Heineken Cup draw

Pool 1
Munster
Saints
Scarlets
Castre

Pool 2
Cardiff Blues
London Irish
Edinburgh
Racing

Pool 3
Leinster Rugby
Bath
Glasgow
Montpellier

Pool 4
Leicester Tigers
Clermont
Ulster
Aironi

Pool 5
Biarritz
Ospreys
Saracens
Treviso

Pool 6
Toulouse
Harlequins
Gloucester
Connacht

Discuss the draw here.

not happy...

Pretty happy as an Edinburgh fan - could have been a lot worse (not that it makes any difference! Bloody Leicester getting a walkover Italian team again - how often does that happen?!

How can Cardiff be the top seed when they are probably the 3rd strongest team in that group? (Edinburgh bottom)

Lovely pool 3.

I wonder if Montpellier will named a strong squad this time?

I think Leinster will walk that group, not impressed by the other provinces chances though. Ulster get Aironi again meaning qualifying as a top runner up is there. Munster could win that group as well, but looks very tough. Would love if Connacht could just take a scalp or two at home.

We're top seeds because of our 3 previous years, like every other team. we have a poor year this year we will no doubt go into tier 2.

But get in, that's a great pool!

I wouldn't be happy either WillyGilly but at least ya got Aironi in there. It'll be a big, big ask to get out of that group but ye have a decent side now. Have a little bit of faith

Got to say I'm looking forward to seeing Toulouse in the Sportsground. It'll be magic.

Ospreys in a group of death again! They will be lucky to qualify from that.

Depending on the dates of the fixtures that could be trips to Biarritz, Limerick, Treviso and Castres

The joys of a 'mixed' relationship

CARDIFF, play in the Welsh Premiership. The BLUES get seeded due to winning the Amlin 2009-10 and reaching the HEC Semi the year before that

ML wrote:Ospreys in a group of death again! They will be lucky to qualify from that.

Group of death with Treviso in it??

I dont think so.

Can we just hand the title to Leinster again?

Saints, Leinster, Bath, London irish, Clermont, Leicster, Barraitz and Toulouse to make up the QF.

Very happy with the teams Leinster have drawn. Each one could be worth a trip away for. Certainly Bath and Montpellier anyway!

I reckon Edinburgh have a very decent chance in that Group. Time will tell though.

Ospreys are? what about the Scarlets?! Pool 1 = major ouch for us.

Ospreys are in quite an easy group ML. Ulster and Scarlets have much harder tasks.

I blame Rava for this.

Leinster have it easy again.
They must have a mole in the ERC.

As a Munster man I am quite happy with the draw but Ulster got the kick in the goolies.

On a positive note,some very big games for Connacht.

Leinsters group is certainly easier than last years. Qualifying as number 1 seed should be the target. We won't walk it though. Munster will be in a race with Saints to top that group. Should be two great matches. Ulster will probably have to beat Leicester and Clermont at home. Not inconceivable actually. They have a chance to grap the 2nd place qualification aswell with Aironi in the group. So don't despair Ulstermen. Toulouse will visit Connacht. That should raise their profile and get a big crowd. Don't fancy their chances of getting many wins in that group though.

Leinster have a very easy draw, it's true. Pool 2 is interesting. Any one of four teams could get out of that.

What I expect of Ulster is what I expect of us every year; to win all of our home games, hopefully away against Aironi, and see what happens. Amlin Cup qualification would be a good result.

And Biarritz finally get a tough pool. I reckon Saracens might top that one.

As a Cardiff Fan im relatively Happy, could have been a lot worse, I still think we need to get a ten and a decent tighthead and hooker though if we stand any chance of getting through the group.

As a Saints fan, I'm looking forward to Munster coming to the Gardens again
My ears have only just stopped ringing from last time they visited. Fantastic travelling support

Quins, Glaws and Connacht... So Toulouse get three teams from the previous years Amlin.

Wow. Talk about the group of mild discomfort!

ML wrote:Ospreys in a group of death again! They will be lucky to qualify from that.

Disagree. They've had worse draws and managed to get through. I'll be hopefully be able to take a trip to see the Sarries and the odd home game anyway. 8)

When do the actual fixtures get sorted ?

PenfroPete wrote:When do the actual fixtures get sorted ?

