Heineken Cup 2014 Knockout Stages

Thought it would be good to gauge who people think will go all the way.  I don't think there has ever been a tougher year to pick the winner, its being hyped as the most competitive last 8 the HC has ever seen and that is saying something.  The last 8 this season have won 13 Heineken Cups out of 18 Cups in total.

Quarter finals are:

Ulster vs Saracens

Clermont vs Leicester Tigers 

Toulon vs Leinster

Munster vs Toulouse

Semi finals:

Ulster / Saracens v Clermont / Leciester

Toulon / Leinster v Munster / Toulouse

Bookies odds:

Clermont Auvergne 9/4
Toulon 3/1
Ulster 6/1
Leinster 7/1
Munster 8/1
Saracens 10/1
Toulouse 12/1
Leicester 35/1

Lets see if v2 can predict the 2014 HC winner.

Ulster .

I'd say Clermont or Munster. But as usual the lottery of the home semi final draw will play a big part.

By the way is that the best last 8 ever? Every tie is brilliant. Makes me even sadder about next year.

I think and hope Ulster, they have everything going for them. Clermont might choke
Toulouse/Toulon dont have the bottle
Saracens are very lucky to be there and wont last against the big boys

Between Ulster, Leinster and Clermont

The semi final draw is coming up. As usual I suppose Munster will be away and Clermont at home.

I'll wait til I see the semi final draw before I pick a team,so much depends on luck of the draw and of course injuries during the 6N can really hurt a teams chances.

Semi final draw maybe important but bare in mind that the teams who get a home draw can't play it at their own stadium anyway and often travelling support is as big as the supposed home support in a neutral venue.

Leinster v Ulster final with Leinster to win it   

Big boost for us with a potential semi-final in Dublin! Clermont in Dubin would be massive. Make it happen boys!!

Leinster v Munster semi please!!! Oh that is mouth watering.

Walkover for Munster, Toulouse at home in the QF (lucky us) and then either the L'Boys or Jo'burg on tour before an easy final against the Free Presbyterian Saffers from over the border....

Ulster / Saracens v Clermont / Leciester

Toulon / Leinster v Munster / Toulouse

Bookies odds are being revised based on semi final draw, will update as soon as.

Should've backed Ulster before the draw   If both Ulster and Leinster win would we see a double header in Dublin for the semis?

Looks like it will be a repeat of last year's final with Clermont surely coming out on top this time.

Northampton to beat Bath in the Amlin final.

My early thoughts are:

All home wins in quarters

Clermont to sneak past Ulster in one semi Toulon to beat Munster

Clermont v Toulon final.

It would be great to have another Leinster Munster semi in Croker.

If there is one team who can win in Toulon it's Leinster.

That said, they will need SOB back and firing to do it.

Its a bit of a sickener. 2004 the last time Munster got home advantage (not including the "home" advantages against Leinster in Dublin).


Surely if a team gets drawn at home one year and the next team gets drawn away there should be a reversal of roles?

LeinsterFan4life wrote:It would be great to have another  Leinster Munster semi in Croker.

It would be great yeah and whilst I think teams like Munster, Leinster, Toulouse and Leicester are not the teams they were they have have huge self belief and that never say die or know when your beaten attitude.

So whilst I predicted all home wins in the quarters Leinster, Toulouse and Leicester all know how to win the big games and away from their home patch.

profitius wrote:Its a bit of a sickener. 2004 the last time Munster got home advantage (not including the "home" advantages against Leinster in Dublin).


Surely if a team gets drawn at home one year and the next team gets drawn away there should be a reversal of roles?

To be honest, Munster only have themselves to blame losing that opening game to Edinburgh and as the only team that is 6 from 6 in the pools, I think if anyone deserves a home SF then its Ulster.  I don't think anyone deserves a home SF that being said, it should be neutral venues.

Artful_Dodger wrote:

profitius wrote:Its a bit of a sickener. 2004 the last time Munster got home advantage (not including the "home" advantages against Leinster in Dublin).


Surely if a team gets drawn at home one year and the next team gets drawn away there should be a reversal of roles?

