The Heineken Cup Thread

[GalwayBayBoy]

Any additions/ommissons from this little lot from planetrugby.com




Team of Round 1


15 Clément Poitrenaud (Toulouse) - We begin with one of the toughest calls as Poitrenaud and Ben Foden stood out. Foden created the try for Chris Ashton, but for his ability to draw Gloucester defenders and create something from nothing, the Toulouse man gets our nod.


14 Doug Howlett (Munster) - Anyone who thought he and Munster were over the hill were made to eat their words on Saturday. Howlett rolled back the years to prove he still has plenty of juice left in the tank for games to come. His try at the end of the first-half was key.


13 Owen Farrell (Saracens) - He has already had a glowing reference from former Springbok captain John Smit and why shouldn't he. Farrell is growing game by game and showed a great deal in the number thirteen jersey against an improved Treviso outfit. He amassed 22 points in Round One and seems to be thriving outside Charlie Hodgson.


12 James Downey (Northampton) - Another showing that has one scratching his head as to why he is not in the Ireland shake-up. Downey was excellent in Limerick and arguably raised his effort to a new level against his former employers. However, the powerful inside centre will be disappointed that his try ultimately proved fruitless in the result on Saturday.


11 Iain Balshaw (Biarritz) - The only player in the opening Heineken Cup weekend to claim a brace of tries was the former England wing. Balshaw brought Biarritz back from the brink and in fact they can't be downhearted by leaving Liberty Stadium with a losing bonus-point.


10 Ronan O'Gara (Munster) - It was a toss-up between Francois Trinh-Duc, Dan Biggar and Munster's favourite son. O'Gara used all of his knowledge of the Thomond Park pitch as he pushed and probed the hosts around the field and just when Munster needed the ERC Best Player of the last 15 years, O'Gara stood up to knock over a winning drop against the wind.


9 Kahn Fotuali'i (Ospreys) - While Luke Burgess enjoyed an impressive debut for Toulouse, warming Stade Ernest Wallon with his physical approach that was Byron Kelleher-esque, there was a certain Samoan causing a stir in Swansea. Fotuali'i set up the Ospreys' only try and looked good alongside the also impressive Dan Biggar at half-back. Excellent signing.


8 Ernst Joubert (Saracens) - It was tough to only pick one of the Montpellier back-row as Masi Matadigo and Fulgence Ouedraogo put in good shifts together with 'Gorgodzilla'. Gone are the days though of Treviso being a walkover and that is why Joubert gets in the mix.


7 Mamuka Gorgodze (Montpellier) - The Georgian forward was the first name down on the teamsheet after an heroic 80 minutes for Montpol. He started out at number seven and then shifted to eight, keeping Sean O'Brien uncharacteristically quiet at Stade Yves du Manoir.


6 Peter O'Mahony (Munster) - Who? Apparently he is the next big thing at Munster and proved just that in his man-of-the-match performance. The flank, who may not have started if the hosts were injury-free, was tireless in the loose and looks to have a very bright future.


5 Paul Tito (Cardiff Blues) - Emerging from the sidelines for James Down early into their away victory in Paris, former captain Tito was superb at lock, earning high praise from his coaches and team-mates alike. Cardiff Blues have now given themselves every chance.


4 Courtney Lawes (Northampton) - Yet another athletic showing from the England lock as he covered ample ground and made countless tackles, one of which stood out as he tracked across the line to foil an overlap. Saints should not be written off topping this Pool.


3 Taufa'ao Filise (Cardiff Blues) - A try for the tighthead sees him edge out Geoff Cross in this spot. Winning at Racing is no mean feat and the Welsh have done their qualification hopes a power of good, particularly as London Irish fell at home to Edinburgh.


2 Agustin Creevy (Montpellier) - Darren Dawiduik got the better of Gary Botha at Stade Ernest Wallon with an effective yet unflashy showing. However, Montpol's pack deserved more than just the solitary spot and that is why the industrious Argentine forces his way in.


1 Soane Tonga'uiha (Northampton) - Once again we witnessed the immense power of the Saints front-row as Munster found themselves wanting in many a scrum. Alongside Dylan Hartley and Brian Mujati, Tonga'uiha was strong both in the set-piece and around the field.

James Downey is Irish??!! WTF?!! How in God's name did we go to a World Cup with D'arcy and James Downey is Irish... Jesus Wept!

Downey was let go by Leinster years ago. In fairness he's mainly just a battering ram. Suits Northampton perfectly though as their scrum is usually dominant so he just runs straight and gets over the gainline. I suspect the Irish coaches don't feel he's international standard although worse have probably picked up caps down through the years and D'Arcy is certainly not too far from the end now.

