And the hits just keep coming...

Leinster and Munster have been given little reward for years of sustained European achievement with incredibly difficult Heineken Cup pools, says Donal Lenihan. Conversely, things look good for under-achieving Ulster.

FOR THE Irish in Europe last season, it was very much a case of what might have been. When Munster and Leinster emerged on opposite sides of the draw for the semi-final stages of the Heineken Cup, the prospect of an Irish invasion of Paris on the last weekend in May took hold. When both progressed from their respective quarter-final encounters against Northampton Saints and Clermont Auvergne, we dared to dream that European rugby’s most cherished prize would stay in Ireland for a third successive season.

Those lofty aspirations were dealt a hammer blow within a 24-hour period when the combined power and technique of the Toulouse and Biarritz scrum quashed any Irish hopes of success – back to the drawing board with tails firmly between the legs.

The manner of those defeats and a bizarre draw which surely calls into question the effectiveness of the current European seeding system sees Munster and Leinster placed in the two most competitive and challenging pools in this year’s tournament. In a strange irony, Ulster, despite their ranking as a Tier 3 side in the draw after a decade of failing to advance from the pool stage, have a real chance of progressing from a less demanding combination of fixtures.

Perhaps that is why Tony McGahan and new Leinster coach Joe Schmidt are not confronted with the elevated expectation levels that have surrounded their respective sides in recent times. Buoyed by the prospect of a Parisian final last season, all the French sides made a valiant effort to prosper, with four teams eventually making the quarter-finals. The over-hyped English Premiership has now produced only one winner over the last six seasons while the Welsh still await their first success after 15 years of competition. That, however, raises no barrier to the principality talking up their chances once again this time around.

The Heineken Cup is special and the vagaries of the draw lend itself not only to drama but also to high-quality clashes throughout the pool stages. Unlike its soccer equivalent, where one has to wait for the knockout stages for some serious competition, rugby fans will be looking forward to some mouth-watering clashes right from the off. The opening weekend alone offers a repeat of that classic final of 2004 when Toulouse entertains Wasps. Bath face Biarritz in a cracker at the Recreational Ground while Clermont Auvergne clash with English Premiership runners-up Saracens.

Munster and Leinster will be offered no respite early on either with McGahan’s charges facing a real challenge in their opening encounter in Reading tomorrow against Premiership table-toppers London Irish. Leinster have the advantage of opening their campaign at the RDS against the new French high-flyers Racing Metro 92 and will be mindful of their slip-up at the equivalent stage at home to London Irish last season.

Ulster look set fair to challenge strongly for the knockout stages not only on the back of their summer spending spree which has delivered quality Springboks in Pedrie Wannenburg, Ruan Pienaar and Johann Muller, but also as the demands placed on their playing resources by Declan Kidney is likely to be less than either Leinster or Munster will experience.

The manner of their respective defeats at the penultimate stage last May has led many to forecast a poor return for the two leading Irish provinces this year. That view is too simplistic. Munster will hope that it will not prove a case of unlucky 13 as they seek to extend their remarkable record of 12 successive appearances in the knockout phase. They have been burdened with a very difficult draw but on the evidence of their early season form, they are building nicely for that demanding trip to London. Traditionally Munster have been vulnerable on their opening away assignments against English opposition which has led to little scope for further error.

Last year, with their Lions barely back in harness, they lost out to Northampton which followed a trend of losing opening games away to Sale, Wasps and Gloucester in previous campaigns.

The Ospreys, despite the presence of big-spending Toulon, could well prove Munster’s biggest challenge.

If McGahan was disappointed with his draw, Joe Schmidt must have been seething when he saw what Leinster must surpass to advance this year. It must rank as the most difficult combination of pool fixtures in the history of this tournament, with no respite home or away.

BOTH Munster and Leinster still have quality performers in all sectors and have also started to drip-feed some younger talent to augment the seasoned campaigners. Both have also worked hard to address the issues surrounding their scrum since their last European outings. The other key element that both have in abundance is a well of Heineken experience.

That is something which will stand to them over the course of this campaign.

So where will the biggest threat to the Irish come from over the next few months? As always, the greatest obstacle will be the French. Serial winners Toulouse have once again started their domestic league in reasonable form, at least at home and look the most balanced side in Europe.

Defined over the years by the unrivalled broken field skills and handling ability of the likes of Yannick Jauzion, Clement Poitrenaud, Vincent Clerc and Emile Ntamack, it is the added power of their set piece that provides the full package and makes them so difficult to beat.

Clermont Auvergne, with the (French Championship) Bouclier de Brunnus at long last proudly on display in their clubhouse can broaden their horizons and chase the European dream.

Once again their ambitions will be tested to the full in the most competitive pool in this year’s tournament.

The failure to deliver that last-minute drop goal against Leinster to advance to the semi-final for the first time last April is sure to energise them when the two sides meet again in one of the most interesting pair of fixtures in the pool stages.

As always Leicester Tigers will see themselves as serious contenders but an unfortunate knee ligament injury to English out-half Toby Flood in the opening game of their Premiership season against Northampton is a serious blow.

Coach Richard Cockerill is hopeful he will return in time for the key back-to-back fixtures against Perpignan in December.

Bath could well prove the surprise package of this year’s competition and look to have a well-balanced squad with plenty of firepower out wide and multiple choices in the back row where former Tiger Lewis Moody and Lion Simon Taylor will battle for starting positions with their controversial Springbok captain Luke Watson. The addition of Ian McGeechan to the back-room team as performance director is a very astute move and one that is sure to pays dividends.

And what of the Welsh? Is there justification for all the positive vibes emanating from that source in recent weeks? It would appear that after years of unrewarded toil the likes of the Ospreys and the Cardiff Blues are finally set to make a meaningful drive for ultimate honours. Last season both sampled the joy of lifting silverware when the Magners League and the Amlin Challenge Cup found their way to Swansea and Cardiff respectively. The Ospreys look set to bring their challenge to the next level but in order to succeed will have to see Munster off.

Scott Johnson’s outfit do, however, look a better fit for overall honours than Cardiff who are more than capable of making the last four. The beauty of this competition is that more and more sides are stepping forward to challenge the right of Toulouse, Munster and Leicester in the quest for overall honours. The new interpretation of law which favours the team in possession is also likely to yield more tries and add even more to the entertainment value of Europe’s premier rugby competition. Enjoy.