Heineken Cup preview: Pool Four
It's here again! The Heineken Cup begins on Friday, with the clubs now battle-hard and ready after six weeks of domestic battery. Here are a few pointers on the forthcoming action in Pool Four.
It's here again! The Heineken Cup begins on Friday, with the clubs now battle-hard and ready after six weeks of domestic battery. Here are a few pointers on the forthcoming action in Pool Four.
Teams:
Harlequins
Scarlets
Stade Français
Ulster
Forecast: The clever money will be on Stade Français, as they look to exact revenge for crashing out at the pool stages last season, but don't write any of the other three teams off. Harlequins learnt harsh lessons in last year's tournament and are a much-improved team this year, whilst the Scarlets have proved time and again they have what it takes to still be there at the business end of the tournament. Whilst Ulster are not the side that once won the Heineken Cup back in 1999, they do have a squad capable of making life very difficult for the other three sides.
Players to Watch:
Harlequins: If he were any other nationality Nick Evans would have fifty odd caps to his name, but playing second fiddle to Dan Carter is not easy. Evans is a world class player and will enhance Harlequins' chances greatly – albeit as an outside bet. If he can stay fit – he is currently out injured – Harlequins will have a potent back-line being run by a player with vision to match the best in this tournament.
Scarlets: Ever since Scott Quinnell retired the Scarlets have lacked a serious ball carrier in their pack, that was until David Lyons arrived from Australia in the off-season. The Wallaby number eight is a menace with ball in hand, and his robust and direct approach will suit the Heineken Cup just fine. The Scarlets will look to Lyons to provide them with plenty of quick ball that sees them attacking on the front foot.
Stade Fran̤ais: He may seem like a slightly odd choice, given that Stade Fran̤ais boast players such as Juan Martin Hernandez and Lionel Beauxis, but Rodrigo Roncero will be key for the Parisians. If he can keep the scrum solid, as well as his fiery temper in check, then Hernandez and co. will have a perfect platform from which to do what they do best Рattack. Not only that but the Argentine is a useful player with ball in hand, and his work rate will provide Stade with plenty of options when looking to set it up with the forwards.
Ulster: After a less than acceptable season last year Ulster have bolstered their squad with class players, and in Timoci Nagusa they have a gem. He may only be 21 years old but the Fijian international has already started making a name for himself – none more so than with the Pacific Islands side. A devastating turn of pace, and a handy sidestep to boot, Nagusa could well be Ulster's secret weapon as they look to roll back the years.
Squads:
Harlequins: Charlie Amesbury, De Wet Barry, Gary Botha, Chris Brooker, Mike Brown, Danny Care, Aston Croall, Phil Davies, Nick Easter, Jim Evans, Nick Evans, Dan Frazier, Tani Fuga, Andy Gomarsall, Tom Guest, Jim Inglis, Ceri Jones, Ollie Kohn, Mark Lambert, Waisea Luveniyali, Chris Malone, Tosh Masson, Neil McMillan, Ugo Monye, James Percival, Micky Pointing, Chris Robshaw, George Robson, Alex Rogers, Mike Ross, Will Skinner, Steve So'oialo, David Strettle, Epi Taione, Gonzalo Tiesi, Jordan Turner-Hall, Gareth Williams, Tom Williams.
Scarlets: Nathan Brew, Gavin Cattle, Vernon Cooper, Darren Daniel, Jon Davies, Simon Easterby, Jon Edwards, Daniel Evans, Gavin Evans, Craig Hawkins, Rob Higgitt, Aled Hopkins, Dafydd James, Phil John, Dafydd Jones, Ian Jones, Mark Jones, Stephen Jones, Regan King, David Lyons, Scott MacLeod, Simon Maling, Deacon Manu, Sililo Martens, Kees Meeuws, Ken Owens, Emyr Phillips, Rhys Priestland, Lou Reed, Matthew Rees, Martin Roberts, Morgan Stoddart, Ceiron Thomas, Gavin Thomas, Iestyn Thomas, Nathan Thomas, Josh Turnbull, Lee Williams.
Stade Français: Alexandre Albouy, Julien Arias, David Attoub, David Auradou, Mathieu Bastareaud, Lionel Beauxis, Mauro Bergamasco, Mirco Bergamasco, Mathieu Blin, Terry Bouhraoua, Guillaume Bousses, Antoine Burban, Djibril Camara, Pierre Correia, Mark Gasnier, Stéphane Glas, Juan Martin Hernandez, Nicolas Jeanjean, Arthur Joly, Juan Leguizamon, Brian Liebenberg, Arnaud Marchois, Sylvain Marconnet, Geoffroy Messina, Franck Montanella, Noel Oelschig, Sergio Parisse, Karl Pautric, Pierre Rabadan, Rodrigo Roncero, Julien Saubade, Laurent Sempere, Laurent Simutoga, Dimitri Szarzewski, Simon Taylor, Robins Tchale Watchou, Dave Vainqueur, Pierre Vigouroux.
Ulster: Thomas Anderson, Rory Best, Isaac Boss, BJ Botha, Nigel Brady, Ryan Caldwell, Jarlath Carey, Darren Cave, Chris Cochrane, Tom Court, Bryn Cunningham, Simon Danielli, Kieron Dawson, Carlo del Fava, Rob Dewey, Robbie Diack, Willie Faloon, Stephen Ferris, Declan Fitzpatrick, Justin Fitzpatrick, Neil Hanna, Chris Henry, Ian Humphreys, Paul Marshall, Mark McCrea, Matt McCullough, Timoci Nagusa, Niall O'Connor, Ed O'Donoghue, Stuart Philpott, David Pollock, Clinton Schifcofske, Paul Steinmetz, Andrew Trimble, Paddy Wallace, Ian Whitten, Cillian Willis, Bryan Young.