Heineken Cup Final Special 2011 - are the Saints going to be marching to the tune of the Blues?

Heineken Cup Special!

This is it, le grande frommage, 42 matches played in the build up, only one winner on Saturday. Looking back, Toulouse have won the Heineken Cup a record four times, while Munster, Leicester Tigers and London Wasps have won it twice each. Leinster have won it once, and so have the Saints. Cardiff are the only Welsh side to have played in a final, which they lost, and Scotland and Italy have never had a team in the final. Romain Poite is the ref, and the Millenium Stadium is the venue.

Northampton are going to be gunning for Leinster – they were savagely beaten by Leicester Tigers last weekend and winning the Heineken Cup would the prefect tonic for that. Also a number of their players were denied the grand slam in England colours by a very Leinster flavoured Ireland in the Six Nations. Most importantly, they have to avenge Ireland’s slighting of Blue in the Eurovision, after the UK generously gave their douze points to Jedward, while all Ireland could come up for Blue was a measly 6 points. The Queen is bound to have a word this week as well. So it’s going to be revenge, and redemption on the Saints’ mind this Saturday.

Leinster come into the match with a few injury worries, notably BOD, and Richardt Strauss. They’re also carrying the burden of favourites, which hasn’t always worked for them in the past. How do things get decided anyway, who the favourite is? The teams look pretty evenly matched to me. I see the major threats to Leinster as:

1. Northampton’s front row – They have been making mincemeat of most teams this season, and I wouldn’t pick Leinster’s front row as major strength. But Tonga'uiha and Mujati are no strangers to the pie shop, so if Leinster keep the pace up, these lads will start to puff.

2. Discipline – The Saints’ will be all over Leinster like a cheap suit – Hartley and Downey are going to be pushing the boundaries the whole match. This could be yellow cards for Leinster if they react, or it could go the other way as well, depending on how Poite refs the match

3. Careful kicking – Ashton and Fodden are pure dynamite for the Saints, so Leinster need to avoid kicking to them in broken field play – that means kicking the ball into the stands, and chasing up all their kicks.

Leinster’s 9,10.12,13 and 15 are going to have to play as well as they ever have to pierce that Saint’s defence, this is the key is for me - they can, and they will. Leinster by 3. Going to be hanging off the edge of my seat and shouting the house down for this one!

Amlin Chalenge Cup

I can see an almighty clash coming up here. Sure the rugby is going to tough, but the pink of Stade against that Harlequins pattern? On paper, Stade have a much stronger squad than Harlequins. Looking at their league finishes, Stade finished a very disappointing 11th in the T14, while Quins were 7th in the premiership. Stade’s coach Michael Cheika has tasted the big time already with Leinster in the Heineken Cup and Stade won the T14 in 2007. Quins don’t have the cups to back up the quality of their squad, but on their day they can beat anyone. The odds are heavily stacked in Stade Francaise’s favour, but who knows with the French, they’re not the world’s greatest travellers. On this occasion, I see the men in pink prevailing.

Shark Bite

The Sharks scoffed a horse on their last outing, does a Bull have any better chance? The Bulls got biblical on the Rebels arses last weekend, but these are pretty puny rebels it has to be said. With Lambie playing, I’d say the Sharks are going to take this one. Probably should end it that with I hope, but lets see.

Amlin Challenge Cup


Friday , May 20

Harlequins vs Stade Francais 19:45

Heineken Cup


Saturday , May 21

Leinster vs Northampton 17:00

Super Rugby


Friday , May 20

Blues vs Stormers 19:35

Saturday , May 21

Crusaders vs Chiefs 08:30

Waratahs vs Lions 19:40

Western Force vs Brumbies 20:05

Cheetahs vs Melbourne Rebels 17:05

Sharks vs Bulls 19:10