Heineken Cup seedings

by Adam D Thu Jun 02, 2011 6:34 pm

First topic message reminder :

Reigning Heineken Cup champions Leinster have been confirmed as top seeds for next season's tournament.

The Irish side, who defeated Northampton 33-22 in a rollercoaster final at the Millennium Stadium in May, are joined in tier one by Toulouse, Munster, Cardiff Blues, Biarritz and Leiceseter.

The Saints, meanwhile, are among the second tier teams, alongside Clermont Auvergne, the Ospreys and fellow Premiership sides London Irish, Bath and Harlequins, the winners of this year's Amlin Challenge Cup.

Reigning Premiership champions Saracens are poised to create a tough group after being confirmed in tier three, while tournament newcomers Connacht have been confirmed in the bottom tier, where they are joined by megabucks French outfit Racing Metro and Top 14 finalists Montpellier.

Seedings for the 2011-12 Heineken Cup:

Tier 1 - Leinster, Toulouse, Munster, Cardiff Blues, Biarritz Olympique, Leicester Tigers

Tier 2 - Northampton Saints, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Ospreys, Bath, Harlequins, London Irish

Tier 3 - Ulster, Saracens, Gloucester, Glasgow Warriors, Scarlets, Edinburgh

Tier 4 - Connacht, Benetton Treviso, Castres Olympique, Montpellier, Racing Metro 92, Aironi

From http://www.espnscrum.com/heineken-cup-2010-11/rugby/story/140876.html?CMP=OTC-RSS

by dubh_linn Tue Jun 07, 2011 11:43 am

prop_lyd wrote:
dubh_linn wrote:
prop_lyd wrote:
dubh_linn wrote:
Mickado wrote:Group of death – Leinster, Saints, Gloucester, Racing Metro.

hmmm
I'd back us (Leinster) to win 3 at home
win at gloucester
bonus point defeat at Northamptom (think they might have a point to prove!)
and against racing metro a tight match but a narrow win in the end for Leinster

I wouldn't be so confident coming to Kingsholm

My long suffering mate wouldn't rate Gloucesters chances too highly (he's eternally pessimistic about Gloucester rugby)

Like in any 'group of death' there are no gimmes and all it takes is one substandard performance to put qualification in doubt...and then you are most likely chasing one of the runners up spots with an away quarter final...the wait for the draw seems to be taking forever

In that group I reckon where we'd come unstuck is away matches. We were unbeaten last season at home so building a nice little fortress. Not sure what Redpath will be targettting this season, I'd reckon: prem final, lv winners and heiniken quarters...that would keep me happy and exstatic if we did better than that!

What time is the draw?

I'm sure somebody mentioned 12:00 earlier

by Adam D Tue Jun 07, 2011 11:46 am

midday

by prop_lyd Tue Jun 07, 2011 11:50 am

Cheers!!

by BATH_BTGOG Tue Jun 07, 2011 12:29 pm

According to the BBC Defending champions Leinster will be first out of the hat when the draw for the 2011/2012 Heineken Cup pool stages is made at Twickenham on Today.

How can they be the first out of the hat?

FIX

Sounds as bad as FIFA

by greybeard Tue Jun 07, 2011 12:30 pm

You think that's bad? It's not even a hat!

by dubh_linn Tue Jun 07, 2011 12:34 pm

BATH_BTGOG wrote:According to the BBC Defending champions Leinster will be first out of the hat when the draw for the 2011/2012 Heineken Cup pool stages is made at Twickenham on Today.

How can they be the first out of the hat?

FIX

Sounds as bad as FIFA

almost as good as this story!!

http://www.sportsnewsireland.com/rugby_irish/toulon-president-accuses-erc-of-fixing-heineken-cup-draw/

by greybeard Tue Jun 07, 2011 12:37 pm

Oh, those peksy Frenchists

by BATH_BTGOG Tue Jun 07, 2011 12:37 pm

What, No Hat!!

by Mickado Tue Jun 07, 2011 12:49 pm

Everyone knows Biarritz and Serge Blanco rig every draw!

At least the last one (when the ERC are accused of rigging it in Leinster’s favour) was broadcast in it’s entirety live. The one the previous year (where the 2 French teams got the semi final draw) was stopped half way for a dance number, then resumed.

by Adam D Tue Jun 07, 2011 12:53 pm

The ERC site has crashed!

by red_stag Tue Jun 07, 2011 12:54 pm

Hobo wrote:The ERC site has crashed!

by greybeard Tue Jun 07, 2011 12:54 pm

Good to know it's not just me who can't watch it then!

I thought I'd broken something. LIke the internet, maybe.

by prop_lyd Tue Jun 07, 2011 12:55 pm

Glad i'm not the only one having trouble argh!!

by greybeard Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:01 pm

Right, well the site is well and truly knackered.

Can anyone watching Sky post it up as it happens?

by mrsuperclear Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:01 pm

I thought I broke the internet too greybeard....bashed my poor computer a few times too but no joy. Silly me for thinking the erc would have a website capable of steaming a feed to no more than a few thousand people (at most surely).

