Heineken Cup – Round 2 preview
17 October 2008
Record first day
attendances confirmed the growing status of the Heineken Cup
but French clubs will be looking for a more successful
weekend than last when only Stade Francais, Perpignan and
Toulouse (just) recorded wins.
The 31,885 who watched
Toulouse, last year’s runners-up, scramble a two-point
victory against Bath were part of an overall figure of
152,991 for the first round of matches, and there’s sure to
be more entertainment this weekend with another full set of
games.
Toulouse kick-off the
action tonight with a tricky trip to Scotland, while Stade
Francais and Perpignan both face Welsh opposition (in the
shape of Llanelli Scarlets and the Ospreys respectively) on
Saturday.
Biarritz entertain Italy’s
Rugby Calvisano while struggling Castres play host to
Edinburgh, before Sunday afternoon’s all French clash
between crisis club Montauban and Clermont.
It should be another
fascinating weekend across Europe.
Glasgow Warriors v
Toulouse, Pool 5, Firhill Arena (20.00, 17/10/08)
French champions Toulouse
were given a mighty shock by Bath last week, coming within
seconds of a disastrous home defeat – a wake-up call that
should ensure against complacency when they take on the
Warriors at Firhill. Their biggest problem could be fatigue
– it’s only five days since they played Bath on Sunday
afternoon – but with a squad their size the three-times
should be able to cope.
“It’s difficult, but
that’s what it’s like at the highest level,” admitted
Toulouse flanker Thierry Dusautoir. “It’s like the rhythm of
the World Cup. It’s also what makes the European Cup
enjoyable. It’s a real pleasure to play the games so you
forget the fatigue.”
Kiwi scrum-half Byron
Kelleher is free to play after his citing for an alleged
stamp on Bath’s Butch James was dismissed by the
disciplinary committee, and utility back Clement Poitrenaud
comes in at full-back after a lengthy injury lay-off.
That means Maxime Medard,
so impressive this season, moves to the left wing with Manu
Ahotaeiloa on the right as they seek their firs try in this
year’s competition. Cedric Heymans drops to a star-studded
subs bench, where he will be kept company by Finau Maka and
Jean-Baptiste Ellisalde, the latter back in the squad after
recovering from kidney stones.
French international David
Skrela, who kicked the last-ditch penalty for victory over
Bath, remains at fly-half.
Glasgow will be looking to
bounce back from their 32-22 defeat away to Newport and
Gwent Dragons, and are bolstered by the return of fly-half
Dan Parks and winger Thom Evans. They are among six changes
from last week’s starting XV, with coach Sean Lineen looking
for a positive response to their defeat in Wales.
“They let themselves down
last weekend and they’re doing everything they can to
rectify that result,” he said.
Verdict: Toulouse
win.
Stade Francais v
Llanelli Scarlets, Pool 4, Stade Jean Bouin (14.35,
18/10/08)
Runaway Top 14 leaders
Stade Francais will be looking to make it nine wins from
nine when they host the Llanelli Scarlets on Saturday.
Ewen McKenzie’s Paris
outfit have looked imperious at times this season and should
have more than enough to follow up their opening 26-10 win
at Ulster last weekend.
Expect more drop goals,
from Juan Martin Hernandez and Lionel Beauxis, and a push
for the bonus point from their free-running backs.
Optimism certainly isn’t
in short supply, with backs coach Christophe Dominici
admitting: “We’ve asked a lot of the players since the start
of the season and they’ve got a lot to be proud of because
what we’ve done up to now is thanks to the remarkable
mindset and discipline in the group.”
The Scarlets are still
smarting from their 22-29 home defeat by Harlequins, but
could be in for a torrid afternoon in the French capital.
Verdict: Stade
Francais win.
Ospreys v Perpignan,
Pool 3, Liberty Stadium (15.30, 18/10/08)
Perpignan, who beat
Treviso 27-16 last week, travel to Wales to take on the
Ospreys with coach Jacques Brunel admitting it was a trip
into the unknown for the Top 14 side.
“I don’t know the Ospreys very well,” he
admitted, before adding: “I have been watching them since
the start of the Magners League and, seeing their
performances against the likes of Ulster, it is easy to see
how dangerous they are.”
The injury-hit French side
suffered a further blow when centre David Marty was ruled
out for three months with knee ligament damage this week but
Brunel knows his side need to win at least two of their away
games to harbour serious hopes of progressing from the group
stages.
Should they do that a
possible quarter-final in Barcelona could be on the cards,
especially with the added draw that Dan Carter will bring
following his arrival in December.
“We are very proud of our
Catalan heritage and we have strong relations with Barcelona
and the south of Catalonia, and it would be fantastic for us
to be able to take our match over the border,” said Brunel.
The Ospreys, who lost 12-6
away to Leicester last week, have injury problems of their
own after Jonathan Thomas was ruled out until the end of
November after undergoing a groin operation that will
require a six week lay-off.
Verdict: Ospreys
win.
Biarritz v Rugby
Calvisano, Pool 6, Parc des Sports Aguilera (18.00,
18/10/08)
Biarritz battled hard for
no reward against Gloucester last week – they lost 22-10 –
but should find the going somewhat easier when they host
Rugby Calvisano on Saturday.
The Italians were
overwhelmed 56-20 by Cardiff Blues in their opening fixture
and are unlikely to fair much better when they travel to the
Parc des Sports Aguilera this weekend.
The home side will be
looking for a bonus-point win to kick-start their Heineken
Cup campaign, with flying American winger Takudzwa Ngwenya
likely to see lots of the ball.
Verdict: Biarritz
win.
Castres v
Edinburgh, Pool 2, Stade Pierre Antoine (18.30, 18/10/08)
Both sides go into this
match looking for their first win of the competition after
Castres went down 25-11 at Wasps and Edinburgh crumbled to a
16-27 home defeat by Leinster.
Castres have been
struggling for form in Top 14 this season – they are second
bottom – but home advantage should prove crucial at the
Stade Pierre Antoine.
Phil Godman will be making
his 100th appearance for Glasgow, while Scottish centre Ben
Cairns returns after a two-month absence due to damage knee
ligaments. Club captain Simon Cross makes the subs bench as
he continues his rehabilitation from a rib injury.
Verdict: Castres
win.
Montauban v Clermont,
Pool 1, Stade Sapiac (16.00, 19/10/08)
Montauban came within a
whisker of beating defending champions Munster in Ireland
but all talk since then has revolved around the deepening
financial crisis enveloping the Top 14 side.
The club are currently
under investigation by the DNACG – the French league’s
financial watchdog – after an internal audit by president
Daniel Havis revealed a €1.3m deficit in last year’s
accounts. On Tuesday night Havis resigned when his request
for a judicial investigation into the accounts under former
president Patrick Bardot was turned down by the club’s
administrative council.
As if all of that wasn’t
enough the Heineken Cup newcomers welcome Clermont to the
Stade Sapiac on Sunday in the first all-French clash of this
year’s competition. Both sides lost last week – Montauban
19-17 in Munster and Clermont 15-32 at home to Sale – making
this a must-win match if either is to have realistic hopes
of progressing.
Clermont flanker Alexandre
Audebert admitted their surprise home defeat by Sale had
been a major blow. “Clearly it makes it a bit sticky for us
but we must forget about this first result and continue to
play,” he said.
Les Juanards were
bolstered by the signing of Saracens’ South African
full-back Brent Russell this week.
Verdict: Clermont
win.
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