To be honest, Munster only have themselves to blame losing that opening game to Edinburgh and as the only team that is 6 from 6 in the pools, I think if anyone deserves a home SF then its Ulster.  I don't think anyone deserves a home SF that being said, it should be neutral venues.

It is neutral in the home country   and losing against Edinburgh doesnt make a hell of a difference to the draw for the semi   and   .

profitius wrote:Its a bit of a sickener. 2004 the last time Munster got home advantage (not including the "home" advantages against Leinster in Dublin).


Surely if a team gets drawn at home one year and the next team gets drawn away there should be a reversal of roles?

I have always considered that semi home draw the biggest flaw in the competition.

I have always wished that the team with the best ranking from the pool stage should get the advantage.

ME-109 wrote:

Artful_Dodger wrote:

profitius wrote:Its a bit of a sickener. 2004 the last time Munster got home advantage (not including the "home" advantages against Leinster in Dublin).


Surely if a team gets drawn at home one year and the next team gets drawn away there should be a reversal of roles?

To be honest, Munster only have themselves to blame losing that opening game to Edinburgh and as the only team that is 6 from 6 in the pools, I think if anyone deserves a home SF then its Ulster.  I don't think anyone deserves a home SF that being said, it should be neutral venues.

It is neutral in the home country   and losing against Edinburgh doesnt make a hell of a difference to the draw for the semi   and   .

Isn't the semi final draw made based on seedings and if Munster hadn't lost to Edinburgh they'd be first seeds after the pools?  Apologies if I'm wrong.

Saracens v Clermont
Toulon v Toulouse

Toulon v Clermont

Clermont

Nope...semi final is an open draw

VinceWLB wrote:

profitius wrote:Its a bit of a sickener. 2004 the last time Munster got home advantage (not including the "home" advantages against Leinster in Dublin).


Surely if a team gets drawn at home one year and the next team gets drawn away there should be a reversal of roles?

I have always considered that semi home draw the biggest flaw in the competition.

I have always wished that the team with the best ranking from the pool stage should get the advantage.

That would be the proper thing to do. Anything but have a system where some teams can get loads of home semi finals while others can get drawn away most of the time.

markb wrote:Saracens v Clermont
Toulon v Toulouse

Toulon v Clermont

Clermont

Markb,

I think Ulster with have to much for Sarries at home don't ask me why I just think they will.

profitius wrote:Its a bit of a sickener. 2004 the last time Munster got home advantage (not including the "home" advantages against Leinster in Dublin).


Surely if a team gets drawn at home one year and the next team gets drawn away there should be a reversal of roles?

Yeah but you have got some fairly handy group draws,from a Leinster point of view with the exception of 2012 we have had really tough pools the last 5 years so the luck comes and goes.

Its more the big three from France and Ireland with the whipping boys from angleterre...

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

profitius wrote:Its a bit of a sickener. 2004 the last time Munster got home advantage (not including the "home" advantages against Leinster in Dublin).


Surely if a team gets drawn at home one year and the next team gets drawn away there should be a reversal of roles?

Yeah but you have got some fairly handy group draws,from a Leinster point of view with the exception of 2012 we have had really tough pools the last 5 years so the luck comes and goes.

excuses excuses..

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

profitius wrote:Its a bit of a sickener. 2004 the last time Munster got home advantage (not including the "home" advantages against Leinster in Dublin).


Surely if a team gets drawn at home one year and the next team gets drawn away there should be a reversal of roles?

Yeah but you have got some fairly handy group draws,from a Leinster point of view with the exception of 2012 we have had really tough pools the last 5 years so the luck comes and goes.

Higher seeds tend to get handier draws. I don't see where the luck is there.

Revised odds after semi final draw now in the op.

Clermont Auvergne 9/4
Toulon 3/1
Ulster 6/1
Leinster 7/1
Munster 8/1
Saracens 10/1
Toulouse 12/1
Leicester 35/1

Bookies have Toulouse as the biggest losers from the semi final draw going from 8/1 to 12/1.  Ulster and Saracens odds shorten slightly as the winner of their match at Ravenhill obviously gets the semi final in their own country.  Toulon's odds are also shortened by the draw but only slightly from 4/1 to 3/1, Leinster's odds are surprisingly lengthened from 13/2 to 7/1 despite being on the side of the draw which gives them a home semi.

profitius wrote:

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

profitius wrote:Its a bit of a sickener. 2004 the last time Munster got home advantage (not including the "home" advantages against Leinster in Dublin).


