Heineken Cup preview: Round One
This is it, then. Europe’s most prestigious rugby union club competition is back and the first round of matches will get underway in earnest this evening.
All 24 clubs are ready to do battle for a place in the knockout rounds, where hopes and dreams will either come to fruition or be cruelly shattered. It’s entertaining, it’s dramatic, and it’s like no other club competition in the sport: it’s the Heineken Cup.
All six pools feature intriguing fixtures this weekend. The importance of an early victory can’t be understated. With points at a premium, it’s imperative to get off to a good start.
This evening, the standout clash will take place at Franklin’s Gardens between Northampton Saints and Castres in Pool 1. The Aviva Premiership outfit are an exceptionally strong side at home, while their French opponent’s recent poor record on the road means they’re in for a tough evening.
Also tonight, Glasgow Warriors host Newport Gwent Dragons in Pool 6 of the tournament and the newly-formed but unfancied Aironi travel to Ravenhill to take on Ulster in Pool 4.
Into Saturday and the fixture most neutrals are looking for to is London Irish v Munster in Pool 3. The Exiles are currently top of the Premiership after a stunning start to the new campaign, while Munster have been doing just as well in the Magners League. Both teams will believe they possess enough quality to win this fixture, but it’s Munster who are expected to progress further in the competition.
Meanwhile, Cardiff Blues will already have their sights set on a place in this season’s Heineken Cup final, with the showpiece event being hosted at the Millennium Stadium. The Welsh side have started well in the Magners League this season, far better than their Pool 1 weekend opponents, Edinburgh.
One of Saturday’s most fascinating clashes will take place in Italy between Benetton Treviso and Leicester Tigers in Pool 5. The English champions have failed to impress in Europe for a few years now. They must feel like they’ve got a point to prove this season, but they could be in for a tough night against their Italian opponents. Benetton have got off to an impressive start in the Magners League after joining from Super 10, and have every right to be quietly confident of pulling off a shock result.
Elsewhere, Leicester’s Premiership rivals Saracens travel to France to face Clermont Auvergne in Pool 2. Former Heineken Cup champions Leinster host Racing Metro in the same group, while Scarlets take on Perpignan in Pool 5 and Jonny Wilkinson’s Toulon play Ospreys in Pool 3.
After Saturday’s relentless line-up of Heineken Cup fixtures, things cool down a little on Sunday with just four teams left to play.
Last season’s losing finalists, Biarritz, haven’t quite picked themselves up from May’s defeat in Paris yet. Currently sitting 9th in the Top 14 table, the French side face a difficult away test against Bath in Pool 4 this Sunday.
As for the reigning champions, Toulouse, they’re in action against London Wasps in Pool 6 on Sunday afternoon. The most successful side in Heineken Cup history are again the team to beat this year, and Wasps face the daunting prospect of an opening match at the Stade Municipal.
Let battle commence.
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