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Heineken Cup Round 5 Preview
January 3, 2002
Heineken Cup Round 5 Preview - game by game (all kick offs are local time)
A must win match for Llanelli if they are to keep their quarter-final qualification hopes alive. The Scarlets have won their last two matches in France, against Bourgoin and Colomiers, but a hat-trick at the ground where Leicester escaped with a one-point win is a massive challenge.
Defending Heineken Cup champions Leicester will be out to stretch their tournament record winning run to 11 matches at the expense of the Italian newcomers, who have yet to win a Heineken Cup match and have conceded an average 54 points a game.
POOL 2
Stade Francais, beaten finalists last May, have attracted plenty of attention off the field with changes to their coaching staff but have the talent on the field, albeit still no Thomas Lombard, to do their talking where it matters. Treviso, however, are a tough nut to crack at home.
Ulster, the 1999 champions, are still very much in the quarter-final qualifying hunt, level on Pool 2 match points with Stade Francais. Wasps, who will consider themselves European underachievers again, will vividly recall the damage David Humphreys did to them last time they met - a tournament record 37 points. POOL 3
5 January - Biarritz Olympique v Edinburgh Rugby Biarritz Olympique could still have a say in the Pool finishing positions but hopes of last eight places for both are all but gone. Plenty of pride to play for, however.
Probably the last chance saloon for Swansea's last eight hopes. The severe mauling they took at The Rec in October ultimately led to the departure of coach John Plumtree. Bath, the 1998 Heineken champions, may be struggling on the domestic front but can't seem to stop winning in Europe. POOL 4
5 January - Munster v NEC Harlequins Munster are almost certainly just a win away from making the quarter-finals, one way or the other, for the third season on the trot. But nothing less than earning a home draw will satisfy Mick Galwey's team, whatever Keith Wood & Co can conjure up to try and derail them. Tickets sold out in hours.
Bridgend's first adventure in the top flight is over - but Castres are very much alive and kicking with Munster's visit to Stade Pierre-Antoine in Round 6 a huge match. Gregor Townsend has warned Castres have now got their act together...which could be bad news for the Welsh club. POOL 5
Glasgow have the slimmest of slim mathematical chances of going through but their destiny is not in their own hands. And, for 2000 cup winners the Saints, their march this time is prematurely over.
Cardiff have never failed to qualify for the knock-out stages - but they will be knocked out this time if Montferrand can do the double. The French club are in prime form at the moment and Cardiff need to put their Scottish nightmare in Glasgow firmly behind them. POOL 6
Top against bottom with Leinster - recently crowned Celtic League champions - the first to qualify for the quarter-finals. They can't be caught but coach Matt Williams will be insisting on every effort being made to ensure a home draw in the last eight.
For the second season in succession, 1996 champions Toulouse have failed to make the knock-out stages as the French giants never really recovered from having their opening fixture switched to Dublin at short notice. Newport were close, but probably not close enough. |
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