Pool 1
Munster, Clermont Auvergne, Sale Sharks, Montauban
John Westerby
Prospects
Philippe Saint-Andre, the Sale director of rugby, believes that his team are
clear underdogs to qualify behind Munster and Clermont. Inconsistent though
they are, Sale have the potential to beat anybody on their day, especially
after the arrival of Dwayne Peel and Mathew Tait during the summer. But
Saint-Andre's assessment is probably fair, which merely shows how tough this
pool will be.
Clermont have often given the impression that the Heineken Cup comes a distant
second to the Top 14, but they have so much depth in their squad that they
have no excuses for failing to compete on both fronts. Montauban, in their
first Heineken Cup, can plead domestic priorities with some justification.
Munster are, well, Munster. Champions last season for the second time in three
years, they may be ageing, but there is an almost mystical element to their
presence in the Heineken Cup. Can the magic stretch another year?
Star player
Paul O'Connell, below, embodies everything good about Munster. Plays with
pride, passion and skill, an inspiration at the heart of that mighty forward
effort.
Key matches
The games between Sale and Clermont will determine the principal challengers
to Munster. Sale may come to rue that the away leg comes so soon, before
they have gathered momentum. If they lose heavily tomorrow, they could be
playing catch-up.
Fixtures
Today: Munster v Montauban (8pm). Tomorrow: Clermont Auvergne v
Sale Sharks (1.35pm). Oct 19: Sale Sharks v Munster (1pm), Montauban
v Clermont Auvergne (3pm). Dec 5: Sale Sharks v Montauban (7.45pm). Dec
7: Clermont Auvergne v Munster (3pm). Dec 13: Munster v Clermont
Auvergne (3.30pm), Montauban v Sale Sharks (6pm). Jan 16/17/18:
Clermont Auvergne v Montauban, Munster v Sale Sharks. Jan 23/24/25: Montauban
v Munster, Sale Sharks v Clermont Auvergne.
Pool 2
London Wasps, Edinburgh, Leinster, Castres
David Hands
Prospects
On form you would have to pick Leinster, the Magners League champions, were it
not for their results in the past fortnight; they have lost to Munster and,
more seriously, Connacht. Not only that, they are notoriously flaky on the
European stage; capable of great heights, but failing to come up trumps when
asked the serious questions. The addition of Rocky Elsom and C.J. van der
Linde to their squad will do no harm and the other three pool members have
been uniformly awful.
Between them they have mustered only three wins in more than a month.
Can we trust Wasps suddenly to play like the two-times winners of the Heineken
Cup that they have been? There is no obvious reason to suppose so, but maybe
an injection of Danny Cipriani magic can turn them around; that, though, is
asking much of a 20-year-old returning from a savage injury.
Star player
Surely a forward who can bring some authority to his side. Tom Rees, below,
has been playing that way for Wasps, Lionel Nallet is a commanding figure
for Castres, but what about the underrated Shane Jennings for Leinster?
Capped for Ireland during the summer, Jennings takes no prisoners.
Key match
For all four sides, the first one. It will bring self-confidence where, at
present, there is little or none. If Wasps can beat Castres on Sunday then
go to the Royal Dublin Society and turn over Leinster, it will be the fillip
they need.
Fixtures
Tomorrow: Edinburgh v Leinster (1.35pm). Sunday: London Wasps v
Castres (3pm). Oct 18: Castres v Edinburgh (5.30pm), Leinster v
London Wasps (5.30pm). Dec 5: Edinburgh v London Wasps (7.30pm). Dec
6: Leinster v Castres (1.35pm). Dec 12: Castres v Leinster (8pm). Dec
14: London Wasps v Edinburgh (1pm). Jan 16-18: London Wasps v
Leinster, Edinburgh v Castres. Jan 23-25: Leinster v Edinburgh,
Castres v London Wasps.
