Next Season's Heineken Cup all threads merged here

[biffer]

Pools are now decided

P1 Ulster, Munster, Leinster, Clermont, Toulon, Toulouse
P2 Leicester, Northampton, Saracens, Perpignan, Harlequins, Cardiff
P3 Edinburgh, Glasgow, Ospreys, Scarlets, Montpellier, Connacht
P4 Gloucester, Zebre, Treviso, Exeter, Castres, Racing Metro.

Any preferences?

So long as we don't get two French teams I'm not that worried. Prefer to avoid Clermont and Toulon though.

[Skin_and_Muscle]

Leinster
Connacht
Zebre

That'd be my preference, though we'll probably end up with:

Ulster
Ospreys (:censored:, Ospreys)
Racing Metro

[biffer]

Leinster
Connacht
Zebre

That'd be my preference, though we'll probably end up with:

Ulster
Ospreys (:censored:, Ospreys)
Racing Metro

There has to be a French team and you can't have two Irish teams in the same group. How do people still not understand the rules of a competition we've been in for this long?

[BJ.]

My preferences would be Munster, Montpellier and Zebre. However, we'll most probably end up with Leinster, Ospreys and Racing Metro.

[Skin_and_Muscle]

Leinster
Connacht
Zebre

That'd be my preference, though we'll probably end up with:

Ulster
Ospreys (:censored:, Ospreys)
Racing Metro

There has to be a French team and you can't have two Irish teams in the same group. How do people still not understand the rules of a competition we've been in for this long?

Of course! I even changed my second table because I'd put two French teams in there! I'd have Toulouse rather than Leinster, then.

[biffer]

The Welsh teams are nothing to worry about. Losing players left right and centre and don't have the money to replace them.

[biffer]

Of course! I even changed my second table because I'd put two French teams in there! I'd have Toulouse rather than Leinster, then.

I would agree that Toulouse are the weakest in pot one.

[TigerBain]

I wouldn't mind having leinster, I feel that they will be in a similar spot as us next year, in that they will have 6 fatigued lions tourists in their squad. Most other top tiers will be reasonably well refreshed after a summer break.

[BJ.]

I would agree that Toulouse are the weakest in pot one.

Without wishing to incur the wrath of Stevetelcom2000, I'd say Munster are the weakest in Pool 1 plus Limerick is a cracking weekend away.

[biffer]

I wouldn't mind having leinster, I feel that they will be in a similar spot as us next year, in that they will have 6 fatigued lions tourists in their squad. Most other top tiers will be reasonably well refreshed after a summer break.

They also will be trying to figure out who to play at ten.

[BJ.]

They also will be trying to figure out who to play at ten.

They've just signed Jimmy Gopperth on a 2-year deal.

[biffer]

They also will be trying to figure out who to play at ten.

They've just signed Jimmy Gopperth on a 2-year deal.

I know, but there will be a competition between him and Madigan. It's not clear which one will end up starting at ten. Gopperth is going with the intention of starting but Madigan is a fans favourite.

[BJ.]

I know, but there will be a competition between him and Madigan. It's not clear which one will end up starting at ten. Gopperth is going with the intention of starting but Madigan is a fans favourite.

I guess we'll have to wait and see which one Matt O'Connor prefers.

[biffer]

I know, but there will be a competition between him and Madigan. It's not clear which one will end up starting at ten. Gopperth is going with the intention of starting but Madigan is a fans favourite.

I guess we'll have to wait and see which one Matt O'Connor prefers.

I'm more interested in seeing how each of them perform and react in the situation. Whoever o'connor prefers, they will be under pressure to perform and keep Leinster at the top of the European game. Neither of them have had to be the key man at that level before, and performing when you know there's someone behind you pushing hard so that you're not entirely secure is a different situation. Pretty sure that they will both have opportunities and it'll be a tight competition.

[jgriffin]

Remember the Wheeler effect. Every year I'm certain the draw is rigged to Pxxxxs us off because Wheeler is the sane alternative to Lux.