Quarter final predictions after round 3

Snickers Man

OK. Neck on block. Here's what I think will be the q final line ups after the third round of games in the Heineken Cup.

Let's see how wrong I am when it all pans out.

Gloucester v Leicester
Saracens v Perpignan
London Irish v Munster
Toulouse v Cardiff

I didn't think there would be a second place qualifier out of Leinster's group when it all kicked off but the way things are going, it could well happen. Course, I hope that Leinster will pull it out of the bag, but whatever about beating Toulouse in Dublin, going to Leicester needing a win is a big ask.

Next installment after round 4.

Marshy

I think Biarritz should get through but only if they cop themselves on. A team with such quality not qualifying from one of the easier groups should be unacceptable as far as they're concerned.

ironingbored

You're probably right but is anyone else disgusted at the groups? Group 5 and Group 6 should be the quarter final line up. The italian teams are a joke. As is two terribly mediocre English teams like Quins and Bristol in the same group. Groups 3 and 4 really do make a joke of the whole competition.

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

phog

It's still too early to select the Qtr/Final lineups but I don't see two teams coming from Groups 5 or 6.

I'd go with
1.Gloucester
2.London Irish
3.Stade Francais
4.Biarritz
5.Toulouse
6.Wasps
7.Saracens
8.Perpignan

meaning
Gloucester Vs. Perpignan
London Irish Vs. Saracens
Stade Francais Vs. Wasps
Biarritz Vs. Toulouse

Yes I know they're all French and English teams but I can't really see a celtic team getting through this year.Munster have the best chance but it's unlikely we'll beat Clermont away and even if we do I doubt we can beat Wasps.

Snickers Man

Marshy wrote: »

I think Biarritz should get through but only if they cop themselves on. A team with such quality not qualifying from one of the easier groups should be unacceptable as far as they're concerned.

Well they should get 10 points from their home games against Viadana and Glasgow, although the latter is by no means certain, but even then they would still have to beat Saracens away to have a chance. Tough ask.

redmca

Deleted User wrote: »

I'd go with
.Munster have the best chance but it's unlikely we'll beat Clermont away and even if we do I doubt we can beat Wasps.

Why can't Munster beat Wasps?? They ran them close away from home.
I see them picking up 5 points against Llanelli, at least 1 against Clermont, and whatever it takes against Wasps.

Erin Go Brath

redmca wrote: »

Why can't Munster beat Wasps?? They ran them close away from home.
I see them picking up 5 points against Llanelli, at least 1 against Clermont, and whatever it takes against Wasps.

I agree. We were hugely unlucky to lose against Wasps. Going down to 14 men cost us dear in the second half, and we only lost by 1 point. All the evidence suggests Munster are well capable of winning this one in TP.

Munster are in a strong position, each team has played each other once, and Munster are 1 point ahead of Wasps, and Clermont, with 2 of our 3 remaining games at home. It's very much in Munsters hands at the moment. That said, theres still no room for any slipups.

Stev_o

Erin Go Brath wrote: »

I agree. We were hugely unlucky to lose against Wasps. Going down to 14 men cost us dear in the second half, and we only lost by 1 point. All the evidence suggests Munster are well capable of winning this one in TP.

Munster are in a strong position, each team has played each other once, and Munster are 1 point ahead of Wasps, and Clermont, with 2 of our 3 remaining games at home. It's very much in Munsters hands at the moment. That said, theres still no room for any slipups.

No offense but its really in Clermonts hands if they want to actually want to compete for the Title or not. If they dont then its just going to be a Wasps and Munster go through regardless

Snickers Man

OK. I meant to update this after round 4 but somehow never got round to posting it. I'll start procrastinating tomorrow.

With most of the games in round 5 played (ie it's Saturday evening and there are three games to go tomorrow I have some slight amendments to make. I now believe that 7 of the 8 teams I picked after round 3 will still go through but there will be some slight change of order and therefore change in q final match ups.

My quarter finalists will now be
Saracens v Ospreys
Gloucester v Perpignan
London Irish v Munster
Toulouse v Cardiff

Closest call is Munster's group. If they lose away to Clermont tomorrow there will be a dreadful squeaky bum time for them on the last day. They will probably have to beat Wasps with a bonus point and then hope that Llanelli can hold Clermont to less than four tries at Stradey Park. Otherwise we coudl have the nightmare scenario of no Irish teams and two Welsh ones in the quarter finals.

A new low.