It's the Hic! Hiccup! HCup! Heineken Cup! But who's going to end up with the hangover?

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Well about bloody time for something to come along to blow those New Year blues away! But is this weekend going to leave some teams with a bigger hangover than ever? Let’s have a look... All the match details are at the bottom.


Leinster vs Saracens

Yes please! The best South African Beef, with a bit of British Steel and some Welsh odd bit taking on Leinsters finest. Sean O’Brien should play and Cian Healy, Jamie Heaslip and Jonathan Sexton all look likely to join him. Top of their group, it is all looking tickety boo for the men in Blue. They will do well not to underestimate Saracens, who are second in the premiership, but home advantage should send Saracens home with their tails between their legs. In an ideal world, Clermont Auvergne vs Racing Metro 92 in the same group would be a draw.

Ulster vs Biarritz

The feast continues at Ravenhill as the red hand gets to grips with Biarritz. It’s first plays second in this group, with Ulster able to leapfrog Biarritz if they come up trumps. Ulster have been getting their form together as the season has progressed while Biarritz currently lie 4th in the T14. There’s the old cliché Frenchteamsdontravelwell but a win for Biarritz here would effectively seal the group and the home semi for them. If they hadn’t lost to Aironi I’d say Biarritz were going to take this easily but I have a hunch they may implode again so I’m going for victory for the Ulstermen.

Toulon vs Munster

Another monster of a match - 1st plays 2nd, both teams have it all to play for. Toulon are 7th in the T14 but there is a real traffic jam from 4th to 9th. Toulon have a decent coach, deep pockets and home advantage. Paul O’Connell is available to start and I nearly resisted the temptation to say Munster are going to come out swinging but not quite obviously. Whether they win or lose to me rests more on the shoulders of O’Leary and O’Gara, even though it goes without saying that the pack is going to have to withstand a huge physical onslaught. As an aside, I’ve been hugely impressed by how Flannagan’s boots have been filled at hooker by Damien Varley and Mike Sherry. Munster have their impressive history in the Heineken Cup to draw on, and for that reason I think they’ll squeak in.

Bayonne vs Connacht

Connacht have been unable to match last season’s heroics in the ACC and Bayonne at home are a sobering prospect. They may be 8th in the T14 but they are still above Stade Francaise and Perpignan. Could be a black day for the men in green.

London Irish vs Ospreys

Irish are in free fall in the Premiership, and bottom of their table in the Heineken Cup. They have to entertain the star studded in form Ospreys this week and must be looking forward to the match like a trip to the dentist. They need a miracle to get out of this group, and I can’t see any motivation for them to win this so I’m going with the Ospreys.

Heineken Cup

Friday , January 14

Cardiff Blues vs Castres

Northampton vs Edinburgh

Clermont Auvergne vs Racing Metro 92

Saturday , January 15

Leinster vs Saracens 13:30

Toulouse vs Newport-Gwent D'gons 13:30

Benetton Treviso vs Perpignan 13:30

Bath vs Aironi Rugby 14:30

Ulster vs Biarritz 15:30

Scarlets vs Leicester 17:45

Sunday , January 16

Glasgow vs Wasps 13:00

London Irish vs Ospreys 15:00

Toulon vs Munster 15:00

Amlin Challenge Cup


Thursday , January 13

Agen vs La Rochelle

Friday , January 14

Brive vs Cetransa El Salvador 18:30

Sale vs Petrarca

Newcastle vs Montpellier

Saturday , January 15

Rovigo vs Gloucester 14:00

Cavalieri Prato vs Harlequins 14:00

Rugby Parma vs Bucuresti 14:00

Bayonne vs Connacht 19:45

Exeter vs Bourgoin 19:45

Sunday , January 16

Stade Francais vs Leeds Carnegie 17:45