2006/2007 Heineken Cup

[whyohwhy]

Pool One: Treviso, Perpignan, London Wasps, Castres

Pool Two: Edinburgh Gunners, Agen, Gloucester, Leinster

Pool Three: Sale Sharks, Stade Francais, Calvisano, Ospreys

Pool Four: Cardiff Blues, Bourgoin, Leicester, Munster

Pool Five: Ulster, Toulouse, London Irish, Llanelli Scarlets

Pool Six: Biarritz, Northampton, Overmach Parma, Border Reivers


Tough enough pools for the three Irish teams.

Munster get the old enemy, Leicester.

Leinster get the worst french team but a revitalised Gloucester, winners of the Challenge Cup.

Ulster get Toulouse and the attack-minded London irish.

None of the Irish teams get (weaker) Italian opposition, meaning it'll be hard to rack up the points and get runner up spot for the quarters.

Pool 3, group of death as well

[therock67]

Pool six looks weakest there - but all the others look tough including Pool 1 despite the Italian presence. How did the seedings work?

Leinster probably got the best draw of the Irish sides.

[whyohwhy]

admin said:

Pool six looks weakest there - but all the others look tough including Pool 1 despite the Italian presence. How did the seedings work?

Leinster probably got the best draw of the Irish sides.

Seedings for Irl, Sco & Wal, through the Celtic league. France and England based on their own leagues.

Ireland was: 1. Ulster, 2. Leinster, 3. Munster.

IRFU always decided their own seedings until last year, to give Connaught a chance to get in (by finshing ahead of Ulster, until their revival)

There was also play-off between the third Italian team in their league and the top (non-already qualified) team in the celtic league for the final spot (Parma won that)

[iamthelaw]

admin said:

Pool six looks weakest there - but all the others look tough including Pool 1 despite the Italian presence. How did the seedings work?

Leinster probably got the best draw of the Irish sides.

Yes Biarritz look set to walk Pool 6. Leinster must be happy with that draw, we haven't been in a pool of death for years and I was sure it was our turn. Gloucester have improved but their style of play will suit us. Bad luck for Ulster, the order of the fixtures could be important there, they'd want to catch Toulouse early in Ravenhill, but I think Munster will be good enough for their pool; Leinster's transition phase made Bourgoin look good. I've heard Pool 3 talked about as the toughest, but unless the Ospreys improve greatly on last year (& they've a load of players to come back, so they might), it could be a cakewalk for Sale and Stade, exchange home and away wins, pick up a bucket-load of tries against Calvisano and 2 teams to qualify. Pool 1 looks toughest for me. Noone will enjoy heading to Castres, and the other two are serious contenders.

[iamthelaw]

iamthelaw said:

Pool 1 looks toughest for me. Noone will enjoy heading to Castres, and the other two are serious contenders.

I think Treviso were actually the 1st seeds in Pool 1. The others will be kicking themselves that, after the good fortune of pulling the group with the Italian seed, they still ended up with 3 strong sides there.

[cully]

i'd say each of the provinces would fancy their chances of emerging from their group. ulster look like a decent bet to do well imo. they've a good crop of young lads who are breaking into the A and senior squad. they were helped last year by having the full team to chose from and concentrate on winning the celtic league, but i fancy them to do well. munster and leinster will obviously be strong, leinster have signed chris whitaker and a couple of tough nuts from munster so i think they can realistically fancy themselves to do well in the competition. munster will graft and graft, but if barry murphy is fit and shows anywhere near the form he showed last year they will also fancy themselves, haven't heard but have muns signed anybody decent ??

all in all i look forward to next seasons H Cup.