Pool 3
Leicester, Ospreys, Treviso, Perpignan
David Hands
Prospects
The new system of seeding was designed to remove pools of death, but pick the
bones out of Leicester, the Ospreys and Perpignan. Leicester have the
European tradition that the Ospreys crave, Perpignan are the nearly men of
French (and European) rugby; all three will hope to make hay out of Treviso,
not necessarily the easiest thing to do in Italy. In games played by the
quartet this season, there are only four defeats, two sustained by Perpignan
in the Top 14.
The other three will see Leicester as the team to beat, which takes the heat
off the Ospreys, who come close to resembling Wales in another guise. The
winning of the EDF Energy Cup last season, against Leicester, may prove the
release the Welsh region need, but winning this pool will be a significant
achievement and will harden the successful side for the knockout stage.
Star player
Without question Dan Carter, below, who does not arrive at Perpignan to make
his bow in the tournament until December. New Zealand's fly half could
appear against Leicester that month, assuming he comes unscathed through the
All Blacks' tour to Europe in November.
Key match
Sunday's clash at Welford Road between Leicester and the Ospreys. Two years
ago the 30-12 defeat suffered by the Ospreys at the same venue told nothing
of the host of chances they created and they have grown considerably since.
If they can nick this one, they will fear no one, on the road or not.
Today: Perpignan v Treviso (8pm). Sunday: Leicester v Ospreys
(1pm). Oct 18: Treviso v Leicester (1.35pm), Ospreys v Perpignan
(3.30pm). Dec 6: Ospreys v Treviso (3pm), Leicester v Perpignan
(5.30pm). Dec 13: Treviso v Ospreys (1.35pm). Dec 14: Perpignan
v Leicester (3pm). Jan 16-18: Perpignan v Ospreys, Leicester v
Treviso. Jan 23-25: Ospreys v Leicester, Treviso v Perpignan.
Pool 4
Stade Français, Scarlets, Ulster, Harlequins
John Westerby
Prospects
Stade Français are the clear favourites for this pool, even if they have never
quite fulfilled their potential on the European stage. With their Andy
Warhol-inspired shirts, they will stand out from the crowd more than ever,
but will their rugby be correspondingly colourful, with the artful Juan
Martín Hernández in full flow? They failed to reach the quarter-finals last
season, and that will not be tolerated again.
The other three teams won only one pool match between them last season. But a
young Harlequins side are one year farther into their development, having
viewed the tournament as a learning experience last time. Scarlets are
recovering after a dismal year and look stronger for the signings of David
Lyons, the Australia No8, and Kees Meeuws, the New Zealand prop. Ulster
remain difficult to beat at Ravenhill, so the scrap for second place could
be tight.
Star player
Sergio Parisse, below, was one of the outstanding performers in last season's
RBS Six Nations Championship and could be a key man if Stade are to win
their first Heineken Cup. The Italy captain is the epitome of a modern No8:
big, strong, fast, with good hands. Stop him if you can.
Key matches
If Stade are to come unstuck, it will be on their travels. Their first match,
against Ulster in Belfast tomorrow, will be a suitable test of their mettle.
Similarly, Harlequins must get something out of their visit to Scarlets this
weekend if they are to progress.
Tomorrow: Scarlets v Harlequins (3.30pm), Ulster v Stade Français
(3.30pm). Oct 18: Stade Français v Scarlets (1.35pm), Harlequins v
Ulster (3pm). Dec 5: Ulster v Scarlets (8pm). Dec 6: Stade
Français v Harlequins (3.30pm). Dec 12: Scarlets v Ulster (8pm). Dec
13: Harlequins v Stade Français (5.30pm). Jan 16/17/18: Scarlets
v Stade Français, Ulster v Harlequins. Jan 23/24/25: Harlequins
v Scarlets, Stade Français v Ulster.