Surely if a team gets drawn at home one year and the next team gets drawn away there should be a reversal of roles?

Yeah but you have got some fairly handy group draws,from a Leinster point of view with the exception of 2012 we have had really tough pools the last 5 years so the luck comes and goes.

Higher seeds tend to get handier draws. I don't see where the luck is there.

Leinster have been top seeds all those years.

ME-109 wrote:

asoreleftshoulder wrote:

profitius wrote:Its a bit of a sickener. 2004 the last time Munster got home advantage (not including the "home" advantages against Leinster in Dublin).


Surely if a team gets drawn at home one year and the next team gets drawn away there should be a reversal of roles?

Yeah but you have got some fairly handy group draws,from a Leinster point of view with the exception of 2012 we have had really tough pools the last 5 years so the luck comes and goes.

excuses excuses..

Excuses for what,I don't understand the comment,we've won the competition 3 of those 5 years despite the tough pools,oh yeah and the year we had an easy pool we had to beat Clermont in France so it didn't all go our way that year either.

I have to say if it's a choice between an open semi-final draw or the top seeds from the pools being given home adv in the semis then I'd prefer the system we have now.  It might not be ideal but I think teams that are drawn with Zebre / a disinterested French team in their pool are dealt enough of an advantage as it is.

Happy to be written off. I think we can take down Ulster. After all we did last season, albeit at Twickenham.

Seems likes Ulster complacency is kicking in just like last season. Good good.

I know they're away to Munster, but Toulouse at 12-1 look a decent bet. If any French team can win in Thomond it's Toulouse.
After that, Ulster to whup Saracens and give Nigel Wray more ammo for what a terrible competition the Heino is
With blue-tinged specs on Leinster to win at Toulon - will Seanie be back?
Clermont to despatch Leicester

beshocked wrote:Happy to be written off. I think we can take down Ulster. After all we did last season, albeit at Twickenham.

Seems likes Ulster complacency is kicking in just like last season. Good good.

Really?  Who has written off Saracens and what Ulster fans have made posts that could be construed as complacent??  You really do talk an awful lot of nonsense on these boards beshocked and I don't think you realize how much of a fool you come across as, have a bit more self respect.

beshocked wrote:Happy to be written off. I think we can take down Ulster. After all we did last season, albeit at Twickenham.

Seems likes Ulster complacency is kicking in just like last season. Good good.

No complacency but a realization that a home draw for the SF on top of a home QF is a great opportunity.

I'll make one prediction now Toulouse will not win - they are nowhere near good enough to win 3 games in a row outside of France

I voted Ulster. They have it in them to win this year. I think Munster will win but Leinster will not. Would love a Munster Ulster final!

Got my tickets for the final and as a Dragons fan I always go as a nuetral and just love the whole day etc.

That said I would love to see an all Irsih final that would be huge even in Cardiff.

Artful dodger I can give you three examples - jhamer25, me-109 and brennomac.

beshocked wrote:Artful dodger I can give you three examples - jhamer25, me-109 and brennomac.

You realise that none of those guys are Ulster fans right?

If both semis are in ireland, can the aviva host two games in a weekend or would one go to croker?

beshocked wrote:Artful dodger I can give you three examples - jhamer25, me-109 and brennomac.

  

Golden wrote:If both semis are in ireland, can the aviva host two games in a weekend or would one go to croker?

I don't think it would make any kind of financial sense to send one to Croker. The GAAs price is to high. I know rugby is a lot harder on the pitch, but they have hosted rugby and soccer internationals back to back in the past. We'd just better hope the weather is good and take our chances.

Kind of premature.

For what its worth I have tipped Ulster to, that does not mean I am writing Sarries of, its just an opinion I have.

If Sarries were at home I would have said Sarries would be fave.

Notch wrote:

beshocked wrote:Artful dodger I can give you three examples - jhamer25, me-109 and brennomac.

You realise that none of those guys are Ulster fans right?

I will be for the Quarter Final though....