Indeed. There's meets to plan

so which group will be the real group of 'death' ?

Pool 4
Leicester Tigers
Clermont
Ulster
Aironi

I'll go for group 4 ....yes I know aironi are in there they will probably lose all their matches but I think this will leave the pool in a 3 way contest....i can see this being a really tight pool where 1 bonus point could decide the outcome.
I think normally you'd probably make Clermont slight favourites but it depends on their away form.

Eccyjimmy wrote:As a Saints fan, I'm looking forward to Munster coming to the Gardens again
My ears have only just stopped ringing from last time they visited. Fantastic travelling support

Yea it was a great day really looking forward to going to FG again. Happy with the Irish teams groups (bar Ulsters) Will have to try and get to the Sports Ground for Toulouse

For Leinster, can't complain about the draw - it's not far off the ideal draw - would have preferred Castres as the Tier 4 French team but if we play anything like we did last season then we should top the group.

Tough one for Munster with Saints and no Italian team. LIkely only one team will go through from this pool so showdown between Munster and Saints.

Afraid Ulster have the pool of death this year even with Aironi in the group. May be two teams coming out of this group but hard to see Ulster, improved though they certainly are, finishing ahead of the Tigers or Clermont. Will defo have to win all their home games but can they win away at Tigers or Clermont - not sure about that

For Connacht, most they will probably expect is to pinch a couple of home wins against Quins and Glaws. Cast-iron certainty Toulouse wins this group.

As for other groups, think London Irish have a good chance in Pool 2 (Cardiff the weakest of the Tier 1 teams) while pool 5 is another pool of death albeit that two teams might emerge. Wouldn't be in the least surprised to see Saracens top this group even though they are from third tier.

Kiwireddevil wrote:

PenfroPete wrote:When do the actual fixtures get sorted ?

Indeed. There's meets to plan

Meets to plan, transport to sort, accommodation to book (MUNSTY !!! Tell yer ma we're on our way )

Pool 1 ...Scarlets could cause someone a real issue there, one of the potenitial cup winners could go out at the group stages

Pool 2 is really interesting with 3 clubs in with a shot of qualifying and the fourth capable of getting wins. Racing the strongest of the pool 4's...Blues the weakest of the pool 2's kind of makes up for the ridiculous seeding system!


Pool 3. Deservedly easy for Leinster youd think, but depends which fly half Bath manage to land and if they can put together an actual team rather than a bunch of players on a pitch. No more salary cap excuses with the marquee rule. French clubs you never know what youll get even with a weak one. Its not that long since Edinburgh were good. Could be some banana skins.

Pool 4 Oh my. Well we'll see what Ulster are made of there. Makes up for the easy draw they had last time. Strongest top 3 based on peformances last year but a nice easy whipping boy to get some bonus points off.

Pool5 Time for Saracens to prove they are more than justJeff specialists. I dont expcect Ospreys to be that strong next season, they are losing most of their quality players. Biarritz again you never know with the French.

Pool 6
If Connacht can pull off a single win in that group they will ave done well. Quins and Gloucester improved through last season and will both be in the playoff mix next season, but Tolouse are the obvious group winners. Three strong sides.


Group winner predictions
Munster, Irish, Leinster, Clermont , Saracens, Tolouse with Saints and Tigers runners up qualifying.

Warning to all Leinster fans DON'T write BATH off just yet!

Good man BBTGOG, nice to see fighting talk instead of everyone talking up the others. We've a tough pool but I'm backing Munster to top it!!

how are the blues the weakest? We beat Edinburgh 4 times last season?

I thought we got rid of all the WUMs?

As a Blues fan, im pretty happy,

Even with the current team I would back us to beat all those teams at home - then we just have to pick up points away from home - We beat Edinburgh 4 times this year, so hopefully we will do the same (although our first home game in the HC against them this year wasnt pleasant - winning by a point :/)

[quote="Notch"]Leinster have a very easy draw, it's true. Pool 2 is interesting. Any one of four teams could get out of that.
quote]

Interesting indeed. I suspect that fans of all four team will be pretty happy with that and confident about their sides chances of progressing. It certainly looks the most evenly poised of the pools and in that sense could well be termed as 'the pool of death'.

Quote from 'herself' (She's a Scarlet)

Another season not getting out of the pool then. Blues have got a good chance I'd say. I don't fancy pool 4 though.

