HEC Week 3 Who will be the winners and losers then...?

First topic message reminder :

I think gauging what posters have written on these boards in response that there is an average of about 2/3rds correct guess work. Some may have more, others lamentably guessed less so far, but it is a tight competition with plenty of surprises.

So week Three first of the double header weekends

Pool 1
Castres v Northampton, Saturday, 13:30
Scarlets v Munster, Saturday, 15:40

Pool 2
Cardiff Blues v Edinburgh, Friday, 20:00
Racing Metro 92 v London Irish, Saturday, 15:40

Pool 3
Glasgow v Montpellier, Sunday, 12:45
Bath v Leinster, Sunday, 12:45

Pool 4
Ulster v Aironi, Friday 19:30
Clermont Auvergne v Leicester, Sunday, 15:00

Pool 5
Saracens v Ospreys, Saturday, 18:00
Treviso v Biarritz, Saturday, 13:30

Pool 6
Connacht v Gloucester, Saturday, 13:30
Harlequins v Toulouse, Friday, 20:00

maestegmafia wrote:Not sure if you lads had noticed but of the top seven teams in the Rabo league only one team has lost a game. That was Treviso. The quality of this league has improved year on year. It is showing in the HEC.

Hopefully it still will be after the weekend.

Once the tournament reaches the business end I would imagine it will only be an Irish side or two representing the Rabble.

SafeAsMilk wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Not sure if you lads had noticed but of the top seven teams in the Rabo league only one team has lost a game. That was Treviso. The quality of this league has improved year on year. It is showing in the HEC.

Hopefully it still will be after the weekend.

Once the tournament reaches the business end I would imagine it will only be an Irish side or two representing the Rabble.

Cyril, considering your predictions so far in this years HEC, that all Welsh teams will lose every game, none have, it would be an easy presumption to think that you know little of what you are talking about when it comes to predicting.

Would you like me to find some of your previous predictions for this HEC as an examples...?

I'm not Cyril. I think he's registered, but it isn't me! I'm a tad more polite than that chap.

maesteg, I'm glad to see your other offensive posts were removed.

I still stand by my belief that only Irish sides will progress into the latter stages of the tournament to represent the Rabo.

SafeAsMilk wrote:
maesteg, I'm glad to see your other offensive posts were removed.

What offensive posts? I have never had a post removed on this forum....

We are having a good debate here, with out your trolling.

SafeAsMilk wrote:

I still stand by my belief that only Irish sides will progress into the latter stages of the tournament to represent the Rabo.

Alot more will be known after the double headers. I don't really see the point in predicting the QF at this early stage.

Chunky Norwich wrote:

SafeAsMilk wrote:

I still stand by my belief that only Irish sides will progress into the latter stages of the tournament to represent the Rabo.

Alot more will be known after the double headers. I don't really see the point in predicting the QF at this early stage.

True enough. Sorry, maesteg brings out the worst in posters. I must learn to ignore him.

Chunky Norwich wrote:Alot more will be known after the double headers. I don't really see the point in predicting the QF at this early stage.

We will know a lot more after this round. A great deal could happen. Sides that have won two matches could then lose two now.
Then again there are many teams on very good form dispensing others with comparative ease, with all things considered. Should those teams take wins this weekend, they will definitely start looking like worthy quarter finalists.

Scarlets, Munster, Edinburgh, Cardiff Blues, Leinster, Leicester, Clermont Auvergne, Toulouse, Harlequins are all looking good for Quarter final births if they win both their matches this round fantastically all of those teams are playing each other in the double header round.

Chunky Norwich - did you used to be Chuck Norris previously (obviously not the real one or you would have smashed my PC just by thinking about it)?

There are some great games coming up, shame i'm not going to the Blues vs Edinburgh one - the Scarlets one should be a cracker with hopefully a home win - Still think it will be difficult for the Scarlets to qualify as I doubt they'll get anything out of the return trip to Munster and then we have to go out to France to try and win - difficult, before entertaining the Saints who we can beat at home, but will that be enough?

