I will be doing Pools 1-3:
1: Treviso, Munster, Northampton, Perpignan
2: Biarritz, Ulster, Gloucester and Newport-Gwent Dragons
3: Viadana, Ospreys, Leicester and Clermont
Pool 1:
Northampton v. Munster. Given the recent form of Munster, it was a very hard loss to take this past weekend. Especially to rivals Leinster. Munster always (always!) plays fantastically in the Heineken Cup, and I hope that this weekend is no different. Northampton hosts Munster this weekend. Northampton lost this past weekend and beat Leeds the previous week (not difficult) so its hard to judge their form. Munster, on the other hand, played absolutely horrible. The worst I have ever seen. O'Gara couldn't kick and no one could make five meters. Munster will definitely bounce back, but the question is how soon? I honestly cannot see Munster beating Northampton away, given O'Gara's inability to kick so far this year and their bad form. Gheraty for Northampton has been in very good form and should help steer them home to a win.
Perpignan will annihilate Treviso. No questions asked.
Pool 2:
Gloucester v. Dragons. It is an interesting match since Gloucester has continually failed to meet their potential, especially in recent seasons. Given the fact that they have the weakest of the Welsh regions to compete with, they should not have to worry to much. The Dragons managed to pull off a win, albeit an ugly one, against the lowliest of teams: Connacht. The Dragons will not beat Gloucester, especially being the away team.
Glasgow v. Biarritz. Last year, Glasgow was able to pull off some amazing upsets in the Heineken Cup and have done very well for themselves so far in the Magners League this year. They have surprised everyone, and even Dan Parks is playing consistently well, something somewhat foreign for a long time as he did not quite live up to his potential. Given Biarritz's relative fall from their previous almost unbeatable persona, I think Glasgow should be able to impress the home crowd with a victory against the French.
Pool 3:
Clermont v. Viadana. Again. No questions. Clermont is a top club in the French Top 14 and Viadana is an Italian whipping boy.
Leicester v. Ospreys. The Ospreys showed up this past weekend with a good victory, but Leicester is Leicester. They have continually shown how good they are by bringing home silverware. The Ospreys tend to be a hit or miss team, with many players failing to meet their potential. With a lineup like the Ospreys have, they should be crushing teams week in and week out, even without Gavin Henson. Dan Biggar is causing a stir by trying to (and successfully so far) stealing James Hook's No. 10 jersey. But, the Ospreys look to just be getting started on their season, albeit a slow start. Despite the Tigers having home field advantage, the Ospreys should be able to nudge them by a few points.
~Tyler
It is good to see that the Irish have been sustaining power since their Six Nations victory. Unfortuanatley for us Welsh fans, we have to endure another time of hardship; as most of the Welsh teams have fallen off the face of the earth.
I Will cover pools 4-6:
4: Bath, Edinburgh, Stade Francais, Ulster
5: Cardiff Blues, Harlequins, Sale, Toulouse
6: Brive, Leinster, London Irish, Scarlets
Pool 4:
Ulster vs. Bath: Entering this game, it would seem that Ulster is the heavy favorite, and rightly so. Because Ulster is sitting pretty in second in the Magners League, while Bath is struggling to stay in the middle of the field in the Guinness Premiership. Ulster being 3-0-2 is my choice to top the 1-1-3 team of Bath.
Edinburgh vs. Stade Francais: Now this is the match to watch. Edinburgh is just coming off a hot streak where they were sitting at the top of the table in Magners League, so they've got the taste of victory in their mouths. Stade goes without saying, they are always a good team, and they always show up. This match is the one to tell which team has it; not only for the Heineken Cup, but the rest of the season. Unfortunately only one team can win, so when it comes down to the wire I see the every well perfoming French to top this match off.
Pool 5:
Cardiff Blues vs. Harlequins: Truly a match up that most will over look. It is two non-well perfoming teams taking the field against each other. As much as I would like to cheer the Welsh team, I don't see them taking this game.
Toulouse vs. Sale: Toulouse the whole way. They are performing well for the tournament they are currently in, and Sale is struggling to make ends meet.
Pool 6:
Leinster vs. London Irish: Another great match up. Leinster, the top team in the Magners League takes on the No.2 team in the Guinness Premiership. This will be an exciting game, and one that all will have to follow till the end. But despite a good match up I still see the well performing Leinster team beating out the London Irish.
Scarlets vs. Brive: I would love to say that my favorite club team in the whole world would win this one, but that would be like having Fiji win the World Cup. As there may be hope there it is highly improbable. Brive is performing decent in the French 14, while the Scarlets are second to last. So needless to say, Brive will win this weekends game.
~Conner
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