Heineken Cup
Saturday , May 1
Toulouse vs Leinster
Sunday , May 2
Biarritz vs Munster
So France take on Ireland once again, this time in the Heineken Cup, and France are favourites again. Toulouse look like the far stronger side so Leinster will really have their work cut out. The one thing you have to admire about Leinster and coach Michael Cheika is their ability to play smart, to come up with a good game plan and execute it well. It’s going to be really difficult against this team of superstars, especially away from home and I think this is one adventure too far for Leinster.
Munster meanwhile have to go San Sebastian to play Biarritz. The Ospreys showed that you can hurt Biarritz with exciting backline play, but that is not really Munster’s forte. But having said that, while they may lack the tactical nous of Leinster, there’s not a more streetwise team in Europe, and I can’t tell you how they’ll do it even without Paul O’Connell but I’m going for a Toulouse/Munster final.
Super 14
Team Points 30th 7th 14th
Bulls 39 Sharks Crusaders Stormers
Stormers 34 Crusaders Sharks Bulls
Crusaders 34 Stormers Bulls Brumbies
Reds 34 Brumbies Canes Highlanders
Waratahs 33 Highlanders Chiefs Canes
That’s how they line up for the next three weeks. Bulls vs the Sharks is going to be an old fashioned SA derby, no quarter taken or given, expect the stretcher bearers to be busy, and the Bulls pulling through. Stormers and Crusaders pits two sides that both lost last weekend – Stormers to come good at home. Reds and the Brumbies could be the match of the weekend – and having been wrong two weeks in a row, I still think the Reds will lose this time. And the Waratahs will thump the Highlanders.
Amlin Challenge Cup
Much as I’d like Connacht to win, Toulon have such a wealth of talent I just can’t see them losing, even away from home. Wasps, meanwhile, look to have aged greatly recently, and the Cardiff Blues are one mean side when they get going, to Wasps to lose out.
"We're not playing tiddlywinks here, mate - this is a contact sport!" -- Tana Umaga
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