There will be no repeat of 2006 and 2009. Thank the Lord for that.
Leinster and Munster had their Champions Cup quarter finals confirmed earlier this evening while Connacht missed out in heartbreaking fashion against Toulouse.
Second seeds Munster will face Toulouse at Thomond Park on the March 31 to April 2 weekend, while Leinster will host Wasps at the Aviva Stadium.
Munster will be guaranteed a home semi-final, most certainly at the Aviva Stadium, if they can overcome the four-time European Cup champions in Limerick and Saracens beat Glasgow. That potential semi-final was confirmed soon after the pool stages ended.
A Munster victory would pit them against either reigning champions Saracens or PRO12 rivals Glasgow Warriors.
If Leinster were to defeat Wasps, they would have to travel to the South of France to take on the winner of Clermont’s quarter final with Toulon.
Your #ChampionsCup quarter-finals draw…🏆 pic.twitter.com/5ZtYlgVVqh
— Rugby on TNT Sports (@rugbyontnt) January 22, 2017
Needless to say, once the prospective routes to the final were learned, both Leinster and Munster fans had only one thing in mind – Champions Cup final at Murrayfield on May 13.
Would give my left bollock for a Leinster Munster final!!! On a side not, @LemonAndDuke will not be beaten on there burger 👌🏻 @jamieheaslip
— Jamie (@jamieparry85) January 22, 2017
https://twitter.com/ireland_90/status/823229533658583040
This is the @ChampionsCup SFs draw
Clermont/Toulon v Leinster/Wasps
Saracens/Glasgow v Munster/ToulousePotential all Irish final? #rugby
— Will Kelleher (@willgkelleher) January 22, 2017
One man is fancying Munster’s odds right now
https://twitter.com/PerryRSM/status/823229160189476864
However, a Glasgow Warriors fan teed up a potential, feisty Munster return to Scotland
As 6th seeds if @GlasgowWarriors beat Saracens in @ChampionsCup quarter-final then semi-final would be played in Scotland#WeAreWarriors
— Kevin Millar (@topofthemoonGW) January 22, 2017
Why would second seeds Munster not be guaranteed a home semi-final? Well, there is an odd reason for it.
@btsportrugby #ChampionsCup semi-final draw allows teams ranked 5-8 a potential home draw as a reward for beating teams 1-4 away from home.
— Tony Stredwick (@tonystredwick) January 22, 2017
This sets up the odd prospect of Munster winning their quarter final and willing on champions Saracens just so they can have a crack at them in Ireland.
