By Charlie Elliott
The Champions Cup Round of 16 is finally upon us, and with it comes some of the most highly anticipated matchups of the season.
After a great pool stage, the elite clubs across Europe now battle for a spot in the quarterfinals.
This weekend promises to deliver drama as powerhouses clash and underdogs aim to shock the continent.
Here is one matchup from each game that you need to look out for.
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RG Snyman v Chandler Cunningham-South
Young forward Cunningham-South has been making waves for Harlequins and England with his fearless nature and power, but will be up against it in Dublin when Quins face Leinster.
Starting at lock this time around, his opposite number is South African monster RG Snyman, who is one of the best in the world in his position.
Not only an absolute beast but also a good rugby player, Snyman doesn’t have any real weaknesses in his game.
CCS will have a huge task, but his presence will worry the Springbok at Croke Park.
Will Skelton v Tadhg Beirne
Ronan O’Gara managing against his former club is the main headline that surrounds La Rochelle v Munster, but on the field, it is going to be a great game.
The hosts need to break an eight-game winless run and have to play against fifth in the URC, which is no easy task.
In the second row, Wallabies international Skelton will face off against Ireland star Beirne.
Both get much of their joy from the breakdown and the winner of this clash could well decide the fate of the game.
Hugely physical and powerful, seeing this duo going at it will be a joy to watch.
Romain Ntamack v George Ford
Toulouse v Sale Sharks is a very intriguing clash as on paper, Toulouse have the ability to blow Sale away.
But Alex Sanderson knows how to set up a defensive team, so there is hope.
With only two away wins in the Premiership or Champions Cup so far this season, travelling to Occitanie will prove to be a tough test.
The physical game will be key, but without George Ford being at his best both on the ball and as a communicator, it is unlikely that they will travel back to Manchester with anything to show for it.
Ntamack is a brilliant player at both club and international level, with class passing and vision, similar in many ways to Ford.
Having a bit of a reprieve from the inevitable Toulouse pressure means that Ford needs to make the right decisions at all times in the game.
Fin Smith v Anthony Belleau
Reigning Premiership champions Northampton Saints are as close to full strength as they have been all season, after a torrid title defence which leaves Europe as their only chance of silverware.
Fly-half Fin Smith is back following his mandatory rest taken against Sale Sharks and will be the focal point of what should be a fluid Saints attack.
With many of the team having not been able to gel together this year, the focus will be on the fly-half to control the tempo and dictate play.
Clermont Auvergne have a star of their own at ten, as Anthony Belleau starts for the French side.
A 12-time France international, Belleau is more experienced than the young Smith and will be hoping to give the talent a rude awakening.
Ben White v Ivan van Zyl
For all the talk in the buildup to the Toulon v Saracens game about the away team not putting their best side forward, their 23 still contains 11 internationals.
While they are without stars such as Maro Itoje and Tom Willis after the Six Nations, those who will take to the field have the potential for an upset.
With a few young players in the squad, experience is crucial. That is where scrum-half Ivan van Zyl comes in.
A 6-time Springbok, van Zyl is a shrewd operator and will be leaned upon a lot in terms of helping out the young lads, especially as he is captain.
Against him is Scotland international Ben White, who is such a tidy player and had a decent Six Nations for Gregor Townsend’s team.
Adrea Cocagi v Tomasso Menoncello
Two unfancied teams battling it out for a place in the quarters, few would have predicted Castres and Benetton to both be at this stage.
Now, they both have a golden chance to make the last eight.
The centres are Benetton’s biggest weapons with Tomasso Menoncello, who will line up alongside the equally adept Juan Ignacio Brex.
Up against them is Fijian Adrea Cocagi, who announced himself onto the Champions Cup scene this season with a huge shift in their surprising win away against Saracens.
Experienced in the Top 14, it is going to need to be a mammoth shift from the former Stade Français man.
Matt Fagerson v Hanro Liebenberg
Both Glasgow Warriors and Leicester Tigers will be quietly confident after seeing each other’s lineups, as both are near to full-strength but not quite at their peak due to a number of reasons.
Tigers are clearly taking this competition seriously and have put out about as strong a team as they can muster at the moment.
Hanro Liebenberg has been in great form since the Six Nations and will look to continue it against Glasgow’s Matt Fagerson.
The two blind sides for their respective teams, while they tend not to steal the headlines, both are hugely consistent and instrumental in keeping their team ticking.
As this is expected to be a tight game, all it may take for a win is staying robust and grinding out the opponent.
Damian Penaud v Jacob Stockdale
Penaud is one try away from breaking Chris Ashton‘s record of 11 tries in a single Champions Cup campaign, currently sitting level with the record.
He has a great opportunity to do so, as Bordeaux-Bègles host an unfancied Ulster team at the Stade Chaban-Delmas.
Stockdale is no slouch on the Ulster wing, with over 35 caps for Ireland and a Six Nations to his name, though he has been out of the reckoning recently.
It could be a step too far for the URC team, who are huge outsiders going into this game.
READ MORE: Champions Cup – Five Things to Watch in the Round of 16
