Irish pair poised for French exams

ONCE again the organisers of the Heineken Cup have hit the jackpot.

With the last round of pool games this weekend, thirteen sides retain a mathematical chance of progressing to the knockout stages. In fact, the final seeding will not be known until the completion of the last game between Gloucester and Stade Francais on Sunday afternoon.

On the assumption that Munster beat Harlequins on Saturday, that final game at Kingsholm will have a major bearing on whether Munster’s potential quarter-final will be played in Lansdowne Road or abroad.

While there are a number of possible scenarios, the most likely is that Munster will finish as fourth or fifth seed. If Biarritz beat Wasps in the south of France, then they are likely to be Munster’s opposition.

The game between Leicester and Biarritz last Sunday was undoubtedly the clash of the round. Such is the competitive nature of this tournament that Leicester, installed as bookies favourites over the past few weeks, were within two minutes of exiting the competition. The last gasp try by Harry Ellis gained the bonus point that kept the former champions in the tournament.

The Zurich Premiership leaders have destroyed all-comers this season. In the previous rounds of the Heineken Cup, they demolished current holders Wasps, on successive occasions. On Sunday, the Sky TV panel comprising of Scott Quinnell, Dowie Morris and Michael Lynagh all plumped for a comprehensive Leicester victory. Yet the Biarritz pack took such control in the early stages that the visitors led 18-0 at one stage. With their front five dominating, the magnificent back row of Betson, Harinordoquy and Lievremont were outstanding. Behind the scrum, French internationals Yachvili, Traille and Brusque were a class apart.

One of the few weaknesses in the make up of this competition is the fact that one group can contain three sides with the potential to win the competition outright. It would be a blessed relief to their rivals that two from Biarritz, Wasps or Leicester could be gone by Sunday evening.

Despite Leinster’s dip in form in recent games, they are sure to finish as No. 1 seed by beating Treviso on Saturday. The Italian side has been one of the successes of this year’s competition and confirmed their current well being with another great victory over Bourgoin last Saturday. While they are unlikely to advance their performances to date are sure to provide a boost to the Italian squad for the forthcoming Six Nations.

At this stage, it looks as if the two best-placed runners up spots could fall to Northampton and Castres. Indeed there is a strong possibility that Munster’s pool opponents could provide the opposition for Leinster.

To do so they have to beat the Ospreys.

While the stop-start nature of this competition creates difficulties for some teams, I am quite sure that Declan Kidney will welcome the break after next weekend. The principle area of concern for him is the vulnerability of his line-out. While Leinster experienced difficulties in this phase in the away clash with Bourgoin, they were badly exposed against Munster and Bath in recent weeks. Given the level of experience in the their pack, I was amazed that at no stage did Leinster look to alter the structure of their lineout in the second half.

Their senior players must take responsibility for this. Leinster’s perceived weakness up front is sure to be targeted by any potential opponents in the knockout stages. Nobody will know that more than the players themselves.

On a positive note, in their last two Heineken Cup games, Leinster displayed a degree of mental toughness that deserves recognition. Brian O’Driscoll’s outstanding individual try in the dying minutes against Bourgoin stands out as the highlight of the competition to date. The late late turnaround against Bath also showed a reluctance on behalf of Kidney’s men to concede defeat. However, any air of invincibility that surrounded them has gradually been eroded.

Victory for Munster on Saturday will see them qualify for their seventh successive European cup quarterfinal (a record for the competition). Remarkably even the acquisition of a bonus point by scoring four tries on Saturday may not guarantee them a home quarter final. With the possibility of at least two other sides finishing on 23 points, the number of tries scored will dictate the final seeding. While Munster can boast the best defence in the competition, they have only managed to score 10 tries.

Indeed five of these were scored in the home victory over Castres. This could yet prove costly.

Speaking after last Saturday’s victory, Anthony Foley, pointed out that their first priority next weekend is to beat Harlequins. There is a danger, given that Harlequins currently prop up the Zurich Premiership, for the public to take this fixture lightly. While they were on the wrong end of a 58-13 drubbing by Castres last weekend, coach Mark Evans took the decision to rest up to eight first team regulars. With a break from the Premiership the weekend after next, it is probable that Evans will select a full strength team for this attractive clash. Given their narrow six-point defeat in the opening pool game in Thomond Park, Harlequins will feel that they have nothing to lose. Munster will have to be on their guard.

With over 30,000 tickets already sold for Twickenham, Munster are guaranteed to attract a huge level of support. With tickets easily accessible, huge proportions of exiles are due to attend the game.

Munster have never left their travelling support down. They are unlikely to start next Saturday.