Get set for pre-Christmas crackers

GIVEN the drama, close shaves and theatrics of the last two weekends, perhaps it’s no harm that the Heineken Cup enters a brief period of hibernation for a few weeks.

This tournament seldom fails to deliver, but by any standard the quality of the games, the close nature of almost every contest and the level of excitement generated in the opening two rounds has made this season a tournament you can’t get enough of.

The intensity of the back-to-back fixtures in December will serve to make the lead into Christmas very short with some mouthwatering contests in prospect. What a difference a few weeks has made. Last season’s beaten finalists Northampton looked certain to step up their challenge for honours this season and were clear favourites to top Pool One. Yet after just two games, they look dead and buried.