There would have been a few raised eyebrows had you suggested all four of Wales’ regional teams were going into the first week of April with European knockout stage games to look forward to on the back of the national team winning the Six Nations Championship, but that’s where we currently find ourselves.
Okay, 32 out of a possible 38 teams who began the two European tournaments have made it through to the next stage due to the format this season, but it’s still something we’ve never seen before and something that should be cherished.
Cardiff Blues and Ospreys progressed to the Challenge Cup Round of 16 after finishing as two of the top 8 teams in the Challenge Cup preliminary stage, while the Dragons drop down into the Challenge Cup having missed out on the Champions Cup Round of 16. The Scarlets progressed into the Champions Cup Round of 16 after beating Bath away, before their clash with Toulon was cancelled due to Covid-19 related issues.
London Irish vs Cardiff Blues – Challenge Cup Round of 16
Two-time Challenge Cup winners, Cardiff Blues, kick off the Welsh involvement in the knockout stages when they travel to West London to face London Irish, at the Brentford Community Stadium, at 5.30pm on Friday. The Blues have only played once in the Challenge Cup this season, beating Newcastle Falcons away 33-20, before their scheduled home clash with Stade Francais was cancelled due to Covid related issues. This saw the Blues pick up the maximum five match day points.
Irish, on the other hand, finished top of the Challenge Cup preliminary stage table having won both matches against Agen and Pau, picking up maximum points which saw them guaranteed home advantage in the R16. They currently find themselves in 6th place in the Gallagher Premiership, having won 6 games from a possible 15.
Despite London Irish having a relatively successful season by their standards, I think that the Blues, rejuvenated by Dai Young’s appointment and with the returning Wales internationals poised to be involved, should have just enough to see off Irish and book their place in the Quarter Finals.
Prediction – Cardiff Blues by five.
Ospreys vs Newcastle Falcons – Challenge Cup Round of 16
The Ospreys, who finished in 2nd place in the 14 team Challenge Cup preliminary stage table, welcome Newcastle to the Liberty at 3pm on Saturday afternoon. The Ospreys picked up bonus point wins in both their games against Castres and Worcester in the Challenge Cup, which gave them home advantage in the R16.
Newcastle scraped into the R16 after finishing 8th having suffered a defeat at home to the Cardiff Blues, a win away to Castres the following week was enough to seal qualification. The Falcons currently find themselves in 10th place in the Gallagher Premiership having won 6 out of a possible 15 games.
The Ospreys will be favourites for this game coming off the back of sealing Champions Cup qualification for next season with a win away to Leinster, and will be bolstered by world class players like Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and George North returning from international duty.
Prediction – Ospreys by fifteen.
Dragons vs Northampton Saints – Challenge Cup Round of 16
The Dragons dropped down into the Challenge Cup after their venture into the Champions Cup proved unsuccessful, losing both games against Wasps and Bordeaux Begles. The Dragons have been in good form recently in the Pro14, winning three of their last four games and will be looking to take their domestic form into Europe.
Northampton also began the season in the Champions Cup before dropping down to the Challenge Cup, after defeats to Bordeaux Begles and Leinster. Saints will be looking to add another Challenge Cup to their trophy cabinet after winning the trophy in 2009 and 2014. Saints currently find themselves in 5th place in the Premiership, four points off the top four.
This is a tough game to call. Northampton probably start as favourites, but it really looks like the Dragons have turned a corner recently. I think Northampton’s experience of playing in big domestic and European games, coupled with having big game players like Dan Biggar in their squad, will just about see them through.
Prediction – Northampton by one score.
Scarlets vs Sale Sharks – Champions Cup Round of 16
Wales’ sole representative in the Champions Cup R16 welcome Sale Sharks to Parc Y Scarlets on Sunday afternoon. The Scarlets were drawn to play Bath and Toulon in the Champions Cup group stages. They beat Bath away before their game with Toulon was cancelled just a few hours before kick-off when the French team arrived in Llanelli and decided that due to Scarlets returning a positive Covid test in the week leading up to the game, that it wasn’t safe to play. This led to the Scarlets being given the points and sealing a place in the knockout stages.
The Scarlets haven’t been at their best this season, but have managed to secure third in their Pro14 conference, sealing qualification for next season’s Champions Cup and will be bolstered by their sizeable contingent of Wales internationals being reintroduced. The visitors, Sale, qualified for the knockout stages after picking up a losing bonus point against Edinburgh, which was enough due to the different format this season. It’s been a different season domestically, however, as Sale find themselves in 3rd place having won 10 out of 15 games.
Despite the Scarlets not being at their best this season, I think that they’ve got the players to beat a Sale team whose primary focus will most likely be on the Gallagher Premiership this season.
Prediction – Scarlets by ten.
AWC SPORT 