I don't need to see the feed though. Biarritz will have a group of Bath, Edinburgh and Aironi. It's guaranteed.

by **Ozzy3213** Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:01 pm

It's a conspiracy!

by Adam D Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:04 pm

I will update as it happens

by greybeard Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:05 pm

I have an idea...

Can everyone please log off the internet and let me watch it!

Spread the word to any family members and friends you might have.

Thank you.

by prop_lyd Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:05 pm

Cheers Hobo!!

by AsLongAsBut100ofUs Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:05 pm

LDCPete wrote:It's a conspiracy!

I blame Toulon

by greybeard Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:06 pm

Actually Hobo, how about a matchday chat box for the draw? Or does that take too long to set up?

by Adam D Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:08 pm

It only takes seconds to set up but we have always sated that we wont put it up during nirmal working hours due to firewalls.

Sorry

by Mickado Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:09 pm

Hobo wrote:It only takes seconds to set up but we have always sated that we wont put it up during nirmal working hours due to firewalls.

Sorry

Fair enough Hobo, sure as long as someone on this thread keeps us up to date we'll be grand. Get ready for a slew of duplicate posts though!

by greybeard Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:10 pm

Hobo wrote:It only takes seconds to set up but we have always sated that we wont put it up during nirmal working hours due to firewalls.

Didn't know that, fair enough.

by Adam D Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:10 pm

Shall I do the official updates then?

by red_stag Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:11 pm

Hobo wrote:Shall I do the official updates then?

Yes. BTW this is first test for this site on how it deals with multiple threads about same thing. Good luck Hobo

by XR Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:12 pm

Go for it. The ERC site is down, right on time Shocked

by Adam D Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:12 pm

Just looking back on last season and doing rules etc at mo.

by greybeard Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:13 pm

Time wasting, ref!

by Pete C (Kiwireddevil) Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:14 pm

Hmmm, what happens if several mods merge 2 topics at the same time?
Whistle

(my work internet is slow for everything at the moment, so a moot point)

by WillyGilly Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:15 pm

http://www.sportsnewsireland.com/rugby_irish/30212/

live updates here, is the erc back up?

by MMC Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:15 pm

greybeard wrote:Time wasting, ref!

That's good cos I haven't reached the ground yet - blooming matchday traffic.... Wink

by Adam D Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:16 pm

pool 3 leinster

by greybeard Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:17 pm

Just checked the Skysports site. You know, the major TV broadcaster of the HC? Owns the rights? Maybe you've heard of them.

Not a sausage. Not even a mention the draw is on today.

by Mickado Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:17 pm

Hobo wrote:pool 3 leinster

Oh rudey poo...

by prop_lyd Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:17 pm

And so it begins......

by Adam D Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:18 pm

Pool 1
Munster

Pool 2
Cardiff Blues

Pool 3
Leinster Rugby

Pool 4
Leicester Tigers

Pool 5
Biarritz

Pool 6
Toulouse

by Adam D Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:19 pm

Pool 1
Munster
Saints

Pool 2
Cardiff Blues

Pool 3
Leinster Rugby

Pool 4
Leicester Tigers

Pool 5
Biarritz

Pool 6
Toulouse

by Mickado Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:20 pm

Hobo wrote:Pool 1
Munster
Saints

CRIKEY!!

by Adam D Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:20 pm

Pool 1
Munster
Saints

Pool 2
Cardiff Blues

Pool 3
Leinster Rugby

Pool 4
Leicester Tigers

Pool 5
Biarritz

Pool 6
Toulouse
Harlequins

by Feckless Rogue Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:20 pm

I have a funny feeling Leinster will get a pool of death again.

by greybeard Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:21 pm

hush now

by Adam D Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:21 pm

Pool 1
Munster
Saints

Pool 2
Cardiff Blues
London Irish

Pool 3
Leinster Rugby

Pool 4
Leicester Tigers

Pool 5
Biarritz

Pool 6
Toulouse
Harlequins

by Adam D Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:21 pm

Pool 1
Munster
Saints

Pool 2
Cardiff Blues
London Irish

Pool 3
Leinster Rugby

Pool 4
Leicester Tigers
Clermont

Pool 5
Biarritz
Ospreys

Pool 6
Toulouse
Harlequins

by Mickado Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:22 pm

So we get Bath then?

by Adam D Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:22 pm

Pool 1
Munster
Saints

Pool 2
Cardiff Blues
London Irish

Pool 3
Leinster Rugby
Bath

Pool 4
Leicester Tigers
Clermont

Pool 5
Biarritz
Ospreys

Pool 6
Toulouse
Harlequins

by Cari Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:22 pm

Biarritz again! Doh

by Adam D Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:22 pm

Pool 1
Munster
Saints

Pool 2
Cardiff Blues
London Irish

Pool 3
Leinster Rugby
Bath

Pool 4
Leicester Tigers
Clermont

Pool 5
Biarritz
Ospreys
Saracens

Pool 6
Toulouse
Harlequins

by Mickado Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:23 pm

Sweet. I'm going to Bath!

by **Ozzy3213** Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:23 pm

Ooooh, so now we have to get one of the French teams in tier 4!!!

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