After the first weekend of fixtures was so tragically decimated by the events in Paris, this weekend we have an almost full fixture card to look forward to – Stade Français vs Munster is the only game to be (rightly) postponed. So without further ado, here’s how we see it all unfolding.
POOL 1
The headline fixture from pool 1 this week is undoubtedly Saracens’ visit to Ravenhill, a repeat of the knockout game in 2014 that caused home fans such great angst after a controversial red card for Jared Payne gifted Saracens the win. The Londoners opened their campaign last weekend with an authoritative home win over Toulouse – although they failed to pick up a bonus point, which is becoming something of a theme.
Payne is still injured and won’t feature in this, but Iain Henderson makes a welcome return from injury and starts at six, adding ballast to a pack that will do well not to be bullied by the powerful Saracens eight. Watch out for the locking duo of Maro Itoje and George Kruis for Saracens, the former of whom is being particularly tipped to play a big role in England’s Eddie Jones era. In truth, Sarries look too powerful and disciplined for an Ulster side whose form has been indifferent so far this season.
The other game in this pool is an all French affair, which more often than not means a home win. And when it’s a case of newbies Oyonnax travelling to European royalty Toulouse, the odds of a home win get even shorter.
Ulster vs Saracens: Saracens by 4
Toulouse vs Oyonnax: Toulouse by 15
POOL 2
Pool 2’s biggest game comes from the Massif Central, where the Ospreys face the unenviable task of trying to overturn Clermont in their bear-pit of a stadium. Clermont’s line-up oozes class, potent finishers like Nakaitaci and Strettle feeding off the creativity of Lopez, Fofana and Abendanon. There are hard-nosed warriors in Rougerie and Cudmore, while Fritz Lee is capable of brilliance from the base of the scrum and in the loose alike.
The Ospreys’ best shot will likely come through engineering good positions for Dan Biggar to keep the score ticking over, and if they can do so he must be less profligate than last weekend against Exeter. Justin Tipuric will roam, and Alun-Wyn Jones will bring plenty of passion. Their task is a huge one, however, and it’s hard to see them coming away with a win.
The other game in the pool sees Exeter host Bordeaux Begles. The Chiefs suffered a disappointing loss without a bonus point in round one, and must be targeting a five point win against their French visitors. Bordeaux host plenty of quality in their line-up, but nothing suggests they will travel across the channel well.
Clermont Auvergne vs Ospreys: Clermont by 12
Exeter Chiefs vs Bordeaux Begles: Exeter by 15
POOL 3
Glasgow welcome Northampton to Scotstoun having had their trip to Racing last weekend called off and their plethora of Scotland stars will only be the fresher for it. The likes of Russell, Bennett, Horne and Hogg contribute to a wildly exciting back-line, while the unstoppable Taqele Naiyaravoro waits menacingly on the bench.
Saints have made a very poor start to the season and are looking a shadow of the side that won the Premiership two seasons ago. They snuck past Scarlets in the opening round but looked anything but comfortable. They revert to Stephen Myler at fly-half, a far more pragmatic option than JJ Hanrahan and with plenty of grit throughout their pack, they will look to get stuck into the Warriors up front. Whether that is enough, is another question entirely.
Elsewhere in Pool 3 the Scarlets and Racing 92 renew acquaintances, having contributed to a humdinger of a group a couple of years ago. The Scarlets have happy memories of the encounters, having won in Paris and drawn at home. They’ve raced out of the blocks this year, and I fancy them to shock the French side at Parc y Scarlets.
Glasgow Warriors vs Northampton Saints: Glasgow by 9
Scarlets vs Racing 92: Scarlets by 2
POOL 4
Pool 4’s biggest game this round has been postponed, with Munster’s visit to Stade Français cancelled after the tragic attacks in Paris last weekend.
It leaves the only match from this pool in Italy, where Treviso will once again fight for their pride against the Leicester Tigers. These two have met frequently in seasons past, with the Italians coming within a point of beating the Tigers in 2012.
Leicester, though, are starting to show signs that they have turned a corner under Aaron Mauger’s tutelage, and were hugely impressive in a bonus point win over Stade Français last weekend. They name a tasty back division, with Telusa Veainu, Peter Bethan and Niki Goneva forming an electric back three, and Mat Tait wearing the 13 shirt. As always with Treviso in Europe, this one looks like a given.
Benetton Treviso vs Leicester Tigers: Leicester by 21
POOL 5
We finish with Pool 5, the self-styled pool of death – and it’s easy to see why. Leinster travel to Bath having suffered a chastening loss at home to Wasps in the opening round, with their European hopes hanging in the balance. Johnny Sexton must significantly up his game from last week if they are to stand a chance of storming the Rec, while Rhys Ruddock and Jordi Murphy have to pick up the slack left by Sean O’Brien’s absence.
