POOL OF DEATH FOR ULSTER?

Before the Heineken Cup starts, I take a quick look at what Ulster are dealing with in their pool, and where the other pools will go…

So the Heineken Cup is upon us once more and the excitement has been building dramatically. And with a new tournament, comes new questions…

Can Leinster go three in a row? Is anyone good enough to stop them? Who will top Pool Five? How will the English teams do this year? Who will be in Dublin for the final? Can Zebre get their first points ever?

These questions and more, will all be answered in due course…

Pool Four to the fore

Ulster have been in Pool Four for the last five years. Don’t ask me why, ERC just seem to love to put us there. Obviously, the number doesn’t matter a single bit. It’s the other teams in it.

First I’ll begin with a side Ulster should know very well – Glasgow. Considering they play us twice every year in the PRO12, Glasgow should have no surprises up their sleeves and we should have enough to beat them, home and away. But they do have danger men that really up their games in Europe. Ruaridh Jackson for one, a player who has just found form and will be relishing the chance to kick his side into their first ever European knockout match.

Next to a side that aren’t completely unfamiliar to Ulster – Northampton Saints. Ulster have actually only played the Saints competitively once before, and we all remember the quarter-final in Milton Keynes. That year we faced arguably one of the best sides in Europe (beaten only by Leinster). This time around I think it’s a little different. Some of Northampton’s strength has drained (as shown by their inability to qualify last season) and their confidence will undoubtedly be hit by their loss to London Irish last weekend. Will provide stiff opposition, but nothing more. We can win home and away against them if we play to our best.

And finally a team who Ulster will be firmly in the dark about. Castres have never graced Belfast with their presence and it’s up to us to make them wish they never had. Actually, that’s not true, because returning with the French outfit is Pedrie Wannenburg, a player whom we relied on the last few years to be Mr. Consistent, and he will be welcomed back with open arms. As for the threat they pose, it should be minimal. Capable of causing a shock at home, they usually roll over away. Ulster have been given a kind draw and face them away in the last pool game, a stage when they are usually out of the tournament and couldn’t care less. Home and away wins should be on the cards.

This is a pool that could be a 6 wins out of 6 pool, or a potential 3 wins out of 6 pool. Every team is strong at home, but falters away. It will more than likely come down to Ulster and Northampton, and who can get those elusive away wins that prove crucial in the Heineken Cup. In my eyes, Ulster will sneak it, but it’ll take them until the final round to secure their place…

Favourites: Ulster

Challengers: Northampton
Outsiders: Glasgow

Perusing the pools

Pool 1

Favourites: Munster – their home form in Europe is imperious and should have enough strength to see off the challenges they are faced with
Challengers: Saracens – should provide stiff opposition for Munster, but will ultimately fall short, possibly on bonus points
Outsiders: Edinburgh – last year was a flash in the pan, and while they may cause a few problems, they won’t get out of the pool

Pool 2

Favourites: Leicester – their attacking prowess should sneak them through on bonus points
Challengers: Toulouse – will miss out on bonus points and may even miss a best runner-up spot
Outsiders: Ospreys – will probably win all of their home matches but will struggle away

Pool 3

Favourites: Harlequins – this pool should be a walk in the park for the Premiership champions, even if it does include the Amlin champions as well
Challengers: Biarritz – won’t be strong enough to challenge Quins, will look to reach the knock-outs via second place
Outsiders: Connacht – only outsiders because the other team in the pool is Zebre, won’t pose much of a threat

Pool 5

Favourites: Leinster – tricky pool for the defending champions but should just sneak through, probably on bonus points
Challengers: Clermont – one of the strongest teams but have found a difficult pool once again, will find themselves in a battle to reach the knock-outs through best runners-up
Outsiders: Scarlets – full of quality, unfortunately in a tough pool and will falter

Pool 6
Favourites: Toulon – best team in a poor pool, will go through but find knock-out matches hard going
Challengers: Cardiff – two away matches in France will be their downfall and will cost them a place in the Amlin
Outsiders: Montpellier – good at home, but lack the quality to win away