ERC 2006/07 Draw

[BangorFeen]

The full draw is as follows:

Pool 1
Treviso
Perpignan
London Wasps
Castres

Pool 2
Edinburgh Gunners
Agen
Gloucester
Leinster

Pool 3
Sale
Stade Francais
Calvisano
Ospreys

Pool 4
Cardiff Blues
Bourgoin
Leicester Tigers
Munster

Pool 5
Ulster
Stade Toulouse
London Irish
Llanelli Scarlets

Pool 6
Biarritz Olympique
Northhampton Saints
Rugby Parma
Border Reivers


Hmmmmm, not a terrible draw, Ulster's was way worse. Pool 3 was another nice one to avoid. Leinster as usual live a charmed existence and get a nice, sedate group. BO will be well pleased with things too.

As an interesting aside. Mike Prendregast is off to Bourgoin... See ya in the Autumn Mikey :razz:

[Proinsias]

Biarritz have a pretty easy run to the next round.

Munster's pool could be worse (could be a lot better too...), Bourgoin are a good team, but I'd prefer them in Munster's group than most of the others.

Leinster have a relatively tough group, although they should do it.
Group one looks vicious, and Treviso are quite unlucky they weren't drawn in a weaker pool as they looked good this season.
I can easily see no Welsh representation in the quarters again next season.
My predictions for this:
G1 Wasps
G2 Leinster
G3 Stade Francais and Sale Sharks
G4 Munster and Leicester
G5 Toulouse (Sorry Ulster)
G6 Biarritz

I fear there's a chance that the latter stages of the HEC may start to look a little stale with the same old faces. May be time to expand the competition.

[jungle]

Bourgoin have a history of concentrating on the French Championship and ignoring the Heineken Cup. With luck, this will continue.

[BangorFeen]

Bourgoin have a history of concentrating on the French Championship and ignoring the Heineken Cup. With luck, this will continue.
That's only true of the away fixtures. It's an absolute bitch trying to get a result out of them at home.

Ulster are officially phequed

[jungle]

That's only true of the away fixtures. It's an absolute bitch trying to get a result out of them at home.

Ulster are officially phequed
I'm not sure about Ulster.

They could take Llanelli and London Irish. A good home result against Toulouse and they could go through as best second.

It's unlikely, but I wouldn't write them off. Remember London Irish are in for the first time and Llanelli have a new coach.

[BangorFeen]

I'm not sure about Ulster.

They could take Llanelli and London Irish. A good home result against Toulouse and they could go through as best second.

It's unlikely, but I wouldn't write them off. Remember London Irish are in for the first time and Llanelli have a new coach.
All good points.


BUT
Llanelli are formidable at home, they've a savage backrow and an international half-back pairing. Likewise LI, they've an amazing home record. ERC inexperience tends to bite sides in the arse AWAY from home (Sale last year for example) rather than for their home games. I wouldn't say the Madjeski will be an easy place to go for any side in that group. Toulouse aren't the side they were 2-3 years ago and they are beatable but at this current moment in time I don't see them winning away against them. I don't believe there'll be two qualifiers from this group, they'll all take points off each other

[liam2me]

i can't wait to get our hands on leicester, whatever about anything else. did we ever play them in the HC at thomond? i only remember cardiff and welford