Champions Cup semi-final teams: Five takeaways from the squads as Leinster ditch 6-2 split and Toulouse bench Thomas Ramos

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The teams for this weekend’s Investec Champions Cup are in and ahead of the action in the last four; here are our five takeaways from the matchday squads.

Leinster and Northampton Saints get the semi-finals underway on Saturday in what promises to be an epic encounter as rugby returns to Croke Park in front of a passionate sell-out crowd.

On Sunday, Harlequins are in action in Toulouse as they aim to upset the odds yet again, this time against the five-time Champions.

Unsurprisingly, all four teams have announced star-studded, full-strengthed teams as they aim to get their hands on the top prize in European rugby.

Leinster ditch forward heavy bench

The Leinster coaching team have made two changes to the starting lineup that defeated La Rochelle in the quarter-finals last month; one tactical and the other injury enforced.

Will Connors was backed in the starting XV ahead of Ireland regular and former World Rugby Player of the Year Josh van der Flier but for the semi-final, Leo Cullen has opted to back the latter from the first whistle. It is seemingly a horses for courses change as Van der Flier will be tasked with competing at the breakdown and drawing in Northampton Saints’ defenders with his abrasive carries. Those are his two areas of expertise, while Connors was tasked with chopping down the massive La Rochelle forwards.

The only other change sees Ross Molony replace Jason Jenkins in the starting XV, a move suggesting that Leinster are favouring mobility over physicality against a free-flowing Northampton Saints side that is willing to give the ball some air.

That is further highlighted by Leo Cullen and co’s decision to ditch a 6-2 split in favour of a 5-3 on the bench. Jimmy O’Brien’s recovery from a neck injury is a further boost to the side, and his versatility would have allowed the Irish juggernaut to continue with a 6-2 split but instead opted for more backline options.

Saints are renowned for their attacking prowess, particularly in the backline and having the ability to get an impact off the bench will be key with Jacques Nienaber’s defensive system needing players to make swift and accurate decisions. Sam Vesty’s attacking pattern asks a lot of the opposition’s defence, and being able to add fresh legs in the latter stages may prove crucial, especially if the game is tight in the final quarter.

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Saints without standout duo

Like Harlequins, Northampton Saints are considered to be the underdogs heading into the semi-finals and their chances of an upset took a blow with club captain Lewis Ludlam and in-form winger Ollie Sleightholme ruled out of the clash through injury.

The pair are excellent ball-carriers and regularly take multiple defenders with them while also racking up the post-contact metres – something that is crucial against the Nienaber-led defence. Saints do have able replacements in flanker Sam Graham and the sensational George Hendy, but Northampton will miss their two star men.

Ludlam’s absence means that the likes of Courtney Lawes, Graham, Alex Coles and Juarno Augustus will need to take on a greater responsibility in the carries, while the same applies to Hendy, Tommy Freeman and Fraser Dingwall.

Harlequins back Saints’ slayers

After a thrilling 41-32 victory over Premiership league leaders Northampton in the Big Summer Kick-Off, Harlequins’ coaches have resisted change for the sake of it backing the same starting XV against Toulouse.

In fact, the coaching staff has made just one alternation to the matchday 23 that defeated Northampton, with James Chisholm replacing Tom Lawday on the bench. Effectively taking on the mantra, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

The Famous Quarters have threats across the board, and as they chase a first-ever Champions Cup final appearance, it makes sense that they have backed a mix of form and experience.

At Twickenham, Harlequins fronted up against Northampton matching the league leaders blow-for-blow and when they needed an injection of pace and power, they got it from their bench in the form of Will Porter and George Hammond.

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Toulouse bench Thomas Ramos

Ugo Mola has a plethora of world-class players in his ranks, and his decision to bench Les Bleus full-back Thomas Ramos is a clear indication of just that, as Scotland star Blair Kinghorn is preferred from the off.

Ramos sustained an injury at the end of March and while he recovered in time to feature off the bench against Exeter Chiefs last month, he has not won his place back in the starting XV despite being given two opportunities to do so.

He started their last two Top 14 games in the position but for the all-important Champions Cup semi-final, he has been included amongst the replacements where he can provide an injection of pace and perhaps line up a clutch kick.

Few teams have the embarrassment of riches to leave a player of Ramos’ quality out of their starting XV, but Toulouse do and start Saturday’s clash with just one player yet to be capped internationally – Paul Costes.

Replacements will be decisive

Nowadays, rugby is not 15 v 15 but rather 23 v 23 as the replacements are used more and more for impact and to adjust tactics, and this weekend, the benches are bound to play a deciding role in who will compete for the Champions Cup title.

There is little separating the four starting XVs and if the two fixtures are still tight affairs heading into the final quarter, the impact from the replacements could be the difference between winning and losing.

Even though Toulouse are without several top players, they still boast a threatening bench with three French internationals, a Wallaby and a Los Pumas star in their ranks. Harlequins, meanwhile, have a more youthful-looking bench, but they still have Test quality in Joe Marler and Jarrod Evans.

Leinster also have a powerful eight on the bench, with all the players having played international rugby, including British and Irish Lion Jack Conan. Saints have been able to get plenty of impact from their eight this season and will hope the same applies on Saturday, particularly with rising star Emmanuel Iyogun set to clash with an international tighthead prop.

It is bound to be an enthralling weekend of Champions Cup rugby, with all four teams battling in every facet of the game to seal a place in the final.