It Was All Bish, Bash, Bosch In The Quarter - Finals Of The Champions Cup

The quarter – finals of the Champions Cup didn’t go to plan for three of the four English teams as Bath travelled to Ireland to take on Leinster as the West Country side looked to avenge the Six Nations result between the two nations.

Meanwhile, Northampton, Saracens and Wasps all travelled to France to face Clermont, Racing Metro and Toulon respectively.

It was a sense of bish, bash, Bosch for Saracens as Argentine Marcelo Bosch kicked a last gasp penalty to ensure there was going to be some representation from the Aviva Premiership still in Europe.

In a nail biting game in Paris, Maxine Machenaud scored the only try of the game for Racing Metro as they went into half time leading 11 – 9 before Bosch’s penalty secured a 12 – 11 victory whilst breaking French hearts on the way.

In a fortnights time Saracens have to travel across the channel once again to face Clermont Auvergne and see if they can produce the same domination as last year when they rampaged to a 46 – 6 victory.

Elsewhere, Northampton will be fully focused on retaining the Aviva Premiership as they suffered a humbling 37 – 5 defeat at the hands of Clermont Auvergne.

Saints were trailing 27 – 0 at the break with Noa Nakaitaci grabbing a double and his fellow France international Wesley Fofana, as well as full back Nick Abendanon, added more after the interval.

Alex Waller grabbed a consolation try but it was a day highlighting the strengths of the French team, mainly the creative flair of former Bath player Abendanon who like many of English exiles is blooming in France. If he continues to play like this we could see him getting a call to join the England World Cup squad.

The weekend started in Dublin as Bath fell just short with a 18 – 15 defeat to Leinster with the boot of Ian Madigan doing all the damage as ill discipline plagued the travellers and ended their chance to clinch a famous victory. 

George Ford scored an excellent solo try in the first half before setting up Stuart Hooper in the second, however poor handling was also to blame as the experience of Jamie Heaslip and co with Madigan’s terrific kicking display booked them a semi final to France in a fortnights time.

The weekend ended with an incredibly spirited Wasps side going to Toulon to face the Champions but the midlands team can leave with their heads held high going down to a 32 – 18 defeat.

The hosts led 22 – 6 at half time with six penalties from Fraderic Michalak and a Mathieu Bastareaud try, but Wasps fought back as Tongan international Will Helu crossed the whitewash twice.

It closed the gap to just seven points, but Ali Williams’ late try sealed the victory for Toulon who now welcome Leinster to the Stade Velodrome.