The Heineken and Amlin Cups 2013/14 second weekend of match’s is over. They threw up a few surprises and some really exciting games.
Things kicked off on Thursday night with the London Wasps Amlin game against Basyonne. This was a much tougher match than Wasps first run out and in fact for a large part of the game Wasps were behind, in fact at half-time it was 6-10. The second period and Wasps started to take control not least up front where they had been struggling. Two tries to one also meant that Andy Goodes boot was not so important. Though ultimately he did kick sixteen of the total as Wasps winning 26-10. Denying the visitors any second half points.
Friday night and both Cups were being competed for with first up the Amlin and a visit to France and new boys Grenoble. They had an easy win against Viadana 40-7. This was an amazing game if only for the fact the half-time score was 40-7, making the second half a stale mate. The Heineken Cup featured two games on Friday, with Saracens Toulouse a hard fought tight affair that Saracens let slip in the rain. This game cried out for control but in front of 61,000 plus the Saracens did not have it. Given that Owen Farrell’s direction was off he did help to kick Sarries into a 13-7 half-time lead. SO although they did not get the result this low scorer was an exciting evening for the fans of both teams. Leicester next and a simple task for the Tigers to despatch Benetton Treviso. Half time in front of a good crowd of nearly 20,000 Tigers stretched to 13-0 half time and then to the final score of 34-3.
Saturday and the rest of the Amlin games were played out with six of the Heineken. First to the Amlin and Rugby Mogliano hosting Bordeaux Begles and going down 20-32. Half time and it was already 3-13 as Begles stretched their muscles. The second half and the score moved on to 20-32. Though Bordeaux could not get to the elusive bonus point. Next to Lusitanos XV who went down 6-67 to London Irish. The Portugese club had a disappointing crowd of some 1500 who saw them already down 6-20 at the break. I Cavalieri Prato hosted Stade Francais Paris and did well to only lose 16-17. Here was another poor 1500 crowd who saw their team winning the first half 3-0. Next up and more normal service was resumed with Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque 26-6 Oyonnax. This was unexpected given Biarritz form to date. Having had a French clash we now move to England and another side who would die for a win but it was not to be as Worcester Warriors 15-29 Sale Sharks. The Warriors did close the gap in the second half as the score at half time was 3-24. next to Bath and the visit of Newport Gwent Dragons. This was a 26-10 win to Bath in front of a good crowd of almost 12,000. Half time here was 10-10 so the sixteen unanswered points were important for Bath.
Bucharest Wolves versus Cammi Rugby Calvisano in the Stadium Arcul de Triumf but with just 1100 spectators. This was a home win 37-15. Last of the Amlin was Brive Newcastle Falcons Brive winning this 23-16. The home side led 13-5 at the break having been 0-5 early on. The second period saw Falcons take the lead again. But Brive had to much in the tank and ultimately came out on top.
So to Saturday’s Heineken games. As mentioned there were six and the first Cardiff Blues Toulon was a corker with the Blues sneaking home 19-15 thanks to a last gasp try. The scores having been level at 6-6 at the break. next up and Zebre took on Connacht and went down 6-33 in front of 2,000. Zebre were in trouble at half-time with the score at 3-19. Connacht mightily pleased to claim their first win. Next we go to Leinster and a visit from Castres. Leinster put on a show in front of 18,000 plus winning 19-7. Having been just 9-7 up at the break. With their away win this puts Leinster in a strong position to take the pool. Montpellier next and Ulster the visitors. This was a bad day for Montpellier who lost 8-25. Ulster continued their good form always staying in control, having been 3-7 at at the break.
Next we move to Wales and Scarlets who drew 26-26 with Racing Métro 92. This one was 20-10 at the break and all looking good for Scarlets but it was not to be. Last up on Saturday and Munster welcomed Gloucester with a 26-10 victory having been 16-10 at the break. This victory puts them one point behind Perpignan.
Here are all the results we called two wrong with Toulon going down and Scarlets drawing.
Heineken Results Round Two
FRi 18 Oct 19:45 P3 Saracens 16-17v Toulouse Wembley Stadium Sky Sports
FRi 18 Oct 20:00 P5 Leicester Tigers 34-3 Benetton Treviso Welford Road Sky Sports
Sat 19 Oct 13:35 P2 Cardiff Blues 19-15 Toulon Cardiff Arms Park Sky Sports
Sat 19 Oct 14:35 P3 Zebre 6-33 Connacht Rugby Stadio XXV Aprile Sky Italia
Sat 19 Oct 15:40 P1 Leinster Rugby 19-7 Castres Olympique RDS Sky Sports
Sat 19 Oct 16:40 P5 Montpellier 8-25 Ulster Stade Yves-du-Manoir (Montpellier) France 2
Sat 19 Oct 18:00 P4 Scarlets 26-26 Racing Métro 92 Parc y Scarlets Sky Sports
Sat 19 Oct 18:00 P6 Munster 26-10 Gloucester Thomond Park Sky Sports
Sun 20 Oct 12:45 P1 Northampton Saints 27-16 Ospreys Franklin’s Gardens Sky Sports
Sun 20 Oct 13:45 P6 Perpignan 31-14 Edinburgh Stade Aimé Giral Canal +
Sun 20 Oct 14:00 P2 Glasgow Warriors 20-16 Exeter Chiefs Scotstoun Stadium
Sun 20 Oct 16:00 P4 ASM Clermont Auvergne 23-16 Harlequins Stade Marcel Michelin France 2
So week three fixtures and what do we think? Lets start with Friday night and we are going for both home sides to win. So Cardiff Blues and Castres Olympique. Saturday Toulon and Saracens to win away. Then a batch of home wins with Clermont, Racing Metro 92, Northampton Saints and Ulster.
