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European weekend: The stars come out to play
10
October 2008
  The
action may have already started, with Toulon’s abysmal
capitulation to Northampton Saints (see
report), but there are 13 more European
matches involving French Top 14 sides this weekend,
beginning with Montauban away to Munster tonight and
concluding with Bourgoin away to Bucaresti Oaks on Sunday.
Different clubs tend to view the two competitions (Heineken
Cup and European Challenge Cup) with different eyes, some
deeming it the Holy Grail of achievement (such as Toulouse)
whereas others merely see it as an opportunity to rest their
star players in readiness for a return to Top 14 action
(like Toulon).
The former route carries obvious risks – in terms of injury
and long-term burnout – but the rewards are huge in being
crowned Europe’s top club. The raised profile, additional
revenue from television and ticket sales, and also in a
club’s overall standing. Remember, Dan Carter chose to sign
for Perpignan rather than Toulon because of the attraction
of the Heineken Cup – I bet he’s glad now after Toulon’s
abysmal result last night.
Talking of which, the second approach – to rest players – is
a more obvious one for clubs with smaller squads whose main
objective this season is Top 14 survival. But does a 3-56
home thrashing really help that club at all? It must be
questionable. Yes, youngsters have been blooded and stars
rested, but such a resounding hammering cannot be good for
morale whichever way you want to spin it. You only had to
listen to the boos echoing around the Stade Felix Mayol to
understand that.
So, we look ahead to 13 games
this weekend, with a quick preview and prediction for each.
I’ve managed to get 6/7 correct for the past two weeks but
the European odyssey is harder to call due to the differing
approaches of the clubs. Still, here goes.
Heineken Cup:
Munster
v Montauban (10/10/08, 21.00, Group 1)
Montauban’s Heineken Cup debut could not be tougher, with
the French side travelling to take on a full-strength
Munster, the defending champions, in front of a sell-out
26,000 crowd at the newly refurbished Thomond Park.
Munster’s new coach Tony McGahan has named 10 internationals
in the starting XV - including star names such as Peter
Stringer, Doug Howlett, Paul O’Connell and the Heineken
Cup’s top points-scorer Ronan O’Gara (954) – and the home
side go into the match on the back of five successive wins
in the Magners League. The Irish club, who start the
competition as third-favourites, have won it twice
previously (2006 and 2008) and been runners-up on two other
occasions (2000 and 2002).
Verdict: Munster win.
Perpignan v Benetton Treviso (10/10/08, 21.00, Group 3)
Dan Carter has yet to arrive but the French side should
still be too good for Treviso despite the further absence of
Steven Meyer, Nicolas Laharrague, Henry Tuilagi (all
injured) and Nathan Hines (suspended). England’s Perry
Freshwater captains the home side with scrum-half David Mele
starting at 10, opposite Italian full-back Andrea Marcato.
Perpignan are currently third in Top 14 with full-back
Jerome Porical in fine kicking form.
Verdict: Perpignan win.
Clermont v Sale
Sharks (11/10/08, 14.35, Group 1)
Clermont are determined to mount a serious challenge in this
year’s tournament but the return to French soil of
man-mountain Sebastien Chabal has dominated the run-in to
this match. Of course, Sale are also coached by France’s
Philippe Saint-Andre, so they should know exactly what to
expect from Brock James and company. Chabal, 30, is keen to
resurrect his international career, with Saint-Andre
admitting: “He has a point to prove in France.”
For Saint-Andre it is a return to the club where he played
for nine years before crossing the channel. The welcome is
bound to be warm but the result could leave him cold.
Verdict: Clermont to win.
Wasps v Castres
(11/10/08, 16.00, Group 2)
The increasing media frenzy surrounding English pin-up Danny
Cipriani has dominated the build-up to this match, with a
much-publicised training ground spat with Josh Lewsey making
the papers. The predictable response “shows how much
passion they have” was given an interesting spin when coach
Shaun Edwards claimed there was always a punch-up in
Heineken Cup week. Whatever the outcome – besides a cut lip
and bruised ego – Wasps desperately need a victory to get
their wayward season back on track. The defending Guinness
Premiership champions have looked rudderless so far this
campaign but with Castres also struggling for form this
represents an ideal opportunity for Cipriani and the gang to
get back to winning ways.
Verdict: Wasps win.
Ulster v Stade
Francais (11/10/08, 16.30, Group 4)
The 1999 champions face a tough opening match when they
entertain high-flying Stade Francais, currently eight points
clear in Top 14 after seven straight wins. Instrumental to
that start has been the form of Lionel Beauxis and
Argentina’s superb Juan Martin Hernandez.
Forget the hype about Stade’s shirts, they let their rugby
do the talking, and are also solid up front with the likes
of fellow Argentine Rodrigo Roncero and Italian captain
Sergio Parisse also in fine form. They should have too much
firepower for the Irish, even with rugby league convert Mark
Gasnier sidelined by an ankle injury.
