Club success formula for international glory

IT’s amazing how success at international level and by club sides in Europe tend to go hand in hand. In the years when France and England dominated the Six Nations championship, their clubs invariably won the Heineken Cup.

Hence it’s hardly coincidental that Munster’s achievement in winning the tournament last season ran parallel to Ireland’s climb up the international pecking order. With the Heineken Cup resuming once again this weekend, evidence from the autumn internationals points favourably towards an Irish team being in the final shake up again.

England’s poor form is mirrored by the fact that none of their six participants have managed to remain unbeaten in Europe this season. At present only Sale, Wasps and possibly Leicester have any realistic chance of making the knockout stages. Of those, Sale were dealt a cruel blow in November losing Andrew Sheridan, Charlie Hodgson, Elvis Seveali’i and Jason White to long term injuries. This will have a devastating effect on their attempts to win the competition for the first time.

Despite the poor form of the national side, French opposition remain the biggest threat to Irish ambitions. Four of their sides are unbeaten after the opening two rounds — Perpignan, Stade Francais, Biarritz and Agen. Interestingly, none of that quartet has won the trophy. Toulouse also remain in contention despite losing to Ulster in Ravenhill.

Leinster’s defeat at the death against Edinburgh in their most recent European outing has left them with little room for manoeuvre. Their home clash against Agen on Saturday now becomes a must win affair. The loss of Felipe Contepomi playing for Argentina could not have come at a worse time for Michael Cheika’s team. Contepomi has been the driving force behind Leinster over the past twelve months and is the one player they could not afford to lose.

The major plus for Leinster ahead of back-to-back games with Agen is that they start with home advantage. While Agen secured a crucial away victory against Gloucester at Kingsholm, their away form in the French championship has been abysmal, losing all eight games, including a defeat to lowly Brive last weekend.

However they have one key advantage — their squad was largely uninterrupted by the autumn internationals — only Pepito Elhorga featured in the French team. Also, the outstanding Rupeni Caucaunibuca only appeared once for the Pacific Islanders. On his day, the Fijian flyer is the best attacking wing in world rugby.

While conditions negated the prospect of any positive rugby in the clash with Ulster in Belfast on Saturday, Leinster have more reason to be pleased with a draw. But they have serious problems in the front row. With Will Green injured, Leinster are struggling at tight head. Former Garryowen prop Fosi Pala’amo was injured on Saturday and they now face the prospect of drafting in a wild card, Northland’s Stan Wright for this game.

Under these circumstances, the Agen front row with former French international Alessio Galasso and All Black Kees Meeuws is sure to create difficulties at scrum time.

It could also cause organisational issues at the lineout where once again Leinster will have a huge dependency on Malcolm O’Kelly for possession. Home advantage could prove the difference in this one but it will be tight.

Ulster chase their first ever win on English soil in the Heineken Cup when they take on London Irish at the Madejski Stadium on Saturday. Ten years ago coach Mark McCall, along with David Humphreys and Kieran Dawson, headed to London for a career with the Exiles as Ulster struggled to come to terms with the demands of the professional game.

It is somewhat ironic therefore that these two veterans return with an infinitely superior package including some of the best young talent in the Irish game.

It would be a source of huge satisfaction to the trio in question to put one over their former club and underline once more that our best young players have no requirement to cross the Irish Sea.

With a daunting trip to Toulouse in the offing next January, Ulster must win this weekend to retain any hope of advancing to the knockout stages. The experience gained by their new additions to the national squad should be enough to secure that elusive first win in England.

Munster’s return visit to the city where they created history last May affords them the opportunity of achieving another European milestone. While this game takes place in the shadow of the Millennium Stadium, a victory on Sunday at the Arms Park would equal the record for the most consecutive wins in the tournament, currently set at eleven by Leicester.

Munster’s recent Magners League victories over the Ospreys and Connacht have provided a timely boost for the squad. However it is the form of key personnel on the international stage that offers the most comfort going into this away clash.

The current wellbeing of the forward unit is underlined by the fact that John Hayes, Paul O’Connell, Donnacha O’Callaghan and Denis Leamy would be included in any northern hemisphere selection at present. With Ronan O’Gara also a certainty, it offers a further pointer of just how strong the team is. It also says much that with Jerry Flannery, Mick O’Driscoll, Marcus Horan and Anthony Foley unavailable, Munster can still field a full international pack.

Cardiff have performed competently in recent weeks, qualifying for the semi finals of the EDS Energy Cup from a group containing Saracens, Wasps and London Irish. However there is a major question mark over how seriously the English teams take that competition.

They do have quality up front in Gethin Jenkins, Rhys Thomas, Martin Williams and Xavier Rush but will miss injured Welsh second row Robert Sidoli. Behind the scrum the major threat comes from the sniping runs of scrum half Mike Phillips and the boot of former All Black Ben Blair.

Having lost their most recent home fixture against Leicester, the Blues must win to survive. Bourgoin may even do Munster a favour by beating Leicester in France on Friday night.

Cardiff have flattered to deceive in this competition and struggle to put teams away. They lack the overall power up front to punish Munster. By the end of the return game in Thomond Park next week, Munster should be facing into Christmas with another tournament record.