Heineken Cup 07/08

[auchtermuchty]

Heineken Cup draw for 2007/08 season:

Pool 1: Benetton Treviso, London Irish, Perpignan, Newport Gwent Dragons

Pool 2: Ospreys, Gloucester Rugby, Bourgoin, Ulster Rugby

Pool 3: Stade Francais Paris, Bristol Rugby, Cardiff Blues, Harlequins

Pool 4: Glasgow Warriors, Saracens, Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque, Viadana

Pool 5: London Wasps, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Llanelli Scarlets, Munster

Pool 6: Leinster, Leicester Tigers, Toulouse, Edinburgh Rugby

Doesnt appear to be an easy ride for Bristol, Tigers or Wasps this year.
Should make things interesting right from the start!

So having seen this is there any early guesses for victory?

[True Blue Jack]

Have I missed something? I thought the French weren't going to play with us any more? It looks like a walkthrough for the Ospreys though. :PDT_Xtremez_28:

[rugby then work]

Couple of difficult pools to call there,

Pool 1 - looks the weakest of the pools and Irish may be able to take advantage and get through to the quarter finals.

Pool 2 - Got to go for Glaws here, I think that with the money they've spent strengthening the squad for next season they'll have enough firepower to win the important away games.

Pool 3 - I'll go with Stade in this group.

Pool 4 - Biarritz and Saracens look by far the outstanding teams in this group and I'll go with Biarritz to win the league. (Saracens are a good bet for one of the best runners up slots as the other 2 sides are quite weak)

Pool 5 - hard to call as they all have a shout of winning this group and because of that will most likely take points off each other and none of them will get a best runners up slot in the 1/4's. I'll go for Wasps to win the group.

Pool 6 - another tough one but I think Leicester just have the class and physicality to win through the pool.

After the pool stages it all depends on the draw in the 1/4's as to who will go on to win the cup.

[FOMz]

I agree with RTW, the only banana skin I see in pool 2 is Ulster. They tend to blow hot and cold, I just hope that they're blowing a bit cold.

Welcome to Castle grim.........MWAH HA HA HA HA HA HA HAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[rugby then work]

Have I missed something? I thought the French weren't going to play with us any more? It looks like a walkthrough for the Ospreys though. :PDT_Xtremez_28:


They sorted it all out back in April.

http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/5018_6812.php


http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/5018_6822.php

[tommo9999]

I think Cardiff could be the dark horses this year. They've recruited reasonably well, could have a sneak if they can put a bit of pressure on Stade.

[wolfy]

Too difficult to call at the moment we still need to see how some of the French teams will fair because I suspect the French squad players may not be allowed to play some of the early games which could change some clubs chances.

[rugby then work]

Well my predictions were way off in half the groups. Got the important one right though, looking forward to watching the Glaws v Munster 1/4 final now.


Quarter Finals:


Saracens v Ospreys
London Irish v Perpignan
Gloucester v Munster
Toulouse v Cardiff Blues

[tommo9999]

Still think Cardiff could do well, though it'll be a tough game in Toulouse.

[FOMz]

Still got my cash on the Mighty Glaws

[tommo9999]

Still got my cash on the Mighty Glaws

Did you put it on each way???
:PDT_Xtremez_28: :PDT_Xtremez_31:

[FOMz]

I'm as one eyed as they come Tommo. Constantly looking through cherry and white tinted specs.

[The Bowmeister]

Well my predictions were way off in half the groups. Got the important one right though, looking forward to watching the Glaws v Munster 1/4 final now.


Quarter Finals:


Saracens v Ospreys
London Irish v Perpignan
Gloucester v Munster
Toulouse v Cardiff Blues

If it ended up Munster V Toulouse Final that would be good to watch. Like to see Gloucester do it, but i fear that Munster have to much Nowse and cup knockout experience.

[tommo9999]

Off Topic I see Narraway was called into England training yesterday due to a couple of injuries. Forrester must be really jacked off.

[rugby then work]

Off Topic I see Narraway was called into England training yesterday due to a couple of injuries. Forrester must be really jacked off.

Also Off Topic Forrester needs to get back to fitness and win his place back in the Glaws side, Delve is playing out of his skin at the minute and personally I prefer Narroway to Forrester.


I'm also very biased but I think Glaws will get past Munster, the home advantage is a huge bonus.