And Maesteg - I think you've underlined some good reasoning so just ignore sourpuss and leave him to his trolling

Cheers Smirnoff,

Nothing is easy in this competition. But all the Welsh regions have done well, even though the Osprey's and Blues are still not firing properly. Hopefully they can improve further over the next two weekends.

Smirnoffpriest wrote:Chunky Norwich - did you used to be Chuck Norris previously (obviously not the real one or you would have smashed my PC just by thinking about it)?

Nah not me. I've never been anyone before. If you know what I mean.

There are some great games coming up, shame i'm not going to the Blues vs Edinburgh one - the Scarlets one should be a cracker with hopefully a home win - Still think it will be difficult for the Scarlets to qualify as I doubt they'll get anything out of the return trip to Munster and then we have to go out to France to try and win - difficult, before entertaining the Saints who we can beat at home, but will that be enough?

Looks like beign a proper weekend. Sometimes goign away to France in the last round is good as the French teams put out 2nd strings if they are out of the reckoning.

The Blues team looks very strong. Should eb a hoem win.

Leicester at Clermont too. What a prospect.

On the contrary maestegmafia if Saracens win both games vs Ospreys we will be firmly in the driving seat. Big IF I know but Biarritz at home and Treviso away are very winnable.

I agree our recent form isn't decent but it's irrelevant. We should have Hodgson,Barritt and Brits back for the game against you which is a huge boost. Farrell is very good with the boot but he currently lacks the overall attacking playmaking ability of Hodgson. Barritt is another playmaker who helps us vary our game. He isn't just a crashball contrary to popular belief. He is also a defensive lynchpin of the backline. He'll strengthen us ther.

Brits is a player you'll have to watch carefully or he'll create havoc. He was notably missing against Biarritz and Saints. I thought his absence wouldn't make a difference but it did.

Saracens are top of the HC pool having scored more points and tries than Ospreys. It's like when Welsh fans say they are joint 2nd but actually are 4th in the 6 nations. Very small margins but it all counts.


I just find it funny how you say Edinburgh are a great team is when they are 9th in the Pro12. Is that simply to do with the incredible strength in depth that allegedly exist in the Pro12?

Also Connacht are meant to be a good team but are 10th in the Pro12 and bottom in the HC pool?

beshocked wrote:On the contrary maestegmafia if Saracens win both games vs Ospreys we will be firmly in the driving seat. Big IF I know but Biarritz at home and Treviso away are very winnable.

Yes if Sarries win either of these games they will have a favourable finishing round in Jan. Still wouldn't guarantee Biarritz or Sarries winning in Treviso, they are a tough team at home.

beshocked wrote:I just find it funny how you say Edinburgh are a great team is when they are 9th in the Pro12. Is that simply to do with the incredible strength in depth that allegedly exist in the Pro12?

Five points separate 9th and fifth in the Rabo all of those teams winning and losing in almost equal amount. It is a close league where teams will go up and down in that group all season, read little in to it. Edinburgh are a good team, look at some of the matches they have played. You can not right them off, they can score tries easily with a fantastic backline. Visser is an amazing winger, one of the best in the HEC.

Also Connacht are meant to be a good team but are 10th in the Pro12 and bottom in the HC pool?[/quote] Its a tough competition and they have played the best teams at home and lost a few games narrowly. You only had to watch how good they were against Harlequins in the first round to get an impression of what they can do.

No game is a guarantee but I think we would beat Treviso at their place.

You would think with all the Visser talk he's the next Messiah! Is he going to be reborn on the 25th December?

You say Connacht were good vs Quins but they lost.

You focus too much on performance. Not enough on results.

Every single side in Europe is amazing!

I just find the building up of the Pro12 sides amusing.

beshocked wrote:
I just find the building up of the Pro12 sides amusing.

Why?

Scarlets (7th in the Rabo) and Munster (3rd in the Rabo) Top Pool 1, Edinburgh (9th in the Rabo) and Cardiff (5th in the Rabo) Top pool 2, Leinster (Rabo Leaders top pool 3) top Pool 4 and Ospreys (2nd in the Rabo) are joint on points second place in Pool 5.

I would say that all shows that the Rabo League Teams are some of the best in Europe this year.

maestegmafia wrote:I would say that all shows that the Rabo League Teams are some of the best in Europe this year.

