Heineken Cup This Weekend.

[stimmers]

Only one game in the Quarters jumps out at me, the game at Kingsholm. The London Irish could be exciting, but two teams who IMO cannot win the tournament and the rest, if they go to form, should be comfortable wins for Toulouse and Ospreys. At least the seeding system next year should make for better games.

Saturday, 05 April 2008
Gloucester v Munster, 17:30 Munster by 7
London Irish v Perpignan, 15:00 Perpignan by 4


Sunday, 06 April 2008
Saracens v Ospreys, 12:30 Ospreys by 14
Toulouse v Cardiff Blues, 15:00 Toulouse by 20

[disco1]

I think the Blues may be quietly confident, Toulouse although full of talent are expected to romp it and this has always been many a quality teams downfall. The Scarlets won a thriller out there against all odds.

Hairprays to win but not as much as in the EDF. The English clubs have plenty of HC big game experience so they should all put up a decent showing.

[stimmers]

disco1 said:

I think the Blues may be quietly confident, Toulouse although full of talent are expected to romp it and this has always been many a quality teams downfall. The Scarlets won a thriller out there against all odds.

Cardiff dont have the quality to play as open as the Scarlets or indeed Leinster did when they both won in Toulouse in the HC. Toulouse have the 2nd best defence and the best attack in the French league this year, only lost 3 games out of 16 and they and Clermont are 13 points ahead of the rest. Toulouse also won a crap, hard game in Biarritz last time out 12-6, a game i would usually expect them to lose.

Toulouse game is the only one i'd put my house on (famous last words).

They are too strong at home.

[BigMansZetec]

Munster by 3

Irish by 5

Ospreys by 7

Toulouse by 12

[disco1]

stimmers said:

Cardiff dont have the quality to play as open as the Scarlets or indeed Leinster did when they both won in Toulouse in the HC. .

As per usual I dont agree you in the slightest.

Cardiff have a good pack (Rush, Tito, Gethin Jenkins, Martyn Williams) and a great back line with some real game breakers and flyers: Richie Rees, Jason Spice, Nick McLoed, Tom James, Jamie Robinson, Shanklin, Roberts and Gareth Thomas. All these players have played played through the international youth set up or Welsh senior team apart from Tom James who has simply come from nowhere (aka Merthyr) in the last 2 seasons.

Cardiff always score well and have improved loads after the last few seasons (although a little slow).

Toulouse will be too confident and may have banana skin moment.

[Logie]

I want Cardiff to win, but i cant see it happening. Kicking lets us down, and havnt Tol not lost at home in something like 4 years?

[stimmers]

disco1 said:

stimmers said:

Cardiff dont have the quality to play as open as the Scarlets or indeed Leinster did when they both won in Toulouse in the HC. .

As per usual I dont agree you in the slightest.

Cardiff have a good pack (Rush, Tito, Gethin Jenkins, Martyn Williams) and a great back line with some real game breakers and flyers: Richie Rees, Jason Spice, Nick McLoed, Tom James, Jamie Robinson, Shanklin, Roberts and Gareth Thomas. All these players have played played through the international youth set up or Welsh senior team apart from Tom James who has simply come from nowhere (aka Merthyr) in the last 2 seasons.

Cardiff always score well and have improved loads after the last few seasons (although a little slow).

Toulouse will be too confident and may have banana skin moment.

Well the proof is in the pudding and we shall see who is right or wrong on Sunday

So you have disagreed with everything i have saidabout rugby on these boards? Interesting

[disco1]

stimmers said:

disco1 said:

stimmers said:

Cardiff dont have the quality to play as open as the Scarlets or indeed Leinster did when they both won in Toulouse in the HC. .

As per usual I dont agree you in the slightest.

Cardiff have a good pack (Rush, Tito, Gethin Jenkins, Martyn Williams) and a great back line with some real game breakers and flyers: Richie Rees, Jason Spice, Nick McLoed, Tom James, Jamie Robinson, Shanklin, Roberts and Gareth Thomas. All these players have played played through the international youth set up or Welsh senior team apart from Tom James who has simply come from nowhere (aka Merthyr) in the last 2 seasons.

Cardiff always score well and have improved loads after the last few seasons (although a little slow).

Toulouse will be too confident and may have banana skin moment.

Well the proof is in the pudding and we shall see who is right or wrong on Sunday

So you have disagreed with everything i have saidabout rugby on these boards? Interesting

The vast majority yes.

[stimmers]

disco1 said:

stimmers said:

disco1 said:

stimmers said:

Cardiff dont have the quality to play as open as the Scarlets or indeed Leinster did when they both won in Toulouse in the HC. .

As per usual I dont agree you in the slightest.

