2010/11 Heineken Cup preview
Rugby union’s most fiercely competitive and dramatic club competition is back. And, oh, how we’ve missed it.
The Heineken Cup can always be relied on to guarantee unrivalled entertainment. The best players in Europe will compete for club rugby’s most prestigious prize once again this season - starting on Friday night and concluding in May at Wales’ Millennium Stadium.
All 24 clubs are ready, poised to do battle in their six pools, in what looks set to be the tightest Heineken Cup to date. But following the French clubs’ domination last season, is anyone really capable of stopping the Top 14 contingent?
Pool One
Northampton Saints will be favourites to advance from Pool One and into the knockout rounds after another fine start to the latest Aviva Premiership campaign. However, Cardiff Blues are likely to be hot on their heels. The Welsh side will desperately want to make this year’s final with the showpiece event being hosted in their home town, and should give Northampton a run for their money – particularly with prolific Scottish fly-half Dan Parks in their ranks. Edinburgh are also in the group, and they will be joined by French outfit Castres.
Pool Two
The second pool really is quite fascinating. Three clubs will all have their sights set on topping the table, but only one will prevail. Vastly experienced Leinster are perhaps the favourites after reaching the semi-finals last season. The 2009 Heineken Cup winners edged past 2010 Top 14 champions Clermont Auvergne in April’s quarter-final, and the two clubs will again go head-to-head in this year’s group stages. Both will be wary of Saracens, though. The Premiership finalists have impressed again over the past month and could easily cause a few upsets this year. France’s Racing Metro complete the line-up, but aren’t expected to challenge for a place in the knockout rounds.
Pool Three
Ask any coach which team they’re keen to avoid in the group stage draw and many would instantly name Munster. Unfortunately for the coaches of Ospreys, London Irish and Toulon, they haven’t been so fortunate. Two-time Heineken Cup champions Munster reached the semi-finals of last season’s tournament after breezing through the prior rounds and will take some stopping this time around. However, Magners League champions Ospreys are certainly capable of challenging for qualification, as are London Irish, who have started their domestic campaign in sparkling form. Toulon shouldn’t be underestimated either, especially with fly-half Jonny Wilkinson currently rolling back the years in the Top 14. This year’s group of death should go right to the wire.
Pool Four
Another Heineken Cup campaign and yet more heartache for Biarritz. Last season’s losing finalists were pipped to the grand prize by Toulouse in Paris after another eye-catching campaign. The French club will need to put that disappointment firmly behind them now, and focus on reaching the knockout rounds for the ninth time in 12 years. Standing in their way will be Bath, who now boast Lewis Moody as one of their flankers. The Aviva Premiership side finished bottom of their Heineken Cup pool last season and will aim to avoid a similar showing this year. They’re joined by 1999 European champions Ulster, who were unfortunate to miss out on the knockout rounds last season, and the newly formed Italian club Aironi.
Pool Five
Leicester Tigers are another of those revered clubs that no team relishes facing. But after an unusually shaky start to the latest Aviva Premiership campaign, the English champions and two-time Heineken Cup winners could be the big-name casualties of the group stages unless their form quickly improves. Eagerly waiting to pounce on any slip-ups are 2003 finalists Perpignan, while Welsh club Scarlets will also be looking to capitalise. Benetton Treviso complete the group, and after winning the Italian top-flight last season, could well be this season’s surprise package.
Pool Six
The reigning Heineken Cup champions and most successful club in the tournament’s 15-year history, Toulouse, are placed in Pool Six alongside London Wasps, Glasgow Warriors and Newport Gwent Dragons. The French giants are the team to beat again this season and are widely-expected to qualify top of the group. Wasps would certainly settle for second place if it resulted in a place in the knockout rounds, but for that to happen they may need to seal maximum points against both the Warriors and the Dragons, who both know that they have their work cut out.
It all begins this Friday night with Glasgow taking on Newport, Northampton hosting Castres and Aironi travelling to Ulster. Stay tuned for our Heineken Cup round one preview this Friday morning, where this weekend’s much-anticipated European fixtures will be closely analysed.
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