Rugby - European Cup

European Cup preview

by Mark Rodden

Article published on the 2009-10-09 Latest update 2009-10-09 13:22 TU

Leinster's Rocky Elsom breaks through the Leicester Tigers defence during the European Cup rugby final, 23 May 2009
(Photo: AFP)

The fifteenth edition of rugby’s European Cup – known as the H Cup in France – will get underway on Friday night.

Interview: Stade Francais' James Haskell

09/10/2009 by Mark Rodden

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Aided by the flair of Irish captain Brian O’Driscoll and some exceptional defensive displays, Leinster won last season’s competition with a 19-16 win over English champions Leicester in Edinburgh.

The Irish side will be doing their utmost to defend their title but given that the final will take place in Paris next May, the six French teams involved also have an extra motivation to do well.

Leinster’s group includes French outfit Brive and Welsh side Scarlets but their first test will come against London Irish of England, who currently lie second in their domestic championship.

Delon Armitage will miss Friday night’s game due to injury but he told RFI that his London Irish teammates are fully aware of the challenge that awaits them.

“We know obviously starting against the champions it’s going to be a tough game and I think that’s going to set the tone for the tournament” he says. “Especially playing in Dublin on their home ground - I mean that’s as tough as it gets.”

However, the England international full-back remains confident London Irish can cause an upset.

“Make no bones about it, we’re going to go and play rugby and we’re going to look to beat a strong Leinster team,” Armitage says. “We’re not going there to make up the numbers or to try and get a bonus point. “

Brive are making a return to the H Cup after an absence of 11 seasons. They won the competition in 1997 and were finalists in 1998, and they’ll hope to get off to a good start when they face Scarlets on Saturday.

“I think we’ve got one of the toughest groups to be honest,” their English centre Jamie Noon told RFI at the H Cup launch in Paris. “It’s a great honour for Brive to be back in the top competition but I think it’s going to be a big challenge. “

Of the French sides, three-time winners Toulouse are perhaps best equipped to do well and they’ll be looking to make up for a relatively disappointing showing last season. However, with only the pool winners being guaranteed a place in the last eight, they’ll have to perform strongly in tricky home and away ties against English sides Harlequins and Sale and Cardiff Blues of Wales.

Perpignan also have a difficult group that includes previous winners Munster from Ireland, as well as Northampton and Benetton Treviso of Italy. The Catalan club won the French championship – the Top 14 – for the first time in 54 years last season but their coach Jacques Brunel suggests that the H cup won’t be a priority.

“Whatever about the group, the format of the competition is complicated,” he told RFI. “Two matches, a break, two matches - it’s a bit interrupted. You have to play six matches to qualify and you can’t really slip up in any of them.

“Qualification is difficult. If you hope to go far in the competition, you have to think about getting a home quarter-final. It’s the easiest route.

“Of course we want to go as far as we can. Of course, we’re going to do everything we can to reach our goal but we can’t make it a priority.”

With this season’s final set to be played in the French capital, one team that will be desperate to do well is Stade Français of Paris. James Haskell signed for Stade this summer and he says that he's looking forward to the tournament getting started.

“I think it’s a very difficult pool. We’ve got Ulster, Bath and Edinburgh – these guys are all very, very tough opposition. Some of them are playing very well in the Magners League and doing well in the Premiership.

"When we start preparing for that it’s going to be a special period of time because this club wants to win this Heineken Cup very much. We know it’s a tough challenge over nine games but we’re willing to accept it. “

Opening H Cup fixtures:

Friday

Pool 4 Ulster (IRE) v Bath (ENG)
Pool 2 Gloucester (ENG) v Newport Gwent Dragons (WAL)

Pool 6 Leinster (IRE) v London Irish (ENG)

Saturday

Pool 5 Cardiff Blues (WAL) v Harlequins (ENG)

Pool 1 Benetton Treviso (ITA) v Perpignan (FRA)

Pool 4 Stade Français (FRA) v Edinburgh (SCO)

Pool 6 Scarlets (WAL) v Brive (FRA)

Pool 2 Glasgow Warriors (SCO) v Biarritz Olympique (FRA)

Pool 3 ASM Clermont Auvergne (FRA) v Viadana (ITA)

Pool 1 Northampton Saints (ENG) v Munster (IRE)