Cardiff have a good pack (Rush, Tito, Gethin Jenkins, Martyn Williams) and a great back line with some real game breakers and flyers: Richie Rees, Jason Spice, Nick McLoed, Tom James, Jamie Robinson, Shanklin, Roberts and Gareth Thomas. All these players have played played through the international youth set up or Welsh senior team apart from Tom James who has simply come from nowhere (aka Merthyr) in the last 2 seasons.

Cardiff always score well and have improved loads after the last few seasons (although a little slow).

Toulouse will be too confident and may have banana skin moment.

Well the proof is in the pudding and we shall see who is right or wrong on Sunday

So you have disagreed with everything i have saidabout rugby on these boards? Interesting

The vast majority yes.

Like what ?

[hornetrider]

Must admit I've only seen a few Blues games this season and I thought they've blown hot and cold. I think going to Toulouse and coming away with a victory will be too big an ask, however Rush seems pretty confident. I think it will be closer than stimmers suggests but I'd still say Toulouse by 10.

As for the others, I fancy Gloucester to do Munster, Irish to beat Perpignan and the Ospreys to beat Sarries, although agree with the other poster who said it will be closer than their last meeting.

[stimmers]

hornetrider said:

Must admit I've only seen a few Blues games this season and I thought they've blown hot and cold. I think going to Toulouse and coming away with a victory will be too big an ask, however Rush seems pretty confident. I think it will be closer than stimmers suggests but I'd still say Toulouse by 10.

As for the others, I fancy Gloucester to do Munster, Irish to beat Perpignan and the Ospreys to beat Sarries, although agree with the other poster who said it will be closer than their last meeting.

I went to Toulouse for the Tigers game. They are a very complete side and are not blowing hot and cold this season as they usually do (i've not seen much of Cardiff in the ML). They came through a tough Pool, have only lost 5 games in all comps this season. Jauzion getting back to his best.

I happen to think the Ospreys and Munster are the only two teams left in the comp who can beat them

Edited by stimmers on Friday 4th April 11:57

[stimmers]

Intresting choice at 10 for Cardiff

Blues: Ben Blair; Jamie Roberts, Tom Shanklin, Gareth Thomas, Tom James; Dai Flanagan, Jason Spice; Gethin Jenkins, Gareth Williams, Taufa'ao Filise, Deiniol Jones, Paul Tito, Maama Molitika, Martyn Williams, Xavier Ruh (capt).
Replacements: John Yapp, T Rhys Thomas, Scott Morgan, Ben White, Richie Rees, Nicky Robinson, Jamie Robinson.

[stimmers]

Glouc team

Olly Morgan; Chris Paterson, James Simpson-Daniel, Anthony Allen, Lesley Vainikolo; Ryan Lamb, Rory Lawson; Nick Wood, Andy Titterrell, Carlos Nieto, Marco Bortolami (capt), Alex Brown, Peter Buxton, Andy Hazell, Luke Narraway. Reps: Jeremy Paul, Alasdair Dickinson, Will James, Gareth Delve, Gareth Cooper, Willie Walker, Mike Tindall.

Munster team

15. Denis Hurley 14. Doug Howlett 13. Rua Tipoki 12. Lifeimi Mafi 11. Ian Dowling 10. Ronan O' Gara 9. Tomás O'Leary
1. Marcus Horan 2. Jerry Flannery 3. John Hayes 4. Donncha O' Callaghan 5. Paul O'Connell (Capt.) 6. Alan Quinlan 7. David Wallace 8. Denis Leamy
Replacements: Frankie Sheahan, Tony Buckley, Mick O'Driscoll, Anthony Foley, Peter Stringer, Paul Warwick, Kieran Lewis.

[hornetrider]

stimmers said:

Intresting choice at 10 for Cardiff

Blues: Ben Blair; Jamie Roberts, Tom Shanklin, Gareth Thomas, Tom James; Dai Flanagan, Jason Spice; Gethin Jenkins, Gareth Williams, Taufa'ao Filise, Deiniol Jones, Paul Tito, Maama Molitika, Martyn Williams, Xavier Ruh (capt).
Replacements: John Yapp, T Rhys Thomas, Scott Morgan, Ben White, Richie Rees, Nicky Robinson, Jamie Robinson.

Robinson is just returning from injury I think so Flanigan at 10 is a continuation.

[stimmers]

Irish team

15. Peter Hewat; 14. Topsy Ojo; 13.Gonzalo Tiesi*; 12. Seilala Mapusua*; 11. Sailosi Tagicakibau*; 10. Mike Catt*; 9. Paul Hodgson*; 1. Clarke Dermody*; 2. David Paice, 3. Faan Rautenbach*; 4. Nick Kennedy; 5. Bob Casey* (captain); 6. Declan Danaher; 7. Steffon Armitage; 8. Phil Murphy*.
Replacements:
16. Tongo Lea’aetoa*; 17. Danie Coetzee*; 18. James Hudson; 19. Richard Thorpe; 20. Delon Armitage; 21. Peter Richards*; 22. Shane Geraghty*.

