Games
Racing metro92 vs. Scarlets – Scarlets by 3+
Ulster vs. Montpelier – Ulster by 10+
Exeter Chiefs vs. Glasgow Warriors – Exeter by 7+
Toulon vs. Cardiff Blues – Toulon by 7+
Connacht vs. Zebre- Connacht by 10+
*Harlequins vs. Clermont Auvergne
Treviso vs. Leicester – Leicester by 10+
Gloucester vs. Munster – Munster by 10+
Edinburgh vs. Perpignan – Edinburgh by 5-7
Ospreys vs. Northampton – Ospreys by 3-5
*Toulouse vs. Saracens
Summary
The weekend of the Heineken Cup shakedown is here, the quarter
finals are so close for some and others will just be fulfilling obligations.
Many of the encounters have the feel of predictability and after the turgid
Top14 games of last week the French teams look tired and devoid of ideas.
Toulon, the European champions lost at home, Laporte throws his toys out of the
pram and the Blues can travel to Nice with a spring in their step. But, the
experienced” boys of the Med”, will not take this game lightly, and the Blues
without Patchell will do well to get anything out of this game. Ulster in front
of a rabid Ravenhill will deal with Montpellier with room to spare, setting up
a winner takes all contest at Welford Road next week. Scarlets will not be
concerned by their trip to racing Metro92 and could well spring a surprise.
Munster goes to a struggling and inconsistent Gloucester
targeting not just a win but a clinching bonus point. Perpignan hopes were
snuffed out by the brilliant last minute Munster effort and will not be
motivated going to Edinburgh and will lose. Connacht vs. Zebre is a marketing
man’s nightmare and could well prove to be the worst game of the weekend, even
the competition. Leicester will do a professional number on Treviso and the
Italian challenge will once again disappear. Exeter Chiefs need to beat Glasgow
to build up some momentum for the challenges ahead and will deal with the
misfiring warriors with ease. Ospreys vs. Northampton could have been the game
of the round and with the Saints’ great win in Dublin they have given
themselves a chance. But, the loss of Lawes and the resurgent Ospreys will not
allow the Saints to leave the Liberty with anything positive. Ospreys will
throw everything at them to spoil their party; this will not be a game for the
faint hearted.
*Harlequins vs.
Clermont Auvergne
Clermont
know that they cannot afford to lose this game, they do and they are off the
top spot. Vern Cotter will be mightily relieved that he can call upon the
returning pocket battleship, Morgan Parra for this game. Clermont’s injury list
is vast, with many first choices unavailable. The return of the combative Cudmore
will at least give some bite to a depleted Clermont pack. The defeat at the
Saints was a hard to take for the ‘Quins and the injury to Evans a concern but
the return of Care and a fired up Nick Easter are most welcome. The Stoop will
be packed, the ground wet and sticky and Evans, if he plays knows exactly how
to exploit the conditions. Damage limitation will be Clermont’s mission, a
losing bonus point their prime aim. Harlequins will have too much for the men
from the Massif Central but will struggle to deny them a bonus point
Prediction
Harlequins
to win by 3-7
*Toulouse vs. Saracens
Toulouse
will have been looking forward to this match, and last week’s victory over
Clermont a perfect rehearsal. In the Top14 they have struggled, failing to find
their renowned fluency and the loss to Connacht a bitter pill to swallow.
Saracens task to get anything out of this game is the hardest of the weekend.
Saracens
were relentless last week at Kingsholm, playing with pace and intensity that
blew the Gloucester team off the park. But to win at Toulouse they will need to
improve on that great effort. Toulouse might not have hit their straps yet but
some day son they will and Saracens know after the humbling at Wembley what the
Red and Blacks are capable of. Toulouse knows that they have to avoid defeat
and with the hapless Zebre to follow, once again they will qualify.
Prediction
Toulouse
to win by 10+ points
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