Heineken Cup - General Discussion Thread

Heineken Cup Is Launched In Dublin



The rugby season is set to explode into life across Europe when the 17th Heineken Cup takes centre stage next week. The Irish launch of the tournament was held today at the Convention Centre in Dublin.
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Europe's finest will go into battle over the weekend of November 11/12/13, chasing the biggest prize in world club rugby with all roads leading to the final at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday, May 19.

Leinster will be chasing a third European crown in the space of four seasons when the race to reach Twickenham kicks off with the reigning champions travelling to face tournament new boys Montpellier in Pool 2.

The Irish provinces have scooped five titles in 16 years, and reached two other finals, and their numbers will be swelled to four for the first time this season with Connacht joining Munster, Ulster and the reigning champions among the 24 elite teams.

Connacht's John Muldoon and Eric Elwood joined the other provinces' captains and coaches at the launch on the banks of the River Liffey.

Back rower Muldoon said: "Obviously we are very excited to be here. We've been a long time knocking at the door but it's great to be competing now at Heineken Cup level.

"Just looking down at our pool, it doesn't get any easier the more you look at it. It's going to be a big challenge. It's one we're really looking forward to and we can't wait to get stuck into the pool matches.

"Everyone in Connacht, we know we're going to have to step it up over the next few weeks - we've got a lot of tough games coming up.

"This is where we want to be. We've been wishing to be in this competition for a long time, we're here now and we've got to back it up and show that we deserve to be in it."

Elwood set for Heineken Cup adventure

Eric Elwood has christened Pool 6 rivals Toulouse as the 'Manchester United of European club rugby' and likened their legendary coach Guy Noves to 'Sir Alex Ferguson'.
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Speaking at the Irish launch of the 2011/12 Heineken Cup in Dublin, the Connacht Rugby coach couldn't hide his enthusiasm as he prepares his team to make their bow in the Heineken Cup after 15 seasons, and 98 matches, in the Amlin Challenge Cup.

Connacht kick-off their great Heineken Cup adventure at the Twickenham Stoop on Friday, 11 November, against reigning Amlin Challenge Cup holders Harlequins.

Then they host four times winners Toulouse at the re-vamped Sportsground in Round 2 a week later in a fixture that will see the west of Ireland province play their 100th European fixture.

And Elwood has been at the Sportsground from day one, helping Connacht to beat Padova 34-12 in their opening game in the Amlin Challenge Cup way back on 12 October, 1996.

"With all the changes we've made at the ground, and the fact we are in the Heineken Cup for the first time this season, we're hoping to get 9,000 fans into the Sportsground for the game against Toulouse," said Elwood.

"That's a far cry from where we were in 1996 and I'm both pleased and proud to have been involved with the province as a player or coach since that day. Harlequins will be our debut in the Heineken Cup, but everyone in Galway is looking forward to our first home game in the tournament.

"Toulouse are the Man United of European club rugby and Guy Noves is the equivalent of Sir Alex Ferguson. I guess it is a bit like having Crawley Town hosting Man United in the third round of the FA Cup."

Saints even stronger this season

Northampton skipper Dylan Hartley believes the Saints will be stronger than ever when they chase Heineken Cup glory this season.
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Hartley and co enjoyed an outstanding campaign last time out as they reached a first final since 2000 thanks to eight successive victories prior to defeat to Leinster.

The East Midlands outfit led 22-6 at half-time in the competition's showpiece event at the Millennium Stadium before falling to a 33-22 defeat that has been hard to forget.

Northampton faded badly in the final 40 minutes of their European adventure but Hartley believes things could be different this time around thanks to a greater strength in depth and another year's experience within the squad.

"As we've learnt in the last three years, the Heineken Cup isn't easy," said Hartley.

"Our run to the final was a great run, but as Jim (Saints boss Jim Mallinder) said to us, you've got to play for 80 minutes and we didn't do that.

"There were a lot of things around that as to why we were tired but we've got to be frank - we threw away the Heineken Cup and that does hurt.

"We haven't really lost anyone this season, though. We've added to the squad and that's given us a bit more depth, which was probably what we needed last year. We were fighting on all fronts and we pretty much played the same team every week. This year, we've bolstered the squad and we're stronger throughout.

"It's not about fatigue on the day: it's about fatigue leading up to the big matches. It's mentally tiring getting yourself up for games every week at that stage of the season. If you've got competition for places, with people who are hungry to play, that's got to be good for the squad.

"Two years ago we lost to Munster in Limerick in the quarter-final and we said we'd learn from that. We obviously did as we went two steps further. You can't get any bigger big-match experience than the Heineken Cup Final so will learn from that, too.

"You look at teams like Munster: how many finals and semi-finals did they lose before the won the Heineken Cup? As a squad, we're still quite young and I think we've got our best years ahead of us."

Talking of Munster, it's the double European Champions who provide Northampton's first test in this year's tournament.

Thomond Park is the venue for the Saints' opening Pool 1 fixture a week on Saturday and Hartley is under no illusions as to the size of the challenge he and his team-mates will face at one of the continent's most revered stadiums.

But rather than be intimidated by the hostile atmosphere at a ground at which Northampton played at twice the season before last, Hartley intends to embrace the kind of challenge that only the Heineken Cup can bring.

He does admit, however, that Munster remain one of the benchmarks of the club game, a side that Saints intend to emulate when it comes to performing consistently on the European stage.

"Munster have been to finals and lost finals so they've been through disappointment as a group," added Hartley, whose team also face the Scarlets and Castres Olympique in the group stages.

"That's the biggest thing: they are a group. They've had the same group for a long time and we're building towards something like that. They're a team I look at and would like to learn from.

"We're going away to Adam's Park to play Wasps this weekend, which is a tough place to play. If we can pick up a W there, that will put a bit of confidence into the team going out to Limerick. But not many teams go there and win so there's plenty of motivation."

And as for the standard of rugby on display in Europe's premier club competition, Hartley has no doubt that it just keeps on getting better and better year after year.

"The Heineken Cup feels like it goes up a notch every time. In terms of intensity, the final last year and the quarters and the semis, those games are as close to an international as you get.

"The coolest thing about it as that you're playing with your clubmates. Some of those lads will never get to play international rugby so to be on that stage with your mates is pretty special."