[BigMansZetec]

stimmers said:

Irish team

15. Peter Hewat; 14. Topsy Ojo; 13.Gonzalo Tiesi*; 12. Seilala Mapusua*; 11. Sailosi Tagicakibau*; 10. Mike Catt*; 9. Paul Hodgson*; 1. Clarke Dermody*; 2. David Paice, 3. Faan Rautenbach*; 4. Nick Kennedy; 5. Bob Casey* (captain); 6. Declan Danaher; 7. Steffon Armitage; 8. Phil Murphy*.
Replacements:
16. Tongo Lea’aetoa*; 17. Danie Coetzee*; 18. James Hudson; 19. Richard Thorpe; 20. Delon Armitage; 21. Peter Richards*; 22. Shane Geraghty*.

Thats a pretty good team for us, and a very strong bench. Irish can be a an unpredictable team, which makes them dangerous, and they have beaten some top English teams at the Madkski this season. So if its a dry afternoon, I wouldn't write them off.

Going to have to find a bar in Reading for the Munster/Gloucester game, not one to miss!

Edited by BigMansZetec on Friday 4th April 16:38

[stimmers]

BigMansZetec said:

stimmers said:

Irish team

15. Peter Hewat; 14. Topsy Ojo; 13.Gonzalo Tiesi*; 12. Seilala Mapusua*; 11. Sailosi Tagicakibau*; 10. Mike Catt*; 9. Paul Hodgson*; 1. Clarke Dermody*; 2. David Paice, 3. Faan Rautenbach*; 4. Nick Kennedy; 5. Bob Casey* (captain); 6. Declan Danaher; 7. Steffon Armitage; 8. Phil Murphy*.
Replacements:
16. Tongo Lea’aetoa*; 17. Danie Coetzee*; 18. James Hudson; 19. Richard Thorpe; 20. Delon Armitage; 21. Peter Richards*; 22. Shane Geraghty*.

Thats a pretty good team for us, and a very strong bench. Irish can be a an unpredictable team, which makes them dangerous, and they have beaten some top English teams at the Madkski this season. So if its a dry afternoon, I wouldn't write them off.

Going to have to find a bar in Reading for the Munster/Gloucester game, not one to miss!

Edited by BigMansZetec on Friday 4th April 16:38

I'd be concerned with the 12 and 13 in a game like this. Armitage must be coming back from an injury not be playing?

[BigMansZetec]

stimmers said:

BigMansZetec said:

stimmers said:

Irish team

15. Peter Hewat; 14. Topsy Ojo; 13.Gonzalo Tiesi*; 12. Seilala Mapusua*; 11. Sailosi Tagicakibau*; 10. Mike Catt*; 9. Paul Hodgson*; 1. Clarke Dermody*; 2. David Paice, 3. Faan Rautenbach*; 4. Nick Kennedy; 5. Bob Casey* (captain); 6. Declan Danaher; 7. Steffon Armitage; 8. Phil Murphy*.
Replacements:
16. Tongo Lea’aetoa*; 17. Danie Coetzee*; 18. James Hudson; 19. Richard Thorpe; 20. Delon Armitage; 21. Peter Richards*; 22. Shane Geraghty*.

Thats a pretty good team for us, and a very strong bench. Irish can be a an unpredictable team, which makes them dangerous, and they have beaten some top English teams at the Madkski this season. So if its a dry afternoon, I wouldn't write them off.

Going to have to find a bar in Reading for the Munster/Gloucester game, not one to miss!

Edited by BigMansZetec on Friday 4th April 16:38

I'd be concerned with the 12 and 13 in a game like this. Armitage must be coming back from an injury not be playing?

Not ideal, but the bench is there if required, yup Armitage has been out for a few weeks.

[BigMansZetec]

Back from the London Irish game, seemed I underestimated my own team, 20-9 it finished. Once again the lineout was key, and some smart tactical kicking from full back. What exactly has Nick Kennedy got to do to claim an England shirt? I don't know the stats, but Perpignan lost more than a few throws.

Munster through as well, will have to catch some highlights of sometime.

[hornetrider]

Gloucester threw that game away, despite the pundits hailing the Munster performance.

Patterson missed three simple pens, they chose a scrum when a fourth easy pen was on offer, and near the end because they were so far behind kicked into the corner when another pen was on offer. Simspon Daniel played really well I thought.