I would say it shows two things

1) you get carried away after a few results
2) you do a lot of coat-tailing

beshocked wrote:It's like when Welsh fans say they are joint 2nd but actually are 4th in the 6 nations. Very small margins but it all counts.

Ospreys are the ONLY unbeaten team in the group. Not losing is what will count at the end of the pool rounds mate...!

Maestegmafia no - the most points at the end is what counts. You dropped 2 points against Treviso.

Some of the best after two rounds? Debatable but there are 4 rounds to go.

It's too early to build up the Pro12 sides. You are welcome to say how amazing the likes of Scarlets and Edinburgh are if they make it into the quarter finals.

BS

After two Games I am pretty happy that the Ospreys have not conceded a loss unlike the rest of the group.

OMG - Warriors are now fans faves to beat a Super 14 team - does not do us well - awesome looking team right enough

You should be unhappy that you could not beat Treviso. Very close to a loss I might add.

beshocked wrote:You should be unhappy that you could not beat Treviso. Very close to a loss I might add.

If you believe that you dont know much about Treviso mate.

I voted for the following

Castres v Northampton - Northampton, think they will sneak it no BPs

Scarlets v Munster - Given this one to the Scarlets but won't be easy Munster to get LBP

Cardiff Blues v Edinburgh - Blues with a BP

Racing Metro 92 v London Irish - Racing with BP

Glasgow v Montpellier - Glasgow no BPs

Bath v Leinster - Leinster with a BP

Ulster v Aironi - Ulster with a BP

Clermont Auvergne v Leicester - Clermont, Tigers to get a LBP

Saracens v Ospreys - Saracens no BPs

Treviso v Biarritz - Biarritz no BPs

Connacht v Gloucester - Gloucester to sneak this one no BPs

Harlequins v Toulouse - Really fancy Quins for this one but Toulouse to get LBP

Well after watching Saracens smash Treviso and pick up the bonus point I think I know a little about them.

There you go building up a pro12 side again.

I find you hilarious! You build up Treviso as some sort of incredibly tough side to beat at home but expect to win at Wembley?

You couldn't beat Treviso who are a weaker side than Saracens. What makes you think you can beat Saracens?

Beds...!

Good read. Think you are over estimating the Blues and undervaluing the Gunners there mate.

Also fabien gaultier is doing superb things with Montpellier they are on great form.

My thoughts are back a page.

beshocked wrote:What makes you think you can beat Saracens?

I think I have already told you.

Sorry I should have rephrased that. What makes you expect to win? I just find it baffling.Did you expect to beat Treviso too or did the weight of the challenge get to you and the team?

mm,

I just think the Blues will want to put few things right after the hammerig in Ireland last week.

With the weather up in Scotland at the mo just don't think Montpelier will fancy it.

Plus am hoping us Dragons can get something from the away leg at the Chiefs.

The weather is looking poor right now but tomorrow will see an improvement. As will Sunday. Should be a lot less than the hurricane they are expecting tonight.

Weather wise I would rather be playing in the south of France this weekend.

I love the double header games and on paper there are some cracking games to look forward to this weekend.

Personally looking forward to the

Sarries Os game at Wembley
Scarlets Munster
Clermont Tigers
Quins TOulouse

Quins have really set their stall out this season with what 14 out of 14, this will surely be their biggest test yet and allow them to see where they currently are.

True.

CA vs Tigers should be big too.

3 guys who were in the first team pack? Injuries have obviously had an effect on the team and there would be guys who would be starting in place of those guys. Even so it wasn't an incredibly strong Musnter team. It wasn't a bad side though and credit to the Os for winning here.

Apparently this is the first year in the history of the HC where the back-to-back games will be contested between the 1st and 2nd teams in every pool.

I’ll wait to see the teams before making any predictions, then I’ll just post my sportguru picks in here.

Lovely weather in cardiff today, sun's out as well

Thomond wrote:3 guys who were in the first team pack? Injuries have obviously had an effect on the team and there would be guys who would be starting in place of those guys. Even so it wasn't an incredibly strong Musnter team. It wasn't a bad side though and credit to the Os for winning here.

