Bob Dwyer Rugby Workshops

The Heineken Cup enters its final phase of pool matches next weekend and this weekend’s matches, in the Magners, Aviva and Super14 competitions, appeared to play second fiddle to preparations for these upcoming matches - certainly in the decisions of some of the club selectors and in the words of most of the commentary teams.

In a replay of last year’s Magners League final, Leinster were at home to Ospreys, with Ospreys in sore need of a win to stay in contention for a repeat of last year’s Magners’ title. They fielded only four players from the previous weekend’s defeat at the hands of Cardiff and, although they gave a near full-strength Leinster side a real fright, they still came away with only the losing bonus-point. A win next week for Ospreys, away to London Irish, would move them right into the reckoning. Toulon and Munster hold the top two spots in the highly competitive Pool 3, but they play each other on Sunday, in Toulon. London Irish are experiencing a very poor season, and a win, especially a decisive bonus-point win, for Ospreys, will bring them right back into contention for a quarter-finals spot. Ospreys at their best are a match for any side in Europe and they must harbour high hopes for a Heineken Cup title – the next two weekends will be nail-biters. Consistency is their biggest challenge. As they say in the valleys, “Which Ospreys team will turn up?” Their ‘star players’ had a very poor first half against Cardiff a week ago and their ‘second stringers’ were enthusiastic and very competitive against Leinster yesterday. This will not have helped Scott Johnson’s selection process!

Leinster, at near full-strength, were less than impressive at the RDS yesterday. Maybe they had other things on their minds, but as Jonathan Davies commented, teams like momentum – and, at the moment, they don’t have any. Next week, they welcome back Sean O’Brien and Isa Nacewa, but may be without Jamie Heaslip. They will be working overtime to ensure that he is fit for their home fixture against Saracens. A good win here will ensure their spot in the quarters. They are, in my opinion, as well coached as any side in Europe, but they were well off the boil yesterday and Joe Schmidt will be looking for a return to the ‘quality basics’ which have served his star-studded team so well this season.

Scarlets welcome Tigers in a top of the table clash in Pool 5, with Perpignan breathing down their necks. Perpignan are away in Italy to Treviso, but what looks like an easier match for them could just as easily turn sour. It would not be the first time an Italian team has upset the apple-cart. Newcomer Aironi already have the scalp of star team Biarritz this season. Perpignan will be desperate to get into contention, especially so with their Super 14 season looking decidedly grim for the first time in five or six seasons.

Toulouse and Wasps are cruising, well clear in the top two spots in Pool 6, but with only two second placed teams – out of six – to go through, big bonus point wins are needed whenever the opportunity presents. Wasps are away in Glasgow and, at their best, the Warriors can play some quality rugby. Toulouse are at home to the Dragons and should win decisively. At times, Toulouse can be sublime; at other times they can be disinterested and disjointed –although not generally at home with their Heineken champions title in their minds!

This competition is fiercely contested. One slip can end a team’s hopes and even the bottom team can defeat one of the top teams – Aironi against Biarritz, for example. A feast awaits us!​​