Sunday four games and tough calls but we will go with Munster, Edinburgh, Leicester Tigers and Toulouse.
Here are all the Heineken Games for Round Three and our picks in BOLD.
Round Three Fixtures:
All Times Local
FRi 06 Dec 20:00 P2 Cardiff Blues v Glasgow Warriors Cardiff Arms Park Sky Sports
FRi 06 Dec 21:00 P1 Castres Olympique v Ospreys Stade Pierre Antoine Canal +
Sat 07 Dec 13:35 P2 Exeter Chiefs v Toulon Sandy Park Stadium Sky Sports
Sat 07 Dec 14:35 P3 Zebre v Saracens Stadio XXV Aprile Sky Italia
Sat 07 Dec 14:35 P4 ASM Clermont Auvergne v Scarlets Stade Marcel Michelin Canal +
Sat 07 Dec 16:40 P4 Racing Métro 92 v Harlequins Stade de la Beaujoire France 2
Sat 07 Dec 18:00 P1 Northampton Saints v Leinster Rugby Franklin’s Gardens Sky Sports
Sat 07 Dec 18:00 P5 Ulster Rugby v Benetton Treviso Ravenhill Sky Sports
Sun 08Dec 12:45 P6 Munster Rugby v Perpignan Thomond Park Sky Sports
Sun 08Dec 13:00 P6 Edinburgh Rugby v Gloucester Rugby Murrayfield
Sun 08Dec 15:00 P5 Leicester Tigers v Montpellier Welford Road Sky Sports
Sun 08Dec 16:00 P3 Toulouse v Connacht Rugby Stade Ernest Wallon France 2
Here are all the results from round two of the Amlin Cup. We have made our comments in the heading paragraph of our reviews. We called just one incorrectly and that was the Falcons going down to Brive. That was a tough ask for them.
Here are all the results:
Results Amlin Round Two
All Times Local
Thu 17 Oct 19:45 P4 London Wasps 26-10 Bayonne Adams Park Stadium Sky Sports
Fri 18 Oct 19:30 P4 Grenoble 40-7 Viadana Stade Lesdiguières
Sat 19 Oct 15:00 P5 Lusitanos XV 6-67 London Irish Estádio Nacional
Sat 19 Oct 14:00 P2 Rugby Mogliano 20-32 Bordeaux-Begles Stadio Comunale Maurizio Quaggia
Sat 19 Oct 14:00 P5 I Cavalieri Prato 16-17 Stade Francais Paris Stadio Enrico Chersoni
Sat 19 Oct 15:00 P1 Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque 26-6 Oyonnax Parc des Sports Aguiléra
Sat 19 Oct 15:00 P1 Worcester Warriors 15-29 Sale Sharks Sixways Stadium
Sat 19 Oct 15:00 P2 Bath 26-10 Newport Gwent Dragons Recreation Ground
Sat 19 Oct 15:00 P3 Bucharest Wolves 37-15 Cammi Rugby Calvisano Stadium Arcul de Triumf
Sat 19 Oct 21:00 P3 Brive 23-16 Newcastle Falcons Stade Amédée-Domenech France 4
Round three of the Amlin and here are our thoughts on the winners and losers. The two Thursady night games Worcester Warriors should clock up their first win, whilst Sale Sharks should win away. Friday and we will go with both home teams, Newport to beat Begles and Bayonne Viadana. Saturday and Bath, Lusitanos, Brive and London Wasps to all win away. Sunday Newcastle Falcons to win and Stade Francais to turn Irish over at home.
So follows the Amlin fixtures and our picks, again in BOLD:
Fixtures Round Three:
All Times Local
Thu 05 Dec 19:45 P1 Worcester Warriors v Biarritz Olympique Pays Basque Sixways Stadium Sky Sports
Thu 05 Dec 20:45 P1 Oyonnax v Sale Sharks Stade Charles Mathon Eurosport
Fri 06 Dec 19:15 P2 Newport Gwent Dragons v Bordeaux-Begles Rodney Parade
Fri 06 Dec 20:00 P4 Bayonne v Viadana Stade Jean-Dauger
Sat 07 Dec 14:00 P2 Rugby Mogliano v Bath Stadio Comunale Maurizio Quaggia
Sat 07 Dec 14:00 P5 I Cavalieri Prato v Lusitanos XV Stadio Enrico Chersoni
Sat 07 Dec 15:00 P3 Bucharest Wolves v Brive Stadium Arcul de Triumf
Sat 07 Dec 21:00 P4 Grenoble v London Wasps Stade Lesdiguières France 4
Sun 08 Dec 15:00 P3 Newcastle Falcons v Cammi Rugby Calvisano Kingston Park Stadium
Sun 08 Dec 15:00 P5 London Irish v Stade Francais Paris Madejski Stadium