Seconds out....

The sparring is over, now it’s time for the heavyweights of European rugby to deliver their telling blows and secure their rightful places in the knockout stages of the Heineken Cup. We take a look at who’s left in the hunt & who’s resigned themselves to the Amlin.

 

 

 

 

Pool 1

Leinster face a tricky run in their final 2 pool games before they can book their QF place. First they must travel to Castres before hosting their apparent bogey team at the RDS, all of course without Sean O’Brien. To make matters worse, the IRFU are still playing cat and mouse with O’Brien and Heaslip over their contract extensions, a distraction that Leinster could do without. The form of Luke Fitzgerald this season has been exciting and his hat-trick against Northampton should make all the wingers in the country sit up and take notice. He is surely a shoo-in for the left wing in the Six Nations. Back to more pressing matters though and although a more difficult task than they would have wanted, Leinster will wrap up this pool with 2 wins while Northampton will give it socks in the hope of a slip up from the Blues.
 

Predicted finish

1.       Leinster

2.       Northampton                                                           

3.       Castres

4.       Ospreys

Pool 2

From the outset we’d all have agreed that Toulon would probably walk this group in their sleep. Although they’ll probably beat Cardiff Blues this weekend, there is more than a small hope that the Blues could go to France and get a result. Toulon haven’t destroyed teams like they managed to last year and they won’t manage to do it this weekend either. A win is likely for the home side though and I’d expect them to top the group albeit not in the fashion they’d have hoped for.

 

Predicted finish

1.       Toulon

2.       Cardiff Blues

3.       Exeter Chiefs

4.       Glasgow Warriors

Pool 3

Connacht blew this group wide open in round 3 when they travelled to the Stade Amiral and stunned not only Tolouse but the entire Northern hemisphere with their brave victory. Saracens, if they are to win the group, must do the same as the team who they would appear to look down upon. They’re well capable but it remains to be seen if Tolouse will allow this to happen again. Round 1 gave us the game of the tournament so far when a missed drop goal attempt from Eoin Farrell made sure Tolouse left with the points. Another epic clash is on the cards this time and although it’s not widely expected, I’d tip Saracens to just shade this one. Meanwhile, Connacht will host Zebre at the sportsground where they will expect to secure their third win in the competition this year making it their most successful appearance yet.
 

Predicted finish

1.       Saracens

2.       Tolouse

3.       Connacht

4.       Zebre

 

Pool 4

Clermont can wrap up the pool of death this weekend when they travel to take on Harlequins at the stoop. After taking maximum points from their back-to-back against Racing, Quins have clawed their way back into contention. Nobody expected Harlequins to take 10 points from Racing but that they did and even if the French were poor, credit must go to Conor O’Shea for leaving them in the hunt.  It seems taking on the mighty Clermont side could not come at a better time as they will be without their talismanic captain Julien Bonnaire after he injured his arm last weekend. Clermont are there for the taking while Scarletts and Racing Metro may begin to turn their attention to the Amlin. I still think Clermont will do enough to top the pool but Quins might just sneak into an away quarter final.

 

1.       Clermont Auvergne
 

2.       Harlequins

3.       Llianeli Scarletts

4.       Racing Metro

Pool 5

Ulster’s ship is swaying at the moment. Mark Anscombe has struggled to find consistency this season in the league while they’re the only team with a 100% record in Europe. The next 2 weeks will determine a lot about their title credentials. Montpellier at home poses little threat and a bonus point is expected by the Ravenhill faithful. It is next week however, which Ulster will really need to show their maturity and travel to Leicester tigers in search of a win. Assuming the Tigers can go to Italy and take maximum points from Treviso who have yet to fire in this years competition, then Welford Road is set to host a shoot-out for top spot in the group. A losing bonus point might even be enough for Ulster to stay top of the group but given the depth of the squad and the scintillating rugby they display at Ravenhill, its time this team delivered the goods when it counts. 

Predicted finish

1.       Leicester

2.       Ulster

3.       Montpellier

4.       Benetton Treviso

 

Pool 6

With 2 minutes to go in France, Munsters hopes of a place in the knockout stages looked bleak. Who knows what might have been for Rob Penney & Simon Mannix as their contract was up for renewal, had JJ Hanrahan not pulled it out of the fire with a wonder try. That win put Munster firmly in control of the pool & although Ulster have more points than them, of all the Irish provinces, I think they look the most likely to secure a home quarter final. They should take a minimum of 8 points from the remaining 2 games, although if they took 9 or even 10 it would leave them nearer the top of the last 8. Glocester sent a second string side to Thomond Park that managed to cause problems for Penneys men. Fast forward 2 months however and Munster are firing on a few more cylinders. Top of the Rabo, top of the pool, JJ starting to really push Keatley at outhalf and the imminent return of Murray & Zebo has Munster looking healthy favourites to go to Gloucester and produce the goods. One thinks that Gloucester’s decision to sell their tickets publicly may come back to bite them too. Edinburgh may get a result at home to Perpignan too but unless Gloucester can cause an upset this weekend, it is Munster who will inevitably top pool 6.

 

Predicted finish

1.       Munster

2.       Gloucester

3.       Edinburgh

4.       Perpignan