Heineken Cup 2012/13: Paul Ackford's guide to the pools

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/9591977/Heineken-Cup-201213-Paul-Ackfords-guide-to-the-pools.html

Pool One

Edinburgh
Munster
Racing Metro
Saracens
Overview Tough group containing three of last season’s quarter-finalists with Racing the odd one out.

Watch out for New influences. England’s Neil Back is Edinburgh forwards coach and All Black Doug Howlett has replaced Paul O’Connell as Munster captain.

X-factor Thomond Park. Still one of the most evocative and atmospheric grounds, especially on a wet and blowy Limerick night.

Banana skin Saracens. Dull, dull, dull but very difficult to beat in the group stages.

Prediction Munster to get through to their 14th quarter-final in 18 seasons.

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Pool Two

Treviso
Leicester
Ospreys
Toulouse
Overview Delicious. Two giants of the Heineken Cup, Leicester and Toulouse, locking horns with last season’s Pro12 champions Ospreys.

Watch out for Leicester surging on the return of injured players. Ben Youngs and Mathew Tait are back in action with Louis Deacon and Tom Croft not too far behind.

X-factor Toulouse, when they play, which, unfortunately, is an increasingly rare phenomenon.

Banana skin Heresy perhaps, but has Guy Noves, Toulouse’s fabulously successful coach, lost his mojo?

Prediction Toulouse and Leicester to march on.

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Pool Three

Biarritz
Connacht
Harlequins
Zebre
Overview The group of life. Italian side Zebre are struggling in the Pro12 and Connacht are the weakest of the Irish provinces, which could give Biarritz and Quins an easy ride.

Watch out for English bigwigs using Zebre’s results as validation for the changes they wish to make to the tournament’s structure.

X-factor The thought that Biarritz, one of the sun-kissed gladiators of the Heineken Cup, could be stirring once more.

Banana skin If Nick Evans, Quins’ go-to man at 10, steps on one. He is that essential.

Prediction Biarritz and Quins to qualify.

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Pool Four

Castres
Glasgow
Northampton
Ulster
Overview A big, meaty forward-dominated pool, leavened by the genius of Ulster’s Ruan Pienaar.

Watch out for A decent outside-half. If you find one, please let Jim Mallinder, Northampton’s director of rugby, know.

X-factor Tommy Bowe, a chillingly accomplished finisher, who has moved back to Ulster after a successful spell with Ospreys.

Banana skin Castres, if they can be bothered. Mind you, 20 victories in 52 Heineken Cup ties is evidence that they very rarely are in Europe.

Prediction Ulster’s to lose.

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Pool Five

Clermont
Exeter
Leinster
Scarlets
Overview Exeter who? This is when the West Country wannabes find out how competitive they are.

Watch out for Mid-December when Clermont and Leinster play back-to-back games against each other. They will decide this season’s competition.

X-factor Joe Schmidt (above), Leinster coach, a walking, talking cocktail of Kiwi know-how.

Banana skin Leinster away for Clermont and Clermont away for Leinster. The Scarlets and Exeter are window dressing.

Prediction Leinster on tries scored in the games against Clermont.

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Pool SIx

Cardiff
Montpellier
Toulon
Sale
Overview The only group with two teams from the same country battling against each other. Vive la France.

Watch out for The Toulon bench. It will be stacked with very expensive, seasoned internationals who can’t make the starting line-up.

X-factor Sadly, in this celebrity-obsessed world in which we live, Jonny Wilkinson, though not necessarily for his rugby skills.

Banana skin Refereeing interpretations for the French sides because they do not adapt as well as the other nations.

Prediction Toulon are in top form and will win the group.

Personally I feel sorry for Treviso, they are just poised to make a big step up,and get put into the group of death.

If they were in Zebre's group I'd expect them to make an impact or nearly any other group.

I would go along with most of those predictions.

Clermont v Leinster will be titanic & it is a shame they are in the same group as it could easily be the final but I can see one of them dipping out of the quarters. I think Clermont will edge it just.

Loads of banana skins all over the place though cant wait.

The Scarlets and Exeter are window dressing

thats harsh!

Exeter just beat the English champs (a hiding) and Scarlets are second in the league having already given Leinster a drubbing this year. It's going to be a really tough group, I can't call it but i wouldn't be surprised if neither Leinster nor Clermont topped the group.

whocares wrote:

The Scarlets and Exeter are window dressing

thats harsh!

I would agree esp at home. They are the ones I think that really hold the key to the group as if either get a result against the big two the LBP becomes unimportant. there is also the little matter of 4TBP which is like another win on offer.

I think that the predictions are close enough but not enough respect given to the lesser teams and their impact on the group. Treviso wont be in the running but they will deciede the group and if there is any second place.

I think Treviso will only give up 1-2 TBPs in the group and get at least one win.

Last time v Os was a draw at home, and tigers had a 8 try triller and tigers won by a point. Sarries only won thanks to Stringer throwing himself under the ball to save the winning try. They will deffinately have a say