Well we have been fairly shafted in that draw. It will be interesting to see what comes out of it. Despite the presence of an Italian team in the group Leicester and Clermont are bloody tough. Biarritz have a harder pool than they have had for some time (assuming the O's dont implode over the summer).

I agree with Notch in that we should win the 3 home games and Aironi away and see whats what.

Depends on the sequence of games. Whoever gets the back-to-back with Aironi in Rounds 3 and 4 will have an advantage.

Couldnt agree more Stag, Im backing Munster to top their pool and maybe even sneak a win at FG

Scarlets will have a say in Pool 1. They've beaten some very good teams over the years. I don't think they can top it, but qualifying for the Amlin isn't out of the question. Tough ask though, with two potential cup winners in their group.

Without looking to turn this into a nationalistic Jeff vs. Magners vs. T14 my leaguies better than your league debate, I have to say that I think realistically we could have as many as 5 English teams make the quarter finals.

I think Saints have a realistic opportunity to win Pool1, as do Irish in Pool 2, and as do Saracens in Pool 5. I would see Leinster, ASM and Toulouse as the other three pool winners, with Leicester Tigers and Gloucester or Harlequins in prime pools to secure a best runners up berth.

wales606 wrote:As a Blues fan, im pretty happy,

Even with the current team I would back us to beat all those teams at home - then we just have to pick up points away from home - We beat Edinburgh 4 times this year, so hopefully we will do the same (although our first home game in the HC against them this year wasnt pleasant - winning by a point :/)

Yeah, especially considering we beat them comfortably a month before

pretty tough on munster,

They bought in bj botha a proven scrummager to sure up there one glaring weakness in the h cup

And it turns out the one club they will need a good scrum against
turns out to be the only team that have ever really clipped botha's wings

Its difficult to see Ulster beating Tigers or Clermont away, I would say Tigers at Welford would be slightly easier than Clermont in France.

10 points off Aironi and 10 from the 4 games against Clermont and Tigers and who knows.... finish on 20 points might be enough even without beating Tigers or Clermont away.

skippy wrote:Couldnt agree more Stag, Im backing Munster to top their pool and maybe even sneak a win at FG

The beauty of the pool is that Saints fans are saying the same and targetting a Thomond win after two European defeats there. I LOVE the Heineken Cup

Well the English teams did better last season than they did the year before. They could improve again next year. Quins and Gloucester don't have huge Heineken Cup pedigree recently. But they both played good rugby last season. They could be surprise packages.

BATH_BTGOG wrote:Warning to all Leinster fans DON'T write BATH off just yet!

Bath off just yet.

Your move Sherlock...

D24tress wrote:pretty tough on munster,

They bought in bj botha a proven scrummager to sure up there one glaring weakness in the h cup

And it turns out the one club they will need a good scrum against
turns out to be the only team that have ever really clipped botha's wings

Thats not true - against Ulster in the quarter final BJ Botha was getting the better of Tonguiha in the scrums, consistently getting the better of Tonguiha i would say. Unfortunately the ref kept pinging Tom Court on the other side of the scrum as he was under a lot of pressure against Mujati. Really all the scrum penalties against Court could of been given against Tongauiha as well.

D24tress wrote:pretty tough on munster,

They bought in bj botha a proven scrummager to sure up there one glaring weakness in the h cup

And it turns out the one club they will need a good scrum against
turns out to be the only team that have ever really clipped botha's wings

I wouldn't worry too much about that. This is the 3rd season of the last 4 in which we've drawn Saints. They may give us trouble but I can see Botha learning from past problems. As an aside its Bothas ability to teach our next group of props I'm looking forward to.

As Dragons fan then I will obvioulsy be watching this years HC as a neutral but there doesn't seem to be the proverbial ' Group of Death' there usually is.

I think the O's and Blues will be reasonably happy with their groups though the Scarlets have a toughest one out of the Welsh Regions.

Think the games that will stand out for me in the groups are:

Grp 1 Munster v Saints

Grp 2 Blues v Racing

Grp 3 Leinster v Bath

Grp 4 Leicester v Clermont

Grp 5 Ospryes v Biarritz

Grp 6 Toulouse v Gloucester

Think Toulouse should walk their group though.