After another
wonderful weekend of Heineken Cup rugby it’s back to the bread and butter of
league rugby. Christmas cheer will be hard to find at some of the grounds
across the country and strangely given the proximity to Xmas there are not that
many games to savour. Blues vs. Ospreys should rouse the senses but on a cold
Friday night in Cardiff? In the Aviva, Saracens vs. Leicester could be a
blockbuster. The game of the weekend is deep in southern France, the
Mediterranean derby, RC Toulon vs. Montpellier.
Ospreys come
to Cardiff’s plastic pitch in reasonable form, and reinforced by the inclusions
of AWJ and Adam Jones, and should enjoy the security of the Arms Park’s
excellent surface. The Blues have to show that their wins over Glasgow are the
start of something, a rebirth of the Blues as a top team and they need to
confirm that by dealing with the challenge of the Ospreys. It will certainly
have plenty of spice and there are interesting match ups, all over the field.
It will be the Ospreys looking forward to the game the most as it’s all about
the Pro12 for them; they have nothing else to go for. This game gives them the
chance to put down a significant marker.
Prediction: Ospreys by 3 – 5 points
Saracens
adore playing at the Aviva Stadium and they have turned it into a fortress,
they fear no-one there and the Tigers will be well aware that to get anything
from the game they will have to play very well. The Tiger’s unbelievable
victory at Montpellier could make their season, Cockerill’s men probably now feel
unbeatable. On the other hand Saracens’ easy victories over the miserable Zebre
will not have been the best preparation for such a hard challenge. The Saracens
are too canny to underestimate the Tigers and will be fired up for this game,
it is their first meeting of the season and they will be doing their best to
put Leicester in their place. Saracens will be too much for the Tigers this
Saturday, and will seek to move the Tigers around and attack from all over the
field, and as Montpellier has shown the gaps will inevitably appear.
Prediction: Saracens by 10+ points
Preview: RC Toulon vs. Montpellier
Toulon
boosted by the resigning of Delon Armitage and Mermoz will be relishing the
visit of Montpelier, as 3rd plays 6th in the Top14. It is
a cliché but with RCT’s abundance of talent that any side Laporte chooses will
be formidable. Peculiarly at home Toulon has at times looked very uncomfortable
and there have been several closer games than the Pilou Pilou would have
expected or liked. Perhaps, it is the level of expectation that is inhibiting
the quality of performance or the amount of mileage on the clock for certain
members of the squad is beginning to show itself. Also, team are fired up going
there, they are easy to motivate with the chance of putting one over the
galacticos of the Top14. What is true that during the season RCT have given
some underwhelming performances and Fabien Galthie will be making sure that his
men go onto the field inspired and not to take a backward step.
Montpellier
play a fluid high octane game coupled to an abrasive experience pack of
forwards. After the sickening defeat against Leicester last week the massive
Georgodze and his acolytes will be viewing this game as a chance at redemption.
Toulon equally have selected a massive experienced tough pack that will bring
an “edge” to every physical confrontation, Botha, Williams and the roly-poly
Armitage will fling themselves into the breakdown with no concern for their own
safety. The axis of Wilkinson and Giteau is the game-changer though, and means
that RCT will play the game in those parts of the field they want to and at
their pace. Montpellier will need to up their concentration and focus from last
week and rein in their urge to run everything and play percentage rugby instead
of pressing for the opportunity wait for it to come but critically take it.
Prediction: RC Toulon to win by 3 – 5
points
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