Pool 5
Toulouse, Bath, Newport Gwent Dragons, Glasgow
Mark Souster
Prospects
With their unlimited budget and massive squad, it is difficult to look beyond
Toulouse winning the pool and even the tournament outright for a fourth
time. The French champions are bursting with talent, including a new kid on
the block in Maxime Médard, a full back of whom great things are expected.
Even though Jean-Baptiste Elissalde is missing with kidney stones, Byron
Kelleher is loving life in France. Throw in Vincent Clerc, Yannick Jauzion
et al and it is easy to see why the bookmakers rate their chances.
Guy Novès, the Toulouse coach, considers that Bath pose the chief threat.
“They are going to be extremely tough opposition,” he said.
Bath are running into form and under Steve Meehan, their head coach, have
implemented a style of play that is wonderful to watch and irresistibly
effective when it clicks. It is difficult to see the Dragons or Glasgow
making a meaningful challenge, although both will be feisty at home.
Star man
How New Zealand must be kicking themselves for allowing Kelleher, below, to
leave. The former All Blacks scrum half has settled in superbly and is the
player around whom so much revolves. He will also offer a level of
pragmatism when there is a danger of Toulouse getting carried away.
Key game
Bath v Toulouse in January. If results go to form, Bath will need to beat
Toulouse in the final pool game to stand a chance of qualifying as a best
runner-up or as pool winners.
Tomorrow: Newport Gwent Dragons v Glasgow (2.35pm). Sunday: Toulouse
v Bath (4pm). Oct 17: Glasgow v Toulouse (8pm). Oct 19: Bath v
Newport Gwent Dragons (1pm). Dec 6: Toulouse v Newport Gwent Dragons
(2.35pm). Dec 7: Bath v Glasgow (1pm). Dec 13: Newport Gwent
Dragons v Toulouse (2.30pm). Dec 14: Glasgow v Bath (2pm). Jan
16/17/18: Newport Gwent Dragons v Bath, Toulouse v Glasgow. Jan
23/24/25: Bath v Toulouse, Glasgow v Newport Gwent Dragons.
Pool 6
Gloucester, Biarritz, Cardiff Blues, Calvisano
Mark Souster
Prospects
As Mike Tindall has made clear, it is time for Gloucester to walk the walk.
There can be no more excuses for one of the best clubs in England, who are
desperate to shed the chokers' tag. In each of the past two seasons they
have finished top of the Guinness Premiership but collapsed in the
play-offs. For them it is all in the mind.
“We don't enjoy getting so close but so far,” Tindall, the centre, said. “We
don't enjoy sitting on top of the Premiership and then not winning it.”
Dean Ryan, the head coach, has made clear his concerns about referees'
interpretation at the breakdown. But they have it in them to win the pool
ahead of Biarritz, the fading French giants.
Cardiff have occasionally punched above their weight in Europe but do not
travel well and Calvisano are improving but will again be the makeweights of
the pool.
Star man
James Simpson-Daniel, below, has scored 17 tries in 25 European appearances,
which demonstrates his value to Gloucester and the the all-round threat he
poses. After an injury-free year, this tournament could be the making of
him. He can score tries and create them, is quick, brave and far more
physical than people give him credit for. The team are not the same without
him.
Key match
Gloucester's opening game in the pool tomorrow, against Biarritz at Kingsholm.
A win would give them momentum and confidence.
Tomorrow: Calvisano v Cardiff Blues (2.35pm), Gloucester v Biarritz
(5.30pm). Oct 18: Biarritz v Calvisano (6pm). Oct 19: Cardiff
Blues v Gloucester (3pm). Dec 5: Cardiff Blues v Biarritz (8pm). Dec
6: Calvisano v Gloucester (2.35pm). Dec 13: Biarritz v Cardiff
Blues (2.35pm), Gloucester v Calvisano (3pm). Jan 16/17/18: Gloucester
v Cardiff Blues, Calvisano v Biarritz. Jan 23/24/25: Biarritz v
Gloucester, Cardiff Blues v Calvisano.