Verdict: Stade Francais win.
Gloucester v
Biarritz (11/10/08, 18.30, Group 6)
Last week’s resounding win over Montpellier should have
boosted flagging club confidence but Biarritz face an uphill
battle to get anything from their opening Heineken Cup match
away to Gloucester, at the intimidating Kingsholm stadium.
Olly Barkley and Ryan Lamb are the standout names among a
star-studded home line-up and it could be a tiring evening
for Biarritz as they take on the Cherry and Whites buoyed by
their recent victory over Wasps.
Verdict: Gloucester win.
Toulouse v Bath
(12/10/08, 16.00, Group 5)
La Ville Rose was piqued to lose out to Munster in last
year’s final and the European giants are determined to make
amends this time around. Freddie Michalak is still on Currie
Cup duty in South Africa and Jean-Baptiste Ellisalde is
sidelined with kidney stones, but the likes of Byron
Kelleher, Cedric Heymans, David Skrela and emerging talent
Maxime Medard should still provide too much flair for the
travelling Bath side. The visitors, who are reining
Challenge Cup champions, have stars of their own – such as
Michael Lipman, Matt Stevens, Danny Grewcock and Justin
Harrison – but not many teams emerge triumphant from
Toulouse’s back yard.
Verdict: Toulouse win.
Coach Thomas Lièvremont may not know much about Connacht but
their surprise recent victory over Leinster last week should
alert him to the possible dangers. But Dax have found their
own form of late with three wins from four, and should be
too good for a side that has also been stuffed by Cardiff
(58-0) and Llanelli (45-3) this season. Connacht’s Mick
McCarthy is suspended following a head-butt last week.
Verdict: Dax win
Montpellier v
Bristol (10/10/08, 20.00, Pool 2)
Montpellier should be able to erase last week’s hammering by
Biarritz with a convincing home win against Bristol,
currently bottom of the Guinness Premiership with five
defeats from five.
Justin Marshall (ex-Ospreys) and Ollie Smith (ex-Leicester)
should know plenty about the visitors, with Bristol head
coach Richard Hill wary of what lays ahead.
“We think we are in the toughest group in this year’s
tournament, with excellent French sides and obviously
Northampton as well. But you never know with the French
sides, as we found last year with Stade Francais in the
Heineken Cup. It is very possible to catch them on an
off-day,” he said. Possible, but unlikely.
Verdict: Montpellier win.
Bayonne v Viadana
(10/10/08, 21.30, Pool 5)
Bayonne will be looking for a winning start as they take on
Italian side Viadana, but the presence of players such as
Rodney Blake confirms they will not be taking their
opponents lightly. Former Newcastle player Andrew Springgay
gets a rare outing but AB should have enough class to start
with a win.
Viadana boast a number of internationals themselves –
including Josh Sole, Jaco Erasmus and Pablo Canavosio – but
I expect a comfortable home win.
Verdict: Bayonne win
Overmach RP v Brive
(12/10/08, 15.30, Pool 4)
Andy Goode’s superb kicking form has helped spark Brive back
into life after a torrid start to the season, and the French
side have amassed 94 points in their last two Top 14 games
under his guidance. His cross-field kicks have proved hugely
successful – setting up three tries last week – and the
British contingent are showing signs of coming to the fore
with Ben Cohen back on scoring duty, together with Wales’
Barry Davies. Having said that, Parma is never an easy place
to travel to and the home side will be determined to put one
over their French counterparts. But as long as they can win
enough ball up front Brive should start with a win.
Verdict: Brive win.
Saracens v
Mont-de-Marsan (12/10/08, 16.00, Pool 5)
Bottom-of-the-table Mont-de-Marsan look to have their work
cut out when they travel to Vicarage Road (home of Watford
FC) to take on Saracens, semi-finalists in last year’s
Heineken Cup.
Andy Farrell and Chris Jack return to the hosts’ starting
XV, with Farrell back in action after six weeks out with a
fracture-dislocation of his thumb. Jack is included after a
fortnight’s lay-off with a shoulder injury.
Farrell’s 17-year-old son Owen made his professional debut
for Saracens last week but is not in the squad this time.
Two other youngsters are though, with winger Noah Cato and
American full-back Chris Wyles both included, along with
more familiar names such as internationals Steve Borthwick
and Michael Owen.
Australian coach Eddie Jones, in his first season with the
club, is looking for a winning start. “The only important
thing for us this weekend is to improve as a team once again
and put in a performance that will get us off and running in
this competition with a victory,” he said.
Verdict: Saracens win.
Bucaresti Oaks v
Bourgoin (12/10/08, 17.30, Pool 3)
Bourgoin travel to Romania for Sunday’s clash looking for an
early away-win to set them up for qualifying from Pool 3,
the same group as last year’s runners-up Worcester. The
French side should be good enough to prevail but do have a
habit of letting things slip in Europe.
Verdict: Bourgoin win.
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