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Investec Champions Cup

Scottish clubs make Champions Cup history

Edinburgh and Scotland's Darcy Graham. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Edinburgh sealed a home European Champions Cup quarter-final and top spot in Pool 5 by beating Montpellier 19-10 – a result which also sent Glasgow Warriors, Racing 92 and Leinster into the last eight.

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Jaco van der Walt’s boot opened up a nine-point lead for Edinburgh but a first-half try from Jacques du Plessis, followed by Ruan Pienaar’s penalty had the Top 14 club ahead in the Scottish capital.

Yet Edinburgh’s lead was restored by Van der Walt’s fourth successful three-pointer and Darcy Graham went over in the 61st minute and gave them another nine-point advantage they did not relinquish.

The result means Edinburgh will play a last-eight tie for the first time since 2012, while Glasgow also benefitted from their rivals’ result as it meant they – along with Racing and Leinster – are now guaranteed one of the best runners-up spots.

It is the first time in the competition’s history that both Scottish clubs have made it through to the quarter-finals, with Edinburgh winning a seventh straight game in all competitions.

Both other teams in Pool 5 – Toulon and Newcastle Falcons had already been eliminated – but the former grabbed a consolation victory as Bastien Soury ran in a match-winning try seven minutes from time.

With 10 minutes to go, Toulon looked to be cruising to victory when 20-10 ahead but Newcastle dramatically turned the game on its head as Nemani Nagusa and Micky Young each went in in the space of two minutes.

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Yet replacement hooker Soury dotted down in the right corner to ensure it was Toulon who claimed the win.

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Comments on RugbyPass

N
Nickers 11 minutes ago
Brumbies vs Hurricanes: Wallabies lead the way, expect the unexpected

Hurricanes inability to get even one turnover cost them the game, among other things obviously, but the fact they conceded 5 tries tells you they could not disrupt the Brumbies at the breakdown.


Much like the Hurricanes fizzling out at the end of last season, this result and the nature of it casts a bit of a shadow over some players who seemed to be knocking on the ABs door.

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GrahamVF 13 minutes ago
Broken hand or not, Richie Mo'unga is still New Zealand's best 10

I had a chat with Rassie in our local pub Doodles in Blouberg on Friday. He says without exception the guys playing in Japan loooove the lifestyle. They and their families are treated like royalty. Perhaps Richie just enjoys the lifestyle more than living in NZ. My son in law who has spent a long time in Japan tells me that it is an unreal experience. Perhaps that’s the karma balance. There is a stifling oldness about the NZ grass chair brigade. The same as there was in SA until Rassie got backed by the political establishment. The old Darwinian adage is really fitting in the case of NZ rugby. Adapt or die.

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J
JW 15 minutes ago
Why Brumbies could be key to avoiding a Lions tour cricket score

Tahs were vgood at home.

120 Go to comments
J
JW 15 minutes ago
Why Brumbies could be key to avoiding a Lions tour cricket score

HAHA the Force would be finalists in most every NH comp!

120 Go to comments
N
Nickers 16 minutes ago
Chiefs vs Blues: Barrett pips McKenzie, shades of Leinster

Highlights the stupid format even more. Chiefs have nothing to play for and turn out a flat performance in what should be the highest intensity games of the year - they don’t even lose their home semi final.


Lucky loser should have become the 4th seed with a guaranteed away semi.

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J
JW 23 minutes ago
Why Brumbies could be key to avoiding a Lions tour cricket score

Enjoyed last weekends URC matches, thought the Sharks looked most deadly. Yet to watch the weekends games. Not going to read on!

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GrahamVF 26 minutes ago
Broken hand or not, Richie Mo'unga is still New Zealand's best 10

Hey Nick. Don’t discourage NZ’s stay at home policy. It works for everyone except the AB’s

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G
GrahamVF 38 minutes ago
Why Brumbies could be key to avoiding a Lions tour cricket score

After yesterday Spot on Nick. The Brumbies are the way for the Wallabies - just get the lineout right or they will be Lion fodder.

