Rugby: Richards underlines Tigers' task

Leicester boss Dean Richards today underlined the huge task faced by his trophy-hunting Tigers on their mission to make Heineken Cup history.

Just four months after Leicester were crowned European champions following arguably the greatest club game of all time, England’s finest will begin their title defence tomorrow as 9/4 tournament favourites.

That stirring 34-30 victory over French aristocrats Stade Francais in the Parisian rugby hot-bed of Parc des Princes elevated Heineken Cup rugby to new heights.

The motivational challenge now facing Richards’ star-studded squad is to achieve what no other team has done - conquer Europe twice.

Fallen French giants Brive came within seconds of achieving that spellbinding feat in 1998 but had the giant silver cup ripped from their grasp by Bath’s goalkicking iceman Jon Callard.

Brive, who had destroyed Leicester to lift the trophy 12 months earlier, never recovered from such a shattering loss.

This season, they do not feature among 56 teams in either the cup or second-tier Parker Pen European Shield.

‘‘Winning the Heineken Cup was something special for Leicester last year,’’ said Richards, preparing for tomorrow’s pool one opener against 11-time Welsh Cup kings Llanelli at Welford Road.

‘‘However, it is easier to win a cup than retain a cup - and it’s going to be extremely tough.

‘‘There is a huge amount of pressure on us after our successes last season. I am sure everyone else is going to look at us as the ones to beat, but thankfully our players thrive on that sort of expectation.

‘‘In our group we have got Perpignan, a team in form at the moment; Llanelli, who are always a real challenge and Calvisano, an unknown quantity.

‘‘The Heineken Cup can be a bit of a lottery when it comes to injuries,’’ he added.

‘‘If you can stay injury-free then that is a big part of being successful in this tournament. I just hope we can get to the final again and be at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff on May 25.’’

On current form Leicester should secure quarter-final status as group winners, something possibly beyond England’s five other representatives - Wasps, Bath, Harlequins, Northampton and Newcastle.

There is a question mark over fly-half Andy Goode’s fitness after the England Under-21 international hurt his elbow during training yesterday, while former New Zealand All Black Josh Kronfeld will not be risked as he continues to recover from minor ankle surgery.

Lions Martin Johnson, Neil Back, Austin Healey and Dorian West are all set to start - Healey at number 10 if Goode is ruled out but Llanelli travel minus their most influential player, number eight Scott Quinnell.

Bath face a daunting examination against pool three favourites Biarritz at Parc des Sports Aguilera tomorrow.

The French outfit, dark horses to take Leicester’s title, have already beaten Stade Francais and Toulouse in domestic competition this term.

Wings Philippe Bernat-Salles and Joe Roff form a formidable attacking force with Christophe Milheres, Serge Betsen and veteran lock Olivier Roumat providing the forward power.

‘‘We are a stronger side than last season when we reached the quarter-finals,’’ said Bernat-Salles.

‘‘We’ve got experienced players, some good young recruits. Then, of course, there is Joe Roff. He has huge Test match experience with Australia but he is also very laid-back and has fitted in extremely well.

‘‘Victories against Stade Francais and Toulouse in the French Championship should put us in good shape for Bath.’’

The struggling west country club could have playmaker Mike Catt available for the first time this term following a serious calf muscle injury which ruined his Lions Test hopes Down Under.

The competition kicks off at three venues tonight with Cardiff hosting Northampton, Glasgow hosting Montferrand and Toulouse visiting Leinster.

Cardiff, quarter-finalists during each of the past two Heineken Cup campaigns, will be without injured contingent Iestyn Harris, Neil Jenkins, Martyn Williams, Dan Baugh, Jon Humphreys, Craig Morgan and Emyr Lewis while South African centre Pieter Muller (calf strain) faces a late fitness test.

‘‘Given our performances this season and the current injury list, then at this stage we are probably the weakest link in our group,’’ said coach Rudy Joubert.

A fully-fit Cardiff squad would undoubtedly challenge strongly to win pool five, though, and rugby league superstar Harris could be available for next month’s back-to-back appointments with Glasgow.

Glasgow, leaders of the Welsh-Scottish League, parade several current Scottish internationals against Montferrand and they look well-equipped as potential quarter-final material.

‘‘The squad has matured, and we are extremely keen that the Scottish record of never having reached the Heineken Cup knockout stages is brought to an end,’’ said Glasgow coach Richie Dixon.

‘‘The most successful team in our group will be the one that manages to get on a roll. It’s so important to win your first two games if you achieve that then you’ve given yourselves a great chance.’’

Harlequins have injury-prone England and Lions centre Will Greenwood in a provisional squad of 23 against pool four opponents Bridgend at the Brewery Field tomorrow night - and Newcastle have recalled big guns Inga Tuigamala, Gary Armstrong and Pat Lam for Newport’s pool six visit, also on Saturday night.

Heineken Cup fixtures:

Friday:

Pool five - Cardiff v Northampton, Glasgow v Montferrand; Pool six Leinster v Toulouse.

Saturday:

Pool One - Leicester v Llanelli, Perpignan v Calvisano;

Pool two - Treviso v Ulster; Pool three - Biarritz v Bath, Swansea v Edinburgh; Pool four - Munster v Castres, Bridgend v Harlequins;

Pool six - Newcastle v Newport.

Sunday:

Pool two - Wasps v Stade Francais.