Bath keep the same line-up that didn’t play last weekend, with an exciting, all-English back-line that will look to run Leinster off their feet as Wasps did to such great effect in round one. As if that weren’t enough, Niko Matawalu lurks on the bench, ready to run at exhausted legs in the final quarter.
Elsewhere Wasps welcome the three time champions Toulon to Coventry, but after their demilition job in Dublin last weekend they should hold no fear. Elliot Daly, Christian Wade, Frank Halai and Charles Piutau are amongst the most exciting backs in the competition, and if they can target Toulon’s dangerous but potentially flaky half-back duo of Jonathan Pelissié and Quade Cooper, I think they’ve a great chance of causing an upset. The battle on the ground between George Smith and Steffon Armitage will also be compelling.
Bath Rugby vs Leinster: Bath by 5
Wasps vs Toulon: Wasps by 3
| Hosie | Hutch | |
|---|---|---|
| Ulster v Saracens | Saracens by 4 | Saracens by 2 |
| Treviso v Leicester | Leicester by 21 | Leicester by 13 |
| Bath v Leinster | Bath by 5 | Bath by 6 |
| Toulouse v Oyonnax | Toulouse by 15 | Toulouse by 23 |
| Glasgow v Northampton | Glasgow by 9 | Glasgow by 2 |
| Scarlets v Racing 92 | Scarlets by 2 | Scarlets by 2 |
| Exeter v Bordeaux | Exeter by 15 | Exeter by 13 |
| Clermont v Ospreys | Clermont by 12 | Clermont by 16 |
| Wasps v Toulon | Wasps by 3 | Wasps by 2 |
How do you see the European weekend unfolding? Leave your predictions below.
By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
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Can’t believe you’ve both gone for a Wasps win! Would love it if we could pull it off but I don’t see it happening personally. I think their pack will be too strong unfortunately.
As an aside, did anyone else see Dave Ward’s performance for Harlequins against Cardiff last night? Who says English Rugby doesn’t produce open-side flankers?? We just pick them one the wrong position!
It was also a fantastic win for a very young, majority English side against what the media said was almost a full strength Cardiff side.
Poor Blues fans. They work a hard day to earn money to give to club to watch in usually cold weather and this is what they get. Coach needs to go now and there needs to be a good clear out. That was a disgrace. I like Wasps also. I am no fan of Dai Young. It took him too many years to start playing an expansive game even though he has been blessed with very good backs. I guess I should be grateful he has finally seen the light whereas most other UK clubs still play 10 man most of time. Sarries were supreme and I think they can win by more than 2. Bookies actually have Ulster as favs. Toulouse were terrible and their coach should hurry up and take over national side so he can bring his talents to that shipwreck. Ha! Racing look strong. Even reserves are quality. Got to go Racing. They also had a week off. Other than that every thing else looks good, although Bath can always mess up.
And for the 2nd week running the Ospreys are predicted by the website authors/pundits above to be far worse than actually were.
To come from 20-3 down at half time to back get to 20-17 and then to finish with scoring 2 tries in a minute with only 14 men on the pitch was a superb performance in itself.
To do this away against a Clermont team bought with millions more in its wage bill was even more impressive.
We’d have been happy with 1 point from today but to take 2 points away in Clermont is a real bonus.
Ardderchog fechgyn!
Always happy to be wise after the event Enoch, although for all I know you may have picked Clermont by 5. Next week why don’t you provide your predictions before the weekend and we’ll see how you do. Did you pick Sarnies, Bath and Northampton wins or did your natural anti English bias see you going for the Scots and Irish?
For the record, and before you ask, I went for Clermont by 7, so within 2 of the correct margin. Also think Ospreys are playing well at the moment. With regard to the Ceremony squad, I think that it is over the course of a season where these bigger squads generally come into their own, as injuries and player fatigue run down the smaller squads. Sadly none of us can compete with the power of the “franc” at the moment.
Did of course mean Sarries not sarnies! Ho ho. Damn predictive text.
Oh goodness, Clermont not Ceremony – where did that come from?
Yes but they also unanimously predicted wins for Toulon, Glasgow & Scarlets which shows them to be less biased and more inept. Although I doubt many would have seen the Toulon result coming
They both got the Osprey result right and were only 7 and 11 points off the correct margin which is not bad considering.
As per Staggy’s comment above lets see you do better without the benefit of hindsight
A reasonable result for Wasps yesterday…