Heineken Cup quarter-finals preview

The last ever Heineken Cup quarter-finals take place this weekend and we’re looking at some truly mouth-watering matches!

Firstly, Munster host Toulouse at Thomond Park, then Leicester travel to France to face Clermont Auvergne. The last game on Saturday sees Ulster welcome Saracens to Ravenhill. Then on Sunday we travel to France, to watch last year’s champions Toulon face last year’s Amlin winners, Leinster.

Munster versus Toulouse, Thomond Park, Saturday April 6th at 1.30
Munster are two-time Heineken Cup winners (2006/08) and have appeared in the quarter-finals of the tournament in all but one year (2011). They did well last year, reaching the semi-finals.

They’ve had a great season this year. After a shaky start, losing their first game away to Edinburgh, they recovered quickly and managed to win the next five of their six games, topping their pool comfortably and managing to obtain a home quarter-final.

Toulouse have won the Heineken Cup four times (a record) but have suffered some lean years recently. They even failed to reach the quarter-finals last year.

This year, though, they’ve done very well, topping their pool with only one defeat – a shock loss to Connacht. They just managed to miss out on a home quarter-final, Munster getting the nod because of a greater points difference.

Munster have a strong, talented side, with exciting runners like Keith Earls and Simon Zebo. Their out-half, Ian Keatley, is developing into a worthy successor to Ronan O’Gara. Scrum-half Conor Murray had a great Lions tour last summer and has come back as one of the top no. 9s in rugby.

Munster’s pack are formidable, with the talismanic Paul O’Connell and the legend-in-waiting Peter O’Mahony. Thomond Park remains a fortress for them as well, with few teams coming away with a win.

Toulouse have a great side as well, though their best players will be worn out from a long season in the French Top 14, where they are currently ranked sixth (the French clubs don’t rest their players for international games, so the players constantly on duty). The Munster stars are just coming off a close-fought loss to Leinster in the Rabo12.

Toulouse aren’t the dominant team they once were. The last time these teams faced in the Heineken Cup was the 2008 final, where Munster won, 16-13. They’ll win this game as well.

Verdict: Munster

Clermont Auvergne versus Leicester, Stade Macel Michelin, Saturday at 4
Clermont have never won the Heineken Cup – the closest they’ve come is last year’s final, where they were beaten by Toulon 16-15.

This year they’ve done very well, topping their pool with only one loss, their first game this season, away to Racing Metro. They’ve also being doing well in the Top 14, currently placed third in the table, though they’ve just suffered a loss to Brive, 26-24.

Clermont have a great team with some home-grown talent boosted by international stars. Lee Byrne, Aurélien Rougerie, Wesley Fofana, Nathan Hines, Brock James and Morgan Parra are just some of their number, making for a very formidable side.

Leicester were the stars of the Heineken Cup in the early days of the tournament, winning back to back titles (2001/2002) but the bloom has come off the rose somewhat in recent years. This season they were lucky to come out of a very difficult pool, winning four of their games, but losing both times to Ulster.

Leicester are third in the English Premiership at the moment and have a very strong side, with both Ben and Tom Youngs having been capped for the Lions in the recent series win against Australia.

Both sides are pretty even at the moment, with both having had difficult seasons in their respective home competitions (Top 14 and Aviva Premiership). Clermont will have the home advantage and the slight nod in terms of player personnel.

Leicester also have a poorer record than Clermont in the Heineken knock-out stages in recent years. They lost heavily at last year’s quarter-final stage and failed to progress past the pool stages the year before.

Verdict: Clermont Auvergne

Ulster versus Saracens, Ravenhill, Saturday at 6.30
Ulster qualified for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals as the highest-ranked team. They had the best record of any of the teams, the only team to win all six of their pool games, which is especially impressive as they had to win twice against both Leicester and Montpellier!

They’re doing well in the Rabo too, ranked third (though they did just suffer a shock loss to Cardiff).

Ulster have a strong side, with Tommy Bowe and Stephen Ferris returned from injury and players like Andrew Trimble and Rory Best doing great things for Ireland. Paddy Jackson and Luke Marshall are also players to watch.

Saracens were the last team to qualify for the Heineken quarters, winning four of their pool games but losing both matches against Toulouse. Saracens are doing very well in the Aviva Premiership, currently at the top of the table.

They have a quality team with English stars like Alex Goode, Brad Barritt, David Strettle and Chis Ashton. Former English out-half Charlier Hodgson has shown he can still do some damage.

Saracens also have some powerful forwards in Mako Vunipola (who was a star for the Lions), Kelly Brown and Matt Stevens. Their stand-out player, though, is Owen Farrell, who was one of the best out-halves in the recent Six Nations.

Saracens have the edge in this contest. Saracens beat Ulster at the quarter-final stages in last year’s tournament as well.

Verdict: Saracens

Toulon Versus Leinster, Stade Felix Mayol, Sunday 7th April at 4.30
Toulon won first ever Heineken Cup title last year, beating Clermont in the closest of finals, 16-15. They topped their pool this year, the only loss coming away to Cardiff. They’re currently ranked second in the Top 14 table.

Toulon have a terrific team; some international stars like Stefon and Delon Armitage, South African legend Bryan Habana and Matt Gitau. There’s also some home-grown talent, with the likes of Mathieu Bastareaud and French legend Freddie Michalak (who scored 27 points against Toulouse in the Top 14 last weekend).

And let’s not forget the legendary Jonny Wilkinson, who is set to retire at the end of the season and can still win matches for his team, 11 years after helping England win the World Cup.

Toulon have suffered a bit of controversy recently, though. Their coach, Bernard Laporte, was given a 16-week ban (for abusing referees). The ban is under appeal, though, so it’s not yet known if he will be allowed to attend the quarter-final game.

Leinster won the Amlin Cup last year, after winning back-to-back Heineken Cups the two years previous. Leinster have been the most successful European club in recent years, having won six trophies (including Rabo titles) since 2008.

They topped their pool, denied a perfect record by Northampton (ironically losing at home). Leinster are also currently top of the Rabo table, just winning a bruising battle against Munster.

Leinster have a formidable side and have shown no noticeable affects of losing both their coach, Joe Schmidt, and star, Jonny Sexton, last year.

If anything, they have an embarrassment of riches. 15 of their players were on international duty for Ireland this season, which makes their record in the Rabo all the more impressive.

Leinster have managed to top the Rabo table, despite the fact that so many of their best players were absent for so much of the season.

Leinster already had stars like Rob Kearney, Brian O’Driscoll, Jaimie Heaslip and Cian Healy. This season, Dave Kearney, Ian Madigan and Devin Toner have made great strides.

Add to that the return to form of Luke Fitzgerald and they also have some great overseas players, like Zane Kirchner and Jimmy Goepperth.

Toulon may have the slight nod though, Leinster betrayed some weaknesses against Munster. It will be great to see Brian O’Driscoll go up against Jonny Wilkinson one last time!

Verdict: Toulon

All in all, a terrific line-up of matches.