It was a very good side that caused plenty of problems. It will be interesting to see what they can do on a second consecutive weekend in Wales. Scarlets unfortunately could be without Davies and North in the back line.

Suprised that G Davies has been picked ahead of Knoyle for the Scarlets - but I do like Davies.
If the team on the BBC website is right then North, Williams and JD2 have all made it through and it looks like a very strong team - I can't wait until the end of the season when we'll have Stoddart and Turnbull back then we'll have strength all over the pitch...

I think thats a good call by Scarlets, Davies has been great, knoyle hasnt.

Pool 1
Munster 3% [ 23 ]
Northampton Saints 4% [ 24 ]
Scarlets 5% [ 33 ]
Castres 3% [ 23 ]

Popular Vote see's Scarlets beating Munster at PYS, and Saints edging Castres in France. Big call by 606, winning in Castres is not easy. They currently sit third in the top 14, only the other week they sent Toulouse packing putting thirty points on them.

Pool 2
Edinburgh 2% [ 14 ]
Cardiff Blues 6% [ 38 ]
Racing Métro 6% [ 38 ]
London Irish 1% [ 9 ]

Vote shows that Blues should win this home leg comfortably, as should Racing. Anyone who watched Racing vs Gunners at Murrayfield in the last round will think this is a crazy call. That was an exceptional game with a basketball-esq score. In my view anything could happen. Blues on the back of an awful trip to Dublin last week. Racing on the back of a poor showing in last weekends Paris derby

Pool 3
Leinster 7% [ 44 ]
Bath 1% [ 10 ]
Glasgow Warriors 3% [ 22 ]
Montpellier 4% [ 24 ]

Leinster have been playing well, demolishing Cardiff Blues last weekend putting a half century on the scoreboard easily. Glasgow Montpellier is a closer call. Weegies are a good team, have caused the odd upset in the Rabo already. Montpellier are playing very good rugby. Could the cold winter glasgow weather play a big part?

Pool 4
Leicester Tigers 2% [ 15 ]
Clermont 5% [ 35 ]
Ulster 7% [ 44 ]
Aironi 0% [ 3 ]

Clermont get the vote to put one over the Tigers, probably seen as home advantage but they are also in great form in the Top 14 lying 2nd. Tigers are looking a lot better post RWC. Ulster are clear favourites to smoke Airioni, fair call really, Airioni can play some rugby, but if you support Ulster, you would be planning to get a TBP from this.

Pool 5
Saracens 6% [ 38 ]
Ospreys 1% [ 9 ]
Biarritz 4% [ 29 ]
Benetton Treviso 2% [ 17 ]

Sarries are definite favourites to beat the Ospreys, who as ever are well placed in the Rabo, good record etc, but we all know how they can fall apart, try to be too ambitious. Its a game of steady mediocrity vs God knows what. One thing we do know is that that Ospreys front row looks more daunting with both "Hairbears" in it. Biarritz could well come unstuck at Treviso, they are a good team at home.

Pool 6
Toulouse 4% [ 25 ]
Harlequins 4% [ 24 ]
Gloucester 4% [ 27 ]
Connacht 3% [ 21 ]

This group sees top of the Jeff vs Top of the Top (14). What a game, "Le Crunch" huge. Are Toulouse good enough to win in London? That said Connacht at home will have a great turn out against the Cherries, that home support might sway the fixture, though with players like Sharples and Simpson-Daniel in the back three Glaws are a fast and talented team...

There are no damp squib matches this weekend... God damn it we are lucky to be Rugby Fans...

Well done 606, 3 Correct results in a row,

Pool 1

One result correct the other horrifically miss called..! Saints conceding Their second TBP loss of the HEC

Pool 2

Great result by Irish in Paris. No one saw that coming. Last night Blues put gunners to the sword. 1 correct call by 606v2 1 turn around.

