Leinster odds slashed after weekend

ADVENT isn’t the only count-down as far as rugby fans across Europe are concerned.

Leinster odds slashed after weekend

Twenty-four days stand between them and Friday, January 14, the date when round five of the Heineken Cup gets underway. And there are still over a dozen teams for whom victory in those penultimate games in the qualifying pools will keep alive their hopes of progressing to the knockout stages of the world’s most compelling club rugby tournament.

In terms of Irish interest, a look at the revised odds in the bookmakers yesterday following the round four matches will tell you everything you need to know about provincial prospects on the European trail.

Leinster’s Aviva Stadium victory over Pool Two rivals ASM Clermont Auvergne has seen them shortened to 6/1 third favourites to win the Heineken Cup while Ulster’s hugely significant win at Bath has seen their odds slashed from 5/2 to 8/11 to reach the knock-out stages.

Munster have drifted in the market and are now priced at 14/1 to lift the trophy in Cardiff next May as a result of their defeat in Wales at the Ospreys. The two-time champions are 7/4 to reach the knock-out stages, according to Ladbrokes, who rate the outcome of Pool 3 a toss-up between Tony McGahan’s side, the Ospreys and current group leaders Toulon.

Reigning champions Toulouse, who today face a Glasgow side still looking for their boots in a rearranged Pool 4 game from the weekend remain outright favourites at 11/4 with unbeaten Pool 1 leaders Northampton 4/1.

Leicester and Biarritz are fourth favourites behind Leinster, both at 9/1 with Munster next in the betting alongside Perpignan.

With Magners League, French Top 14 and English Aviva Premiership matches coming thick and fast in the interim, there will be precious little time for any of the European contenders to spend navel-gazing in regards to their Heineken Cup hopes but when they do grab a moment, there is plenty for them to consider .

Countdown to round five has commenced.

Leinster

CURRENTLY enjoying the most dominant position of the Irish provinces with a five-point lead at the top of Pool Two, Joe Schmidt’s side have what looks a straightforward home tie with lowly Saracens in round five.

The effect of the departure of director of rugby Brendan Venter on Sarries in the week prior to the RDS showdown will be an interesting factor but while the post-match press conference will be poorer for the eccentric South African’s absence, the group should still be in Leinster’s control by then.

Munster

PLENTY to think about for the two-time champions following the demoralising manner of Saturday’s defeat to Ospreys. The losing bonus point earned at the Liberty Stadium will be better appreciated come January and in the meantime Tony McGahan, forwards coach Laurie Fisher and scrum coach Paul McCarthy have Magners League games against Connacht, Ulster and Glasgow to recalibrate the scrummaging unit for the visit to Toulon’s Stade Felix-Mayol.

Ulster

VICTORY over Bath at The Rec will warm Ulster hearts well into the new year and that bodes well for the visit to Ravenhill of group leaders Biarritz in round five.

That Brian McLaughlin’s side won in England without their in-form flanker Stephen Ferris speaks volumes for the progress made this season and the impact of pre-season South African imports Ruan Pienaar, Johann Mueller and Pedrie Wannenburg. Ulster are going places and Biarritz look vulnerable on the road.

The English

OF the five Aviva Premiership sides that started the campaign in October, only the English league leaders Northampton Saints are certainties to progress to the quarter-finals having gained a valuable win in Cardiff on Sunday.

London Wasps are well placed and have a winnable trip to Glasgow Warriors in round five and even with Toulouse in their pool, a best runners-up spot could be within reach.

Leicester Tigers undoubtedly had a setback in being held to a draw by Perpignan at Welford Road on Sunday that means their trip to Scarlets in round five is a must-win away day.

Bath and London Irish, meanwhile, have already left the reckoning.

The French

DEFENDING champions Toulouse are yet again tournament favourites and if, as expected, they beat Glasgow at home today they will be in pole position to progress from Pool 6.

Last season’s beaten finalists Biarritz have the upper hand in Ulster’s Pool 4 but may come to regret losing at Italian lightweights Aironi in round three, particularly if they go down to Ulster in round five.

Toulon, buoyed by agreeing a new deal with Jonny Wilkinson, will relish the visit of Munster as they seek vengeance for a round two shellacking in Limerick, while Clermont Auvergne and Racing Metro try to hang onto Leinster’s coat-tails. In Pool 5 Perpignan have it all to do behind Scarlets and Leicester but can get back in the mix with a win in Treviso but Castres trail Northampton by six points and look like also-rans.

The Welsh

ONCE again, it’s up to Ospreys to fly St David’s flag for Cymru in Europe and progress ahead of Munster and Toulon is no gimme. Scarlets may top their group but they host Leicester in round five and then must travel to Perpignan to stay afloat. The Dragons being out of the picture is no surprise but Cardiff’s campaign-ending home defeat to Northampton is a major disappointment.

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