Pool 1
Benetton Treviso, London Irish, USA Perpignan, Newport Gwent Dragons
Pool 2
Ospreys, Gloucester Rugby, Bourgoin, Ulster Rugby
Pool 3
Stade Francais Paris, Bristol Rugby, Cardiff Blues, Harlequins
Pool 4
Glasgow Warriors, Saracens, Biarritz Olympique, Viadana
Pool 5
London Wasps, Clermont Auvernge, Llanelli Scarlets, Munster
Pool 6
Leinster, Leicester Tigers, Toulouse, Edinburgh Rugby
Bad news for Munster and Leinster who are both in groups of death. In comparison look how weak pools 1, 3 and 4 are.
So much for leinster being a seeded team, thats a poxy draw
FFS, terribe draw for Leinster, top seeds my b*llix....
The timing of the fixtures will be crucial, hopefully we'll have our home against Leicster and Toulouse in the final three games...
Quote from: Dinny Breen on June 20, 2007, 01:23:25 PM
FFS, terribe draw for Leinster, top seeds my b*llix....
The timing of the fixtures will be crucial, hopefully we'll have our home against Leicster and Toulouse in the final three games...
More if Toulouse are still in with a chance by the time Leinster play them away , they are known for fielding crap when qualification looks even the slight bit dodgy
Brutal draws for Leinster and Munster. Clairmont-Auverne are a good side, and did very well in France this year. A lot depends on how they approach Europe though I suppose. They might be another Bourgoin. Wasps and Llanelli speak for themselves.
Lenster have a horrible one as well. Leicester and Toulouse are bad enough, but Edinburgh wouldn't be too bad either. I think they have a decent record against Leinster.
Ulster got the handiest Irish draw with Gloucester, Ospreys and Bourgoin, but again it's not easy.
Having Italian teams in this makes a joke of it. The top two in those groups virtually are guaranteed to go through. 8 groups of 4 would be a bit more sensible wouldn't it? I know dates are an issue.
Quote from: magpie seanie on June 20, 2007, 01:52:22 PM
Having Italian teams in this makes a joke of it. The top two in those groups virtually are guaranteed to go through. 8 groups of 4 would be a bit more sensible wouldn't it? I know dates are an issue.
You have to give them a chance some time , the same was said when the Italians got in to the 6 nations and the way the Scottish are going you could nearly say the same about them
short season all round.
munster with a lot of changes next year needed a a softest draw- a big ask to be honest.
leinster won't beat either lecesiter or toulouse away and i wouldn't put money on them at home either - no chance in my view.
short season all round though ulster have a good chance - in a world cup year we needed to ebin groups 1-3-4.
World Cup shouldn't affect this. When are the HEC fixtures starting? I presume the World Cup will be over?
Full Draw
The following is the draw for the 2007/2008 ERC Heineken European Cup:
POOL 1: Benetton Treviso, London Irish, Perpignan, Newport Gwent Dragons
POOL 2: Ospreys, Gloucester Rugby, Bourgoin, Ulster Rugby
POOL 3:Stade Francais Paris, Bristol Rugby, Cardiff Blues, Harlequins
POOL 4:Glasgow Warriors, Saracens, Biarritz Olympique, Viadana
POOL 5:London Wasps, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Llanelli Scarlets, Munster
POOL 6:Leinster, Leicester Tigers, Toulouse, Edinburgh Rugby
Ooops, Sorry GBB. I didn't realise you had posted the full draw already.
Ulster were seeded well last year after the Celtic league win and suffered a similar group of Death like leicester, I would like to see ulster progress in the comp, they will only be known as the team who won without the English teams.
Brutal draw for both Leinster & Munster.....what happened to the seeding ?
This often happens bars the Italian teams most team could beat anyone on their day . Which is why i find this so much better than the "Champions league" with which has far to many weak teams now
In fairness of the last 9 groups with Italian teams, only 3 have provided the best-runners up but I'd still take an Italian team any day of the week..
Not a bad group for Ulster. We should be capable of beating everybody at Ravenhill, so it will come down, as usual, to whether we can perform away from home.
Great group for Leinster Fans, theres gonna be some serious piss ups!