The Cell C Sharks, DHL Stormers and Emirates Lions will have everything to play for when they take the field in the European quarter-finals on Saturday in their inaugural season in the respective competitions.
The Cell C Sharks will line up against Stade Toulousain in their Heineken Champions Cup top-eight encounter in Toulouse, France on Saturday at 16h00, with the DHL Stormers running out shortly after against the Exeter Chiefs in southwest England at 18h30.
The Emirates Lions in turn will take on the Glasgow Warriors in Scotland in their EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-final at 21h00.
Stade Toulousain will be hunting their sixth win a row when they host the Cell C Sharks at Stade Ernest Wallon, but they will be wary of the fact that Durbanites have only suffered one defeat in the competition this season and that they are fresh off a 50-point score against Munster in their round of 16 clash.
They will also be mindful of the fact that the Cell C Sharks boast a better attacking track record this season having scored 169 points to 143 by Toulouse, however, the French outfit have conceded half the number of points than the KwaZulu-Natalians, which is expected to spice up the clash.
Stade Toulousain, however, will draw inspiration from their passionate home crowd and the fact that the Durban side had to travel this week. But with a semi-final spot at stake, neither team is expected to give an inch.
The DHL Stormers will face an equally tough challenge after finding out at the last minute that they had to travel to the UK after Exeter held Montpellier to nail-biting 33-33 draw after a 100-minute marathon in their round of 16 clash last Sunday.
With home ground advantage and Exeter’s extra 34 points on attack in their five encounters expected to boost their confidence, they will be mindful of the fact that the DHL Stormers hold a marginally better defensive record, meaning it could prove to be a humdinger of a clash.
The Capetonians, in particular, would have taken valuable lessons from their round of 16 clash against Harlequins last week in which they leaked three tries in the eight minutes – which is a mistake they cannot afford again, especially with the competition reaching its peak.
The Glasgow Warriors and Emirates Lions are bothing coming off big-scoring victories in their EPCR Challenge Cup clashes last week, and they will enter their quarter-final with confidence.
With Glasgow entering the clash unbeaten, however, the Johannesburgers will be wary of the fact that they need to deliver a top-class display to knock the hosts out of the competition on their home patch.
The Emirates Lions will, however, draw comfort from the fact that Bath managed to register a draw against the Warriors at home, which cost them a full house of victories this season.
Glasgow will look to build on their encouraging attack in which they scored 180 points in five matches and their extra victory when they take the field, but they will be careful of writing off the Emirates Lions, who have scored 149 points and conceded two fewer.
But with a semi-final place on the line and everything to play for, it could prove to be a tight tussle.
Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals:
Stade Toulousain v Cell C Sharks
Date: Saturday, 8 April
Venue: Stade Ernest Wallon, Toulouse
SA Time: 16h00
Referee: Karl Dickson
TV: SuperSport
Exeter Chiefs v DHL Stormers
Date: Saturday, 8 April
Venue: Sandy Park, Exeter
SA Time: 18h30
Referee: Mathieu Raynal
TV: SuperSport
Other quarter-finals:
Friday, 7 April
21h00: Leinster v Leicester Tigers (Dublin)
Sunday, 9 April:
16h00: Stade Rochelais v Saracens (La Rochelle)
EPCR Challenge Cup quarter-finals:
Glasgow Warriors v Emirates Lions
Date: Saturday, 8 April
Venue: Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow
SA Time: 21h00
Referee: Matthew Carley
TV: SuperSport
Other quarter-finals:
Friday, 7 April:
21h00: Scarlets v Clermont Auvergne (Llanelli)
Saturday, 8 April:
13h30: Toulon v Lyon (Toulon)
16h00: Benetton v Cardiff (Treviso)
Photo by Bryan Keane/INPHO/Shutterstock/BackpagePix
