Saracens and Leinster were good, but Stuart Barnes believes the final will be between the French clubs

Stuart Barnes predicts an all-French Champions Cup final and reflects on the weekend's quarter-finals...

And then there were four; the semi-finalists are now known for this year’s European Champions Cup with six fly-halves holding contrasting sway in the weekend’s set of results. It started in Dublin where two fly-halves commanded centre stage. Actually that’s me taking a degree of licence as the Irish international fly-half, Ian Madigan, played in his more suitable position of 12.

The real story was George Ford. He scored a try, made a try, kept Bath in the game with a single-handed display of something approaching rugby genius.

Enough of the digression; he kicked six from six penalties and booted the three-time European champions, Leinster, home. But the real story was George Ford. He scored a try, made a try, kept Bath in the game with a single-handed display of something approaching rugby genius... ah, but he missed some kicks, none more unforgettable alas for Bath than a reasonably straightforward one after his mesmerising solo.

And so the worrying shake of the heads, ‘you can’t afford to miss two pointers like that come a tight World Cup game, never mind a European quarter-final.’ Owen Farrell wouldn’t have missed it. True, but no other fly-half in Europe would have scored it. His missed kick was still a five-point gain for his team. Admittedly an elimination of these blips would be handy but the pros are leaving the cons for dead; Ford was fabulous. He almost beat Leinster with their superior ball retention and experience on his own.

Flawed genius

Next up were Clermont, without Camille Lopez, their star signing who has added tactical edge to their game. In stepped Brock James, the flawed genius of French club rugby. On this occasion he was so flawless that by the time the final 20 minutes arrived his mates were so far clear of the Saints that nerves had been taken out of the equation.

He passes with a poetic grace; even his striking of a kick from hand was easy on the eye. Commanding the field like an Auvergne Bonaparte he swept the English champions aside with plenty of help from his friends. The first 40 minutes was majestic. Northampton will encounter nothing like that for years to come. At this fluent level of form, nobody can stop Clermont, nobody bar Clermont... we have been here before.

On Sunday Saracens were aided and abetted not so much by anything special from Charlie Hodgson, rather an atrocious effort from Johnny Sexton. Only the very best are capable of such a shocker. His early attempts at goal kicks, his inaccurate high balls, his restarts out on the full; it was like another person to the cold-eyed 10 whose accuracy killed England.

Had he been near his average form Saracens would be out... that’s how it goes sometimes and let nobody downgrade the quality of Marcello Bosch’s final kick of the game to steal the tie. Racing Metro will wonder how they lost it. That will be of no interest to Saracens. They won; cometh the quarter-finals it is the result that matters.

Playing as they did in Paris will not be enough to worry Clermont Auvergne, intent on revenge for last season’s semi-final humiliation at the hands, shoulders and tackling game of Saracens. But there is no guarantee in this game and while the yellow and blues looked unbeatable, we have said the same before. Old rugby romantics might hold a flame for them but Saracens are none too worried about romance when the referee blows his whistle.

Surprise finalists

Romance would have been the order of the day had an English club that were so recently struggling to stay financially afloat beaten Toulon, the double champions. Old and young played their part in trying to write one of the competition’s more outlandish scripts. Alex Lozowski has a future but Andy Goode’s introduction at 45 minutes was a reminder of what a no-nonsense fly-half he has been through much of a career frequently underestimated.

He punted miles and passed with a rhythm that unleashed Eliot Daly. Here was an English fly-half with a grasp of the basics if not the class of Ford. Against him was a Frenchman who was once touted as a genius. Freddie Michalak has seen the game from top and bottom. On Sunday, Wasps were unfortunate to catch him on top of his game.

Live European Rugby Champions Cup

His goal-kicking, those little stabbing motions so different from any other kicker, was immaculate, his guidance around the field good - heck, he didn’t make a single howler for which he has become notorious. Bernard Laporte’s faith was repaid in points.

Toulon meet Leinster and will be firm favourites. Toulon versus Clermont is the likeliest final; if there is to be a shock the Irish side are my idea of the surprise finalists.

In the Challenge Cup there is a West Country derby between Gloucester and Exeter and an intriguing Edinburgh versus Dragons semi-final. Edinburgh are on a roll but the Dragons will be buoyed by their win against their old adversaries from Cardiff-Newport days.

I’m off for a kip now. It was a busy enough weekend; I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Stuart answers your questions...

Got a question for Stuart? Email him at skysportsclub@bskyb.com, tweet @SkySportsRugby #askskyrugby or use the feedback form on skysports.com.

Hi Stuart. Do you think Joe Simpson should be given a chance in England’s warm up games? Tom Hiorns     

STUART REPLIES: Tom, I think right now he is a long way ahead of Danny Care as a suitable like for like sub for Ben Youngs. Yes, he deserves a chance.

Stuart, it's becoming more apparent that defenders and attackers aren't supporting their weight at the breakdown, would you agree? Robert Pile   

STUART REPLIES: Robert, it is one of pet loathings. The failure for referees to pick the problem up leads to static breakdowns, slow ball and turgid rugby.

Hi Stuart. Four English clubs make it into the quarter-finals, only one team makes it to the semi-final. Is it a problem with England rugby, or is it a positive that they made it that far in the first place? Louis Clark, Reading

STUART REPLIES: Louis, overall, the lack of quality eclipsed the quantity of qualifiers and work at basic skills like passing is needed before neutrals can love an English team as they do Clermont.