EUROPEAN RUGBY SEMI FINALS 17-04-15

EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP 

SATURDAY 18^TH APRIL 3.15

CLERMONT AUVERNE V SARACENS

TEAMS

Saracens forward Billy Vunipola has had his citing for allegedly striking an opponent with his head dismissed.

The 22-year-old is now available to play in Saturday's European Champions Cup semi-final at Clermont Auvergne.

The England number eight had pleaded not guilty of striking Leicester's Mathew Tait with his head.

Leicester centre Vereniki Goneva was suspended for one week though, after being cited for striking Saracens' Kelly Brown with his forearm.

The ban includes the Tigers game against London Welsh on 25 April.

A Rugby Football Union (RFU) disciplinary panel made the decisions at a meeting in London on Tuesday evening.

Both incidents occurred during Saracens' 22-6 win over Leicester in the Premiership on Saturday.

PREDICTION

I am not that sure about this match and think it will be close . Saracens are second in the table. Saracens are in a bit of a run of form winning there last 4 and 5 of their last 6 but it is in France. Clermount are in second in the table but are in a bad run of form so Saracens might be able to get an edge.

SUNDAY 19^TH APRIL 3.15PM

TOLOUN V LEINSTER

TEAMS

Toulon are hopeful Leigh Halfpenny will be fit for the European Cup semi-final against Leinster on Sunday, 19 April despite being forced off with a shoulder injury in his comeback game.

Halfpenny suffered a shoulder sprain while being tackled during the Top 14 leaders' weekend win over Grenoble.

The 26-year-old had been absent with concussion sustained playing for Wales against Italy in the Six Nations.

PREDICTION

As much as I hate to say it I think that Toulon will win this semi-final and win it well as they are the strongest team in the world at the moment. In my opinion with Leinsters form at the moment if they won this it would be a massive shock. Toloun have got form on their side but they have lost their last match.

EUROPEAN CHALLENGE CUP 

FRIDAY 17^TH APRIL 7.45

EDINBURGH V DRAGONS

TEAMS

Captain Mike Coman and scrum-half Sam Hidalgo-Clyne are back in for the Murrayfield contest, while Jack Cuthbert replaces the injured Greig Tonks at full-back.

Dragons have made one starting change.

Prop Dan Way takes over at tight-head with Brok Harris switching to loose-head instead of Phil Price.

Price drops to the bench while Wales number eight Taulupe Faletau starts after returning to a starting spot in their Pro12 win over Leinster last weekend.

Sam Beard is another Edinburgh player to come in at outside centre and Stuart McInally plays at blindside.

A welcome return to the home bench comes in the shape of back row Cornell Du Preez, who sustained a serious lower leg injury in the Pro12 win over Dragons in October.

The win was the Welsh region's fourth consecutive victory in all competitions, and the first time they have done the double over the Irish province.

Edinburgh: Jack Cuthbert, Dougie Fife, Sam Beard, Andries Strauss, Tim Visser, Phil Burleigh, Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, Alasdair Dickinson, Ross Ford, WP Nel, Anton Bresler, Ben toolis, Stuart McInally, Roddy Grant, Mike Coman (capt).

Replacements: Neil Cochrane, Rory Sutherland, John Andress, Fraser McKenzie, Cornell Du Preez, Nathan Fowles, Tom Heatcote, Tom Brown.

Dragons: Jason Tovey; Tom Prydie, Tyler Morgan, Jack Dixon, Hallam Amos; Dorian Jones, Jonathan Evans; Brok Harris, T. Rhys Thomas (capt), Dan Way, James Thomas, Cory Hill, Nick Crosswell, Nic Cudd, Taulupe Faletau.

Replacements: Rhys Buckley, Phil Price, Lloyd Fairbrother, Matthew Screech, James Benjamin, Luc Jones, Ashton Hewitt, Geraint Rhys Jones.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/32330852

PREDICTION

Both are Pro 12 sides. Edinburgh is higher in the table but only by 6 points and the fact that they are at home gives them a huge advantage to start with. Dragons might be on a bit of a high after last week when they beat Leinster and Edinburgh lost heavily to Munster. Edinburgh had won 3 lost 3 while the Dragons have the same record but the dragons have had a couple of big wins against Ulster and Leinster which might give them confidence going into this game. I think that Edinburgh will win but home advantage is the thing that is swaying it.

SATURDAY 18^TH APRIL 7.45

GLOSTER V EXETER

PREDICTION

Both are English premiership sides. Exeter is higher up in the table in 4^th position and chasing the semi-finals while Gloster are in 9^th and chasing a Champions cup spot. For Exeter to get to a European final would be a huge achievement.  Exeter have won 5 lost 1 of the last 6 games while Gloster have won 1 drawn 1 lost 4 but are on a bad run so if Exeter can start this match early they should win it quite comfortably but as Gloster are such a big club and are at home if they don’t I think it will be close and Exteter will still win