blametheref says...

Makes no sense the seedings, it should be based on the top 2 in each respective home league for tier 1 etc, which would give teams with the most recent "earned" form the nod, as in: Munster, Leinster, Leicester, Saracens, Toulouse, Montpelier. With Tier 2 coming from the best performances after that in the last Heineken cup with the next top team that isn't in Tier 1 facing the tier 1 seed that came 2nd in their respective championship, for example: Tier 1 Montpelier facing the next performing HC team of 2010/11 Northampton tier 2 etc etc. Much fairer in my opinion, as it is not fair if Leinster were to draw say Northampton in their group etc

Posted 11:37 07th June 2011

leinster_goy says...

does the seeding really matter in the long run? look at toulon last year

Posted 09:51 07th June 2011

curates_egg says...

@houston_11 couldn't agree more - Ulster came 3rd in the Magners and were HCup quarter finalists, yet are only in pool 3, whereas Bath and London Irish have done nowt.

Imagine this group of death though: any first seed but lets say Cardiff; Clermont (French champions 2010 and semi-finalists 2011); Saracens (English champions 2011); and Racing Metro (2nd in French League and semi-finalists 2011).

Posted 10:28 05th June 2011

lawynd says...

@froggy73 - yes, the cofficients measure performance over the last four seasons. Cardiff reached the QF of the HEC in 07/08, SF in 08/09, won the ACC in 09/10 and then failed to make it out of the group stages of the HEC in 10/11. Crucially though for Cardiff, Biarritz and Leicester, Northampton only have coefficient points for the last three seasons; next year's seedings could see them shoot up the rankings if they have another good European campaign.

Posted 10:48 03rd June 2011

papachinzo says...

I'd like to see these groups...

1.Leinster-Bath-Scarlets-Montpellier

2.Toulouse-Irish-Edinburgh-Treviso

3.Munster-Saints-Gloucester-Racing

4.Cardiff-Quins-Ulster-Castres

5.Biarritz-Ospreys-Saracens-Connacht

6.Tigers-Clermont-Warriors-Aironi

Posted 21:18 02nd June 2011

adamk says...

I'm excited already. :)

Posted 17:04 02nd June 2011