They meet again: 2010 Challenge Cup finalists Toulon and Cardiff
With the Heineken Cup looming large on the horizon, we take a closer look at each group. Next up, Pool Six.
TOULON
Director of rugby: Bernard Laporte
Captain: Joe van Niekerk
Best finish: Quarter-finals in 2011
Key signing: Andrew Sheridan
Player to watch: Matt Giteau
Pool odds: 4/11
CARDIFF BLUES
Director of rugby: Phil Davies
Captain: Andries Pretorius
Best finish: Finalists in 1996
Key signing: Jason Tovey
Player to watch: Jamie Roberts
Pool odds: 6/1
SALE
Coach: Bryan Redpath
Captain: David Seymour
Best finish: Quarter-finals in 2006
Key signing: Richie Gray
Player to watch: Rob Miller
Pool odds:12/1
MONTPELLIER
Coach: Fabien Galthie
Captain: Fulgence Ouedraogo
Best finish: Pool stage in 2012
Key signing: Shontayne Hape
Player to watch: Lucas Amorosino
Pool odds:6/1
How we see it: Looking at squad depth, form and star quality, there would be few disagreeing that Toulon are hot favourites to finish atop of this Pool. The likes of Jonny Wilkinson, Matt Giteau, Joe van Niekerk and Steffon Armitage stand out while any team who has Gethin Jenkins and Carl Hayman sat on their bench must be pretty strong. Cardiff Blues have had a mixed start to their PRO12 campaign to say the least but on their day will be a match for anyone, with the major issue concerning them being the scrum. Things could be worse though for the Blues, as their English opponents Sale have yet to taste victory in 2012/13 in what has been a hugely disappointing opening to their season. Undoubtedly the Sharks will be thankful of this Heineken Cup distraction and a home game against Cardiff is massive for their hopes of qualification. Montpellier, led by Fulgence Ouedraogo and Francois Trinh-Duc, are the Pool's dark horses but cannot be underestimated - as Leinster found out last year - but it is unlikely they will sustain a consistent challenge.
Key fixture(s) in Pool:Round Two of the games in this Pool sees Cardiff Blues host Toulon while Sale travel to Montpellier. If the Blues earn a vital away win in the opening weekend at the Sharks then the fixture at the Arms Park is likely to play a big factor in the group shake-up. Montpellier will take points off teams at Stade Yves du Manoir but in all honesty we see Toulon as having the Pool wrapped up by the time the host Cardiff in Round Five.
Prediction: 1 Toulon, 2 Cardiff Blues, 3 Montpellier, 4 Sale
Fixtures:
14 Oct: Sharks v Blues
14 Oct: Toulon v Montpellier
21 Oct: Blues v Toulon
21 Oct: Montpellier v Sharks
8 Dec: Sharks v Toulon
9 Dec: Blues v Montpellier
15 Dec: Montpellier v Blues
16 Dec: Toulon v Sharks
11/12/13 Jan: Sharks v Montpellier
11/12/13 Jan: Toulon v Blues
18/19/20 Jan: Blues v Sharks
18/19/20 Jan: Montpellier v Toulon
Comments
cedfromtoulon says...
Toulon's will is the French Championship first , and then Hcup !!
Posted 16:25 12th October 2012
froggy73 says...
@Leicester_goy: you are really the biggest joke ever. Btw, what was Brad Thorn doing in your team last year ? Enjoying the sun of Ireland ? Loving the excitment of the Pro12 ?
Posted 11:36 12th October 2012
leinster_goy says...
oh there is going to be a lot of schadenfreude if/when toulon-chester city get embarrassingly dumped out of the Heino by an actual team - y'know, a team that actually is a "team", not a collection of mercenaries and journeymen chasing a fat paycheque, one that pulls together whenever the going gets tough...such as Leinster (just to pick an example off the top of my head)
i will certainly be one of those laughing my head off when it happens
Posted 09:20 12th October 2012