Leinster And Munster Part Of Heavyweight Champions Cup Last-Eight
There will be a re-run of two former European Cup finals when the best eight teams on the continent line up for the Champions Cup quarter-finals over the weekend of March 31-April 2.
The clash at Stade Marcel Michelin between top seeds Clermont Auvergne and three-time winners Toulon will be a repeat of the 2013 final in Dublin and the 2015 decider at Twickenham. On both occasions Toulon came out on top.
Meanwhile, the game at Thomond Park between Munster and Toulouse will be a repeat of the 2008 final in Cardiff, when the province took the title for the second time in their history. With both teams locked on 156 games played in the European Cup, whoever wins will go out on their own as the record holder.
Toulouse hold the record of winning the European Cup four times and are chasing a seventh appearance in the final this year. Last season they lost five of their six games and finished bottom of their pool.
The make-up of the last-eight includes three teams from the Top 14 (Clermont, Toulon and Toulouse), three from the PRO12 (Munster, Leinster and Glasgow Warriors) and two from the Premiership (Saracens and Wasps). Reigning champions Saracens will host Glasgow on their debut in the knockout stages.
It will be Saracens’ fifth home quarter-final and they have won three of the previous four. The game will be played on the 4G pitch at Allianz Park, which should suit both sides given that Glasgow, the 2015 PRO12 champions, also play on an artificial surface.
There are 15 European Cup titles among the eight teams, with five of them coming in the final quarter final – Leinster versus Wasps. Three-time champions Leinster will have home advantage, but will be wary of the fact that Wasps were 33-6 winners at the RDS in the pool stages last season.
2016/17 EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP QUARTER-FINALS:
Clermont Auvergne (1) v (8) Toulon
MUNSTER (2) v (7) Toulouse
Saracens (3) v (6) Glasgow Warriors
LEINSTER (4) v (5) Wasps
Following confirmation of the Champions Cup quarter-final line-up, the 2016/17 semi-final pairings will be as follows:
Semi-Final 1: winners of QF1 (Clermont Auvergne v Toulon) v winners of QF2 (Leinster v Wasps)
Semi-Final 2: winners of QF3 (Saracens v Glasgow Warriors) v winners of QF4 (Munster v Toulouse)
The format for the semi-final matches in the Champions Cup recognises performances by teams during the pool stages as well as the achievement of winning a quarter-final match away from home.
The semi-final matches will be played at venues designated by EPCR, and the following teams will have home country advantage in their respective matches:
Semi-Final 1
If Clermont Auvergne (No 1) and Leinster (No 4) win their quarter-finals, Clermont will have home country advantage
If Clermont Auvergne (No 1) and Wasps (No 5) win their quarter-finals, Wasps will have home country advantage
If Toulon (No 8) and Leinster (No 4) win their quarter-finals, Toulon will have home country advantage
If Toulon (No 8) and Wasps (No 5) win their quarter-finals, Wasps will have home country advantage
Semi-Final 2
If Saracens (No 3) and Munster (No 2) win their quarter-finals, Munster will have home country advantage
If Saracens (No 3) and Toulouse (No 7) win their quarter-finals, Toulouse will have home country advantage
If Glasgow Warriors (No 6) and Munster (No 2) win their quarter-finals, Glasgow will have home country advantage
If Glasgow Warriors (No 6) and Toulouse (No 7) win their quarter-finals, Glasgow will have home country advantage
Champions Cup Quarter-Finals: March 31/April 1-2
Champions Cup Semi-Finals: April 21-22-23
2017 Champions Cup Final: Saturday, May 13, BT Murrayfield (kick-off 5pm)