Pool 4 Biarritz turn over Treviso I called this but was in the minority 18 posters who knew Treviso could beat Biarritz at home.

maestegmafia wrote:Pool 1

One result correct the other horrifically miss called..! Saints conceding Their second TBP loss of the HEC

Surely both were miscalled? Scarlets the bigger miscall not winning at home and Saints not winning away.

gelodge wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Pool 1

One result correct the other horrifically miss called..! Saints conceding Their second TBP loss of the HEC

Surely both were miscalled? Scarlets the bigger miscall not winning at home and Saints not winning away.

More people voted that Castres would win than Saints so no, i'll stick with my original post

maestegmafia wrote:

gelodge wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Pool 1

One result correct the other horrifically miss called..! Saints conceding Their second TBP loss of the HEC

Surely both were miscalled? Scarlets the bigger miscall not winning at home and Saints not winning away.

More people voted that Castres would win than Saints so no, i'll stick with my original post

Ah, some last minute voting, your summary just above showed Saints as having topped the poll.

Hey Gelodge,

Yes you are right... I thought voting was closed...

Some good games for this afternoon.

Bath v Leinster, Pl3, 12:45
Clermont Auvergne v Leicester, Pl4, 15:00
Glasgow v Montpellier, Pl3, 12:45

Which one was "horrifically mis-called"?

Pool 1 A lot of people got this wrong, scarlets didnt have enough for a great Munster performance, Saints also letting down a great number of people.

Scarlets 14 - 17 Munster
LBP for Scarlets

Castres 41 - 22 Northampton
TBP win for Castres


Pool 2 Only nine people predicted London Irish could beat Racing

Cardiff Blues 25 - 8 Edinburgh

Racing Metro 92 14 - 34 London Irish
Brilliant TBP for Irish


Pool 3 606V2 got both games correct

Bath 13 - 18 Leinster LBP for Bath RFC

Glasgow 20 - 15 Montpellier
LBP for Montpellier


Pool 4 Ulster's no surprise beat the weak Airioni, Clermont were correctly predicted to see off Tigers

Clermont Auvergne 30 - 12 Leicester
No TBP for CA

Ulster 31 - 10 Aironi
TBP for Ulster


Pool 5 Saracens predicted accurately, not many saw the strength that Treviso have at home..

Saracens 31 - 26 Ospreys
LBP for the Ospreys

Treviso 30 - 26 Biarritz
LBP for Biarritz


Pool 6 Both games were close calls. But the 606V2 collective guessed correctly.

Harlequins 10 - 21 Toulouse

Connacht 10 - 14 Gloucester
LBP for Connacht

Bit of a mixed bag this week prediction wise got 7 out of 12 right, well the results at least bit out on some of the BPs.

Scarlets v Munster LBP for Scarlets, I said Scarlets win Munster get the LBP

Castres v Northampton Said Saints would win and no BPs

Cardiff Blues v Edinburgh Got this one right well result, said Blues would get a BP

Racing Metro 92 v London Irish Like a lot got this wrong - Well done Irish

Bath v Leinster Again right result but thought Leinster would have won more comfortably

Glasgow v Montpellier Got this one right as well

Clermont Auvergne v Leicester Again another one right

Ulster v Aironi And another

Saracens v Ospreys And another

Treviso v Biarritz Wrong

Harlequins v Toulouse Worng again, honestly thought Quins would sneak this one

Connacht v Gloucester Finish off with a correct one

I got 9 out of 12 this week. The ones I got wrong were Scarlets, Saints and Montpellier.

maestegmafia wrote:Pool 1
Castres v Northampton = Castres by +7
Scarlets v Munster = Scarlets by -7

Pool 2
Cardiff Blues v Edinburgh = Cardiff by -7
Racing Metro 92 v London Irish = Racing Metro by 7+

Pool 3
Glasgow v Montpellier = Montpellier by +7
Bath v Leinster = Leinster by +7

Pool 4
Ulster v Aironi = Ulster by +7
Clermont Auvergne v Leicester = Clermont by 7

Pool 5
Saracens v Ospreys = Ospreys by +7
Treviso v Biarritz = Treviso by -7

Pool 6
Connacht v Gloucester = Connacht by -7
Harlequins v Toulouse = Toulouse by -7

7 out of 12... I called Scarlets, Racing Metro, Montpellier, Ospreys and Connacht not a good week's predictions.