[Hoof Hearted]

screen, he is one of the Downey's from Lavey !

[Myles Na G.]

List of public/ independent schools for example in Belfast alone;
BRA
RBAI
Campbell College
Methody
Victoria College

Are you seeing the correlation? Outside of this where is the power base of Ulster Rugby? As I said it has little of no impact outside of this Belfast centric media bubble.

All of those are grammar schools. That means, you pass an exam at the age of 11 and you can go there, free. Not a 100% sure about Victoria College, but it's a while since any of those girls played for Ulster in any case. So, no public schools then.

[Hoof Hearted]

Northamptons Heineken Cup hangover continuing, lost at home tonight to Llanelli Scarlets, 1st loss at home in Europe in 4 years. Scarlets looked good all the same, will be a good battle now with Munster in their back to back games in December.

[Capt Pat]

Northamptons Heineken Cup hangover continuing, lost at home tonight to Llanelli Scarlets, 1st loss at home in Europe in 4 years. Scarlets looked good all the same, will be a good battle now with Munster in their back to back games in December.

Llanelli got 4 tries from 4 visits to their opponents 22 according to reports. George north also picked up an injury. Talk of him having pulled or torn a groin muscle. That would be a big help for Munster if he missed the next month.

[Hoof Hearted]

Northamptons Heineken Cup hangover continuing, lost at home tonight to Llanelli Scarlets, 1st loss at home in Europe in 4 years. Scarlets looked good all the same, will be a good battle now with Munster in their back to back games in December.

Llanelli got 4 tries from 4 visits to their opponents 22 according to reports. George north also picked up an injury. Talk of him having pulled or torn a groin muscle. That would be a big help for Munster if he missed the next month.

fly half priestland was MOM, keeping Stephen Jones on the bench at club level as well as with Wales. I watched the game live and they were well worth the victory, good side. Jim Mallinder admitted it that he is interested in the England job.

[Hoof Hearted]

Have Connacht much of a chance this evening?  Its a disgrace that so many of their players were poached by the other provinces in the summer.  Surely it would be better if they were playing this evening instead of bench warming for leinster and munster.  Hope my fellow county man Niall o'connor gets a good run out aswell, has looked impressive in the matches i've seen of connacht this season.

depends on what Toulouse turns up. Connacht are looking for the wind and rain, and if thats the case they have a 50/50 chance. Our boys are playing at the same time 

[Donnellys Hollow]

O'Gara again at the death.

[haze]

O'Gara again at the death.

Some man. Thrives on pressure.

[Sheedy]

another brilliant finish from munster. o'gara different class, legend.

[Capt Pat]

The reason players left Connacht was because they were being ignored for national team selections.

O Mahony was top dog for Munster again. The victory was well deserved.

[Myles Na G.]

Lack of a losing bonus point for Ulster could prove costly.

[Hoof Hearted]

Have Connacht much of a chance this evening?  Its a disgrace that so many of their players were poached by the other provinces in the summer.  Surely it would be better if they were playing this evening instead of bench warming for leinster and munster.  Hope my fellow county man Niall o'connor gets a good run out aswell, has looked impressive in the matches i've seen of connacht this season.

depends on what Toulouse turns up. Connacht are looking for the wind and rain, and if thats the case they have a 50/50 chance. Our boys are playing at the same time 

I'll be sure to tune in   Is the TJ Anderson named on the bench for connacht Willie Anderson's son?  Recall him playing against the tones as an underage player for the loup.

thats him, played in the 2001 feile final for Loup in Ballymaguigan. He was a string of piss then. tall and lanky. Now he is a different animal. Built like a shithouse.

another brilliant finish from munster. o'gara different class, legend.

voted last year as best player of the Heineken cup as last 10/15 years. Not hard to see why !!
different class

Lack of a losing bonus point for Ulster could prove costly.

a max 10 points is now required from the back to backs against Aironi. If clermont and leicester can take a win each against each other, it will leave ulster top for the new year games. clermont away and Leciester at Ravenhill. Tough but not impossible

[Dinny Breen]

Munster eh!

[GalwayBayBoy]

Have Connacht much of a chance this evening?  Its a disgrace that so many of their players were poached by the other provinces in the summer.  Surely it would be better if they were playing this evening instead of bench warming for leinster and munster.  Hope my fellow county man Niall o'connor gets a good run out aswell, has looked impressive in the matches i've seen of connacht this season.

depends on what Toulouse turns up. Connacht are looking for the wind and rain

Unfortunately it was the calmest dryest night in the Sportsground in ages. Good effort from Connacht but Toulouse were different class. 9,120 in attendance. Was absolutely packed. Maybe 300 or 400 Toulouse fans.