Common wisdom suggests that knockout games are cagey, claustrophobic affairs. If ever there was a quartet of semi-finalists who could blow this truth away, this season’s Champions Cup has found them.
Leinster, Northampton Saints, Toulouse and Harlequins are all synonymous with ambition and endeavor that captivates spectators. Although they possess different qualities, effective offense is a trait they all share. Exeter Chiefs defensive coach Omar Mouneimne can articulate the nuances of each. He played against Saints, Toulouse and Harlequins this season and was a colleague of Jacques Nienaber, now the Leinster honcho, at the Stormers between 2008 and 2010.
Mouneimne explains how Northampton and Harlequins isolate individual defenders with multiple runners on the move, creating doubt and ‘lightning-quick’ rucks when opponents are forced to make one-on-one tackles. Leinster’s complicated phase game is ‘tight’ and ‘aggressive’ and depends on work rate and ‘dominant cleans’ at the breakdown.
The “layered” threats of Toulouse, who withdrew from Exeter in the quarter-final to record a 64-26 victory, are fresh in Mouneimne’s mind. The inimitable Antoine Dupont, in the armor with bruises as Emmanuel Meafou, gives them another dimension.
“All French teams can play your guts, and that’s the kind of rugby that the Premier League doesn’t have,” Mouneimne says. “Premiership attacks are organized with great form, ball players on the line, decoys, spread all over the park. The French can do that if they want, but they are known for their guts. That’s a pick-and-go through the ruck, a pop or an offload, where Dupont beats two defenders around the ruck or scoots left and then right and passes to someone who pops the ruck straight back to him.
If you stay too narrow against Toulouse, there is a great danger that you will be surrounded. Leave room around the edges and Dupont will wreak havoc. Don’t cough up any property either. Toulouse have scored five tries straight from turnovers this Champions Cup campaign, more than any other semi-finalist. “No one can attack in transition like her,” Mouneimne adds. “Bish, bash, bosh and they’re gone.”
More high-scoring shoot-outs, such as Harlequins’ 42-41 victory over Bordeaux Bègles in the quarter-final, are entirely possible. As Moonemne puts it: neither party will be shy. But rugby union is mainly about rhythms. For example, muscular teams may try to slow things down by kicking and applying pressure during the breakdown and set-piece battles. Disruptive defense is another way to control the rhythm. And simply striving to contain opponents is no longer enough.
“I think people are becoming aware of that; that if you just hold back, you can get into trouble,” says Moonymne. “The attack is looking for the momentum, looking at a defense and saying, ‘OK, we can cut you open at the back of a lineout or put you offside, kick into the corner and maul’. They are always looking for that advantage to put pressure on you. As a defense you also have to look for those pressure points.
“For example, [Alex] Mitchell and Dupont are huge threats. You can’t think, ‘He’s in front of me, I don’t want him to show up and leave, so I’ll just keep him under control.’ You have to figure out how to track them down and you shouldn’t be afraid of that. If you put them under duress and they make a mistake, the next person is under duress.
“That’s the puzzle that has to come together, otherwise they won’t have moments where they feel like their plans aren’t working, where they think, ‘We could capitulate here if we’re not careful.’ If you don’t fire warning shots, they’ll do whatever they want the whole game.”
Leinster and Northampton, who met in front of 82,000 at Croke Park on Saturday, both prioritized defensive improvements for this season. Nienaber arrived in Dublin as Stuart Lancaster’s replacement after leading the Springboks to a second successive World Cup title.
Carrick Blake, an analyst for Cambridge RFC, developed a ‘passes per defense action’ metric and has seen Leinster rise in the rankings among teams in the Top 14, the Premiership and the United Rugby Championship. Essentially they are suppressive attacks and ensure they complete fewer passes thanks to line speed, flashy wings and spoiling bad luck.
Jordan Larmour’s 13th-minute jackal turnover against La Rochelle paved the way for a cathartic 40-13 victory over Leinster’s nemesis in the 2022 and 2023 finals. The doddering wing is not known for his defensive tenacity. A week earlier, Robbie Henshaw’s interception attempt had also undermined Leicester Tigers at a crucial moment in the last 16, setting up a 14-point swing.
“Jacques hasn’t had much time, but I can see his fingerprints,” Moonemne continues. “Leinster are quick off the line, they stay square, they hit hard, they often get into defensive problems and you can see he has the grit that he enjoys. He makes defense very personal. He is a very detailed man.
“There has certainly been a turnaround and from a mental point of view he will have them in exactly the right frame of mind to cause carnage in defense – to create pressure points for Saints to think: ‘Oooph, this is tough work’. He will take care of that, I have no doubt. He’s a great coach.”
Lee Radford has impressed in the East Midlands since joining Phil Dowson. Moonemne has noticed a renewed toughness from Northampton, who “hits hard” in the tackle. Courtney Lawes will likely have to make a monumental change before the Saints can make an upset. The good news for them is that their old warhorse did just that in a windy Thomond Park in January. His steel complements the enthusiasm of Mitchell, Fin Smith, George Furbank, Tommy Freeman and co. Northampton also kicked a lot and left their half quickly and efficiently.
On to Sunday’s clash, which will be awash with elite jackallers. The hosts feature Julien Marchand, François Cros and Jack Willis; they are all masters of groundhogs. Captaining that area for Harlequins is the wily Will Evans, excellent against both Glasgow Warriors and Bordeaux to set up this semi-final. Alex Dombrandt is an underrated accomplice, with André Esterhuizen another fierce scavenger. Attempts seem inevitable.
Defensive contributions will, as always, determine the momentum. Harlequins, who were defeated 47-19 when these rivals met at the Twickenham Stoop in January, must stop Toulouse from getting “their nerve” up and hoping they can keep the scoreboard spinning.
“Quins are very dangerous, jeepers,” Moonymne concludes. “You hear them say phrases like ‘we’ll swing the bat and see what happens’. Against Toulouse you have to understand that they can do the same. They have a lot of X-factor in the park and a heavy set piece. If you want to buy a ticket against them and see who can play wilder, you’d be shocked that Toulouse can be more pragmatic than you might think, while also punishing you on the fly. That’s what we learned.
“You make two whoopsies in a row, they score fourteen points and then they tighten the screw while Dupont is playing for territory. Later he will see a gap and go for it. They can play both ways. You don’t really want to be behind these guys… even if you’re Quins!’
At Stade Chaban-Delmas, Harlequins were sharp enough to build a 28-12 lead, allowing them to squeeze through. Although they conceded 41 points, there was enough disruption from the tackling and breaking down, with formidable scrummaging thrown in, to secure the win. For all four teams, the semi-final weekend will be all about taking advantage of opportunities; both in defense and attack.