HEC P5: Leinster v ASM Clermont Auvergne

[McTallshort]

I cannot agree more, Clermont has been so unlucky in the pool draw in the past five years, it is just ridiculous. These two teams are, by a mile, the two best teams in the HC and they end up in the same pool. Leinster is on the receiving end this time but Clermont had its fair share of cruelty.

Think Ulster would have something to say about that.....

 

[Feicarsinn]

Bah.


Well I can't say that I'm surprised particularly. All good things eh?


Fair dues Clermont, were the better team.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

And not a single attacking line was run that day!!!

Well done Clermont you've finally broken your duck. (It's been coming) They better go and win it now by far the best side in Europe.
Ulsters loss is very bad for us but we deserve the Amlin anyway, hopefully the young lads will go and win that.

Clermont fans are some craig, them and the abusing of Wayne Barnes made the match somewhat enjoyable.

I can only imagine how much better the last two weeks could have been with BOD and Kearney.

 

[psychic duck]

And not a single attacking line was run that day!!!

Well done Clermont you've finally broken your duck. (It's been coming) They better go and win it now by far the best side in Europe.
Ulsters loss is very bad for us but we deserve the Amlin anyway, hopefully the young lads will go and win that.

Clermont fans are some craig, them and the abusing of Wayne Barnes made the match somewhat enjoyable.

I can only imagine how much better the last two weeks could have been with BOD and Kearney.

Their not the best in France based on league form. Toulon have a 7 point lead over them, and they very nearly have lost their home streak twice but for last minute Brock James strikes this season.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

Their not the best in France based on league form. Toulon have a 7 point lead over them, and they very nearly have lost their home streak twice but for last minute Brock James strikes this season.

Yes but at European level they have much more class than Toulon. If you look at Toulon's game last week against Sale they made a game of it when they could have destroyed them but Clermont have showed the average teams exactly what they are and beat the champions back to back. I am 100% confident that if Leinster had Toulon the last two weeks they'd be on 13 points if not 16.

 

[coonor]

Fair play to Clermomt, they came here to do a job and left Leinster in their wake. They have quality all round and maybe it's simply their time, everyone knows that a lot of heartbreak comes before a first Heineken Cup win and Clermont have certainly had their fair share of heart break.

Clermont, have an ageing team with some key players like Rougerie, Cudmore, Bonairre are the wrong side of 30. This "teams" knows that anything less than the cup will be a failure some of the older players who have been with Clermont so many set backs will know they have a limited amount of opportunities.

Clermont simply have quality all round, they play a gainline battle that simply frustrated Leinster today. Their defence is awesome and certainly improved from a the last few seasons. Is it their's to lose at this point? No but it's certainly there for the taking.

 

[jaunard06]

Clermont is at least on par with Toulon in pure strength but Toulon this year is more consistent in their results and may normally end the Top 14 season with a deserved Bouclier de Brennus.
If Toulouse can make some other ridiculous performances as they just did against Ospreys I don't see any team that may challenge them, ASM strangely lacking some regularity in Top 14.
Also It is almost as difficult to come for a win at Toulon that it can be to Stade Marcel Michelin, but the major difference between the 2 clubs is european experience. Having Wilko is good but not sufficient as to win H Cup you need experience on every line.

The biggest threat now for ASM would be to underperform in the two remaining pool matches that everybody is massively expecting us to win, or to get major players (like Parra) missing matches for some reason.

 

[Nielsch]

Oh my, Leinster on the brink of elimination

 

[Big Ewis]

say, anybody got a cool source/link to check out Heineken Cup highlights ?
There aren't any on YTube, tough to find...
would be very cool, thanks.

 

[lynam1104]

Should be on rugbydump today/tomorrow or try the HEC site maybe?

 

[Big Ewis]

official website kinda sucks...but the rugbydump one ain't bad. Thanks.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Best team won so congrats ASM. It's good for the competition that there'll likely be a different winner this year. I fancy Clermont to go all the way.

 

[erwanseb]

I actually think Leinster has a fairly good chance to qualify, pool 6 being the only pool where the second ranked team (Leinster) won't play against the first ranked team.
Clermont, Toulon, Harlequins are qualified unless you believe in miracles.

In pool 1, Saracens should win in paris and qualify, Munster can reach 20/21 points.

Pool 2 is incredibly competitive. Admitting Toulouse will get the bonus point at home against Treviso, the Osprey-Leicester game will be decisive as well as the Leicester Toulouse game. Bonus points will be critical but it is unlikely that the best second will come from this pool unless we see a try feast in the remaining games.

In pool 3, Harlequins to qualify but the best second will not come from this pool.

Pool 4, Ulster should top the pool, the best second will have less than 20 points.

Pool 5 ,Clermont to top the pool with 23+ points and Leinster second with 20 points, they must however improve their try soring record which has been very poor so far this season (3 in 4 games).

I sniff controversy at the last game of pool 6, Montpellier-Toulon, as Toulon, if already qualified, could field a second string team, opening the door for Montpellier to snatch a second best spot. Montpellier to finish then with 21/22 points provided they beat Sale away from home.

So my predictions:
Pool winners: Harlequins, Clermont, Toulon, Ulster, Saracens, Toulouse or Leicester
Best Second: Two among Montpellier, Munster, Leinster

So for the QF, we should see:
2 or 3 teams from premiership
1 to 3 teams, but most likely 2, from rabo 12, all of them Irish
2 to 4 teams from Top 14.

 

[j'nuh]

I sniff controversy at the last game of pool 6, Montpellier-Toulon, as Toulon, if already qualified, could field a second string team, opening the door for Montpellier to snatch a second best spot. Montpellier to finish then with 21/22 points provided they beat Sale away from home.

Really, really doubt it. They'll be playing for as high a seeding as possible to secure home quarters and an easier opponent. Their aim should be to be in the top 2 to get a "best runner-up", and they're in competition with Clermont and Harlequins atm to do this. One loss could lose them this. They might have considered a rest for players if there were difficult Top14 opponents on the way, but they play Mont-de-Marsan and Bordeaux Begles after the HC pool games finish up...

 

[djwizard84]

those last 10 minutes were nice, everybody was full motivated.