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Following up on my first installment in this Heineken Cup preview, here is a group-by-group rundown on the main Pool Two, Three and Four contenders.
POOL 2
London Wasps
Champions 2004 & 2007
Current league position – GP – 10th
SH players – Dan Leo (Sam.), Mark Robinson (NZ), Lachlan Mitchell (Aus.)
Key men – Tom Rees, Daniel Cipriani, Riki Flutey
Leinster Rugby
Semi-finals 1996, 2003 & 2006
Current league position – ML – 4th
SH players – Stephen Knoop (SA), Stan Wright (Cook Islands), CJ van der Linde (SA), Cameron Jowitt (NZ), Rocky Elsom (Aus.), Chris Whitaker (Aus.), Felipe Contepomi (Arg.), Isa Nacewa (Fiji)
Key men – CJ van der Linde, Felipe Contepomi, Brian O’Driscoll
Castres Olympique
Semi-finals 2002
Current league position – T14 – 13th
SH players – Carl Hoeft (NZ), Kees Lensing (Nam.), Dani Saayman (SA), Daron Nell (SA), Lei Tomiki (Tonga), Iosefa Tekori (Sam.), Chris Masoe (NZ), Kevin Senio (NZ), Cameron McIntyre (NZ), Steve Kefu (Aus.), Brad Flemming (NZ)
Key men – Lionel Nallet, Chris Masoe, Romain Teulet
Edinburgh Rugby
Quarter-finals 2004
Current league position – ML – 9th
SH players – Ben Gissing (Aus.), Ben Meyer (NZ)
Key men – Allister Hogg, Mike Blair, Chris Paterson
POOL 3
Leicester Tigers
Champions 2001 & 2002
Current league position – GP – 2nd
SH players – Marcos Ayerza (Arg), Santiago Bonorino (Arg.), Marco Wentzel (SA), Craig Newby (NZ), Ben Herring (NZ), Ben Pienaar (SA), Derick Hougaard (SA), Aaron Mauger (NZ), Seru Rabeni (Fiji), Alesana Tuilagi (Sam.)
Key men – Martin Corry, Harry Ellis, Geordan Murphy
USAP Perpignan
Losing finalists 2003
Current league position – T14 – 3rd
SH players – Kisi Pulu (Tonga), Rimas Alvarez-Kairelis (Arg), Gerrie Britz (SA), Viliami Vaki (Tonga), Henry Tuilagi (Sam.), Steve Meyer (SA), Dan Carter (NZ), Gavin Hume (SA), Philip Burger (SA), Samueli Naulu (Fiji)
Key men – Marius Tincu, Nathan Hines, David Marty
Ospreys Rugby
Quarter-finals 2008
Current league position – ML – 2nd
SH players – Filo Tiatia (NZ), Marty Holah (NZ), Jamie Nutbrown (NZ)
Key men – Jonathan Thomas, James Hook, Shane Williams
Benetton Treviso Rugby
Current league position – 2nd – S10
SH players – Tobias Botes (SA), Benjamin de Jager (SA), Mark Gilbride (Aus.), Dion King (NZ), Roderick Labuschagne (SA), Hottie Louw (SA), Marco Neethling (SA), Cornelius van Zyl (SA), Brendon Williams (Aus.), Diego Vidal (Arg.)
Key men – Robert Barbieri, Silvio Orlando, Fraser Waters
POOL 4
Stade Francais Paris
Losing finalists 2001 & 2005
Current league position – 1st – T14
SH players – Rodrigo Roncero (Arg.), Pedro Ledesma (Arg.), Juan Manuel Leguizamon (Arg.), Noel Oelschig (SA), Juan Martin Hernandez (Arg.), Mark Gasnier (Aus.), Ignacio Corleto (Arg.), Ignacio Mieres (Arg.)
Key men – Rodrigo Roncero, Sergio Parisse, Juan Martin Hernandez
Scarlets Rugby
Semi-finals 2000, 2002 & 2007
Current league position – ML – 3rd
SH players – Mahroni Schwalger (Sam.), Kees Meeuws (NZ), Deacon Manu (NZ), Simon Maling (NZ), David Lyons (Aus.), Sililo Martens (Tonga), Regan King (NZ)
Key men – Kees Meeuws, Regan King, Morgan Stoddart
Ulster Rugby
Champions 1999
Current league position – ML – 10th
SH players – BJ Botha (SA),Tom Court (Aus.), Robbie Diack (SA), Paul Steinmetz (NZ), Timoci Nagasu (Fiji), Clinton Schifcofske (Aus.)
Key men – BJ Botha, Paddy Wallace, Andrew Trimble
Harlequins
Quarter-finals 1997 & 1998
SH players – Gary Botha (SA), Tani Fuga (Sam.), Steve So’oialo (Sam.), Chris Malone (Aus.), Waisea Luveniyali (Fiji), De Wet Barry (SA), Gonzalo Tiesi (Arg.), Epi Taione (Tonga)
Key men – Nick Easter, Danny Care, David Strettle
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.