European Champions Cup semi-final preview: Clermont Auvergne will test Brad Barritt’s defensive prowess to utmost

A look ahead to this weekend's European rugby action

Saracens centre Brad Barritt (Getty Images)

Clermont Auvergne v Saracens (Saturday 3.15pm)

There is some rich history between these two Champions Cup semi-finalists. Clermont’s comprehensive victory at Saracens at the last-eight stage in 2012 exposed some serious limitations and persuaded the Londoners to undertake a root-and-branch reappraisal of their entire approach. Last season, that work bore fruit with a remarkable 46-6 victory over the French club at Twickenham.

Saracens will have to perform every bit as well if they are to progress here. Clermont must do without the powerhouse ball-carrying of their No 8 Fritz Lee, who suffered a hamstring injury during the demolition of Northampton a fortnight ago, but their all-star threequarter line is very much intact. What is more, the favourites feel able to marginalise the international half-back pairing of Morgan Parra and Camille Lopez. Ludo Radoslavjevic and Brock James, deeply impressive last time out, hold their places.

Yet Sarries are not without hope. The England centre Brad Barritt will lead the team as well as the defensive effort, and if their ultimate “conscience” player can unleash the furies while maintaining iron discipline, it could be extremely close.

Interestingly, the outstanding young back-five forward Maro Itoje has been selected ahead of Jackson Wray at blind-side flanker. The test he faces is way beyond anything he has experienced to date.

Toulon v Leinster (Sunday 3.15pm)

Talking of flankers, the reigning champions from the Côte d’Azur have dropped Steffon Armitage to the bench for their meeting with the last of the Celtic contenders. Armitage should not feel embarrassed – there is no shame in playing second fiddle to a World Cup-winning Springbok in Juan Smith, the wondrous Argentinian forward Juan Fernandez Lobbe and an All Black back-rower in Chris Masoe – but it will hurt, all the same.

Leinster travel fully armed, with a loose combination – Jordi Murphy, Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip – equipped to ask difficult questions of Toulon. But with players as good as Leigh Halfpenny, Bryan Habana and the ultra-sophisticated Matt Giteau hanging around outside the scrum, the holders start as clear favourites.

European Challenge Cup: Gloucester v Exeter (Saturday 7.45pm)

Exeter, convincing in beating the Premiership title-holders Northampton last weekend, have been forced into a back-row change for this Challenge Cup semi-final, with Kai Horstmann replacing a concussed Ben White on the open-side flank. Horstmann is not a natural No 7, so may find the in-form Gloucester scavenger Matt Kvesic too hot to handle.

But Gloucester are woefully inconsistent, and unless the high-class lock Mariano Galarza gives them some authority up front, they will find it difficult to cope with the Devonians’ cohesion.