We gathered for a day of unfettered rugby. Had old foes from my Varsity days who played for Tukkies and newly found friends from the Cape Town Stadium Stormers legions. We watched the Brumbies Hurricanes game, broke for breakfast then watched the Wimbledon Woman’s final (Well played Coco) and then got stuck into the real stuff Bulls vs Sharks. Overall take? I have never seen a top NZ side bossed quite as badly as the Brumbies bossed The Canes. Typically Australian the Brumbies lineout was a shambles. The Canes lineout did it’s work but they can’t maul for toffee. Canes front row looked like a girls school side. Where oh where is the front row granite of the Blacks of old? From a Saffa perspective = thank goodness the Bulls won. At least they have a fighting chance in the Dublin final. Sorry for Cameron. Hope he’s right for the big ones to come. Young Hooker is emerging as a serious threat to the big Bok wing names. Off to Arniston for a relaxing three days and watching the Wimbledon men’s final in the best pub in the deep south of the globe. See y’all next Saturday.

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J
JD Kiwi 45 minutes ago
Broken hand or not, Richie Mo'unga is still New Zealand's best 10

Australia has gone massively downhill since the Giteau law.

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J
JD Kiwi 49 minutes ago
Broken hand or not, Richie Mo'unga is still New Zealand's best 10

He's definitely not got the same high regard of BB and DMac as All Black 10!

150 Go to comments
J
JD Kiwi 52 minutes ago
Broken hand or not, Richie Mo'unga is still New Zealand's best 10

Agreed, although I feel that Lima’s form went downhill before he left.

150 Go to comments
J
JD Kiwi 54 minutes ago
Broken hand or not, Richie Mo'unga is still New Zealand's best 10

He was just as inconsistent in Hamilton.

150 Go to comments
J
JD Kiwi 56 minutes ago
Broken hand or not, Richie Mo'unga is still New Zealand's best 10

Rassie had little choice because the rand tanked and everyone was leaving. He had a golden generation of forwards that he couldn't afford to not choose. A very different situation to what Robinson faces.


And it's not true to say that they expect people to stay in NZ their whole career. Many All Blacks and coaches have either had sabbaticals or been welcomed back after overseas contracts.

150 Go to comments
J
Jordon 1 hour ago
Clark Laidlaw’s ‘raw’ reaction to Hurricanes’ playoff heartbreak

Only someone with the name “Cantab” would comment on an article that didn’t mention their team once and talk only about their team.

2 Go to comments
J
JD Kiwi 1 hour ago
Broken hand or not, Richie Mo'unga is still New Zealand's best 10

“Mistakes” have been very few and far between. You'll be biting off your whole hand if our pathways, domestic comps and national team are weakened due to an increase in All Blacks leaving permanently.

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JW 1 hour ago
Why Brumbies could be key to avoiding a Lions tour cricket score

Coaching? Tactics? Stars? I agree though, Lonergan should be you halfback.


Tbh I think there is a big difference between a title winning team and simply that which is the best of a moderate bunch. But yep, I don’t disagree, just if your loosies and Lonergan make the team I’m sure you surely will have the highest proportion

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JD Kiwi 1 hour ago
Broken hand or not, Richie Mo'unga is still New Zealand's best 10

Lots of players get that “range” on sabbatical. You don't need to weaken our pathways for three years.


A quota would give NZR less say, not more. At the moment the vast majority of top All Blacks take the financial hit for the sake of the jersey. They know if they leave they're done so they stay.


Under your plan, players will have seen how weak NZR were by changing the rules over Mo’unga. What if a number of players, say Sititi, Vaa'i, Jordan, Lomax, Tamaiti, Savea and Roigard all leave, knowing that NZR caved last time?


By setting that precedent in caving for one bloke others will be encouraged that you'll cave for them too. A potentially disastrous loss of control.

150 Go to comments
C
Cantab 1 hour ago
'Nothing lasts forever': Vern Cotter ahead of semi-final matchup against Crusaders

Blues had the rub of the green against the Chiefs. Crusaders in finals mode don’t rely on luck (30-0) and will capitalise on their opportunities.

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J
JD Kiwi 1 hour ago
Broken hand or not, Richie Mo'unga is still New Zealand's best 10

That would just be the thing end of the wedge and just encourage more and more to leave. See my comment below.

150 Go to comments
J
JD Kiwi 1 hour ago
Broken hand or not, Richie Mo'unga is still New Zealand's best 10

Was he the “first to be allowed out on sabbatical in Europe”? No, Carter spent time in France.


Have others preferred the easy money in Japan while taking a bit of a break from the treadmill? Does “NZ always recognise the value of rugby played elsewhere”? Neither of us has inside knowledge so we're in the realm of speculation.


What we do know is that Mo’unga is one of the very few first choice All Blacks under 30 who have taken 3+ year contracts overseas and that he decided to do it in Japan, not Europe. Also that Reiko and Jordie's sojourns prove that they are open to sabbaticals in Europe.

150 Go to comments
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