Ulster Vs Bath
Ravenhill (if they can sort out the snow) is the setting for Ulster’s match against Bath. Ulster have had a so so seaon so far and haven’t lived up to their pre season billing. We need to see all that expensive South African beef start performing now. Bath meanwhile are hovering in the bottom half of the Aviva Premiership. A good Heineken Cup run by either club would brighten their seasons up a lot. We have a red hand here, and Bath, surely rich material for the amateur humorist – red hand takes Bath? Bath take bath from red hand? I think Ulster are going to win anyway.
Munster vs Ospreys
Bring it on! These are two ultra competitive teams, both stuffed with quality internationals. The Ospreys are little weakened by Marty Holah’s two week ban for a trip (tsk tsk dirty Kiwi!) and Lee Byrnes somewhat unfortunate hand injury. Still, the Ospreylians are a formidable outfit, with Hook, Phillips and Williams in tow. It should be a hell of match as Munster look like they are at last starting to rumble, their stars like O’Connell and O’Leary are drifting back in, and Thomond Park is the graveyard of the Heineken Cup aspirations of many a European team. I think the Ospreys are going down.
Clermont Auvergne vs Leinster
This is another mouth watering contest – if you’re a rugby fan anyway, and if you’re not, what are you doing here? Move Along! There’s history between Clermont and Irish teams, and Clermont have felt all the pain so far. They have a host of stars, none more so than their back three of Julien Malzieu, Napolioni Nalaga, and Aurélien Rougerie. If I wasn’t a Leinster supporter I’d be worried, but pah! French teams show them a bit of steel and they roll over no problem. Okay, I am worried, these guys actually won something last year for the first time ever (the T14) and French club sides, unlike their national squad, make wins at home non negotiable. Leinster are carrying a few injuries with Kearney and Fitzgerald out and O’Driscoll in doubt. It’s a cliché but it’s the dark arts up front where this match is going to be won or lost. The pressure on Jonny Sexton is going to huge as well after a night to forget last weekend in Wales. Realistically, a bonus point will make this a successful trip for Leinster.
London Irish vs Toulon
Are the Exiles going to end their slump against one of the glamour teams of France, the old stomping ground of Sonny Bill Williams and the current home of a certain English Jonny? Toulon, like most French teams, are a bit iffy away from home. Having said that, they are hovering outside the top four in the T14, and the Exiles are going to have a battle royale(see what I did there?) on their hands to contain them. Looking at form and personnel available, in this case I’m going with Toulon.
Connacht face a tricky encounter at the Twickenham Stoop. The fact that Eric Elwood and Conor O'Shea are old team mates only adds spice to the proceedings. On paper, Quins are the far stronger team, with a good share of English internationals in their midst, with Care, Monye and Easter. Fortunately Connacht don’t play their games on paper, otherwise last season would have been a disaster instead of one for the record books. Things are on the up at Connacht with their recent securing of financial stability. They have quality players of their own with the likes Fionn Carr, Sean Cronin, John Muldoon and Ian Keatley. They are always weaker away from form home though so this should be Quins.
Out of the rest, Perpignan vs Leicester should be excellent, and Saracens vs Racing Metro should be good as well. I’m tipping the Tigers and Saracens.
Heineken Cup
Friday , December 10
Glasgow vs Toulouse 20:00
Saturday , December 11
Aironi Rugby vs Biarritz 13:30
Perpignan vs Leicester 13:30
Ulster vs Bath 13:30
Scarlets vs Benetton Treviso 15:00
Saracens vs Racing Metro 92 15:30
Castres vs Edinburgh 17:45
Northampton vs Cardiff Blues 17:45
Sunday , December 12
Munster vs Ospreys 13:00
Newport-Gwent D'gons vs Wasps 13:00
Clermont Auvergne vs Leinster 15:00
London Irish vs Toulon 15:00
Amlin Challenge Cup
Thursday , December 9
Montpellier vs Bourgoin 19:45
Saturday , December 11
Bucuresti vs Stade Francais 13:00
Rovigo vs Agen 14:00
Petrarca vs Cetransa El Salvador 14:00
Exeter vs Newcastle 15:00
La Rochelle vs Gloucester 17:30
Brive vs Sale 19:45
Sunday , December 12
Leeds Carnegie vs Rugby Parma 15:00
Bayonne vs Cavalieri Prato 17:45
Harlequins vs Connacht 17:45
Rugby is a sport indissolubly joined the beer (the reason for the third time). There are a very few beermats with topics of rugby. I invite you to see it at http://posavasosderugby.blogspot.com/ and to add new beermats, comments and suggestions.
ReplyDelete