing
    • Soccer
    • NBA
    • Racing
    • Cricket

Copyright © 2024 Today in Sports.
Today in Sports is not responsible for the content of external sites.