Heineken Cup - bring it on!

Ah its back - the Heineken Cup - a competition that I have poured money into over the years, and continue to do so!! And we kick off tonight with the holders and all-round decentskin D4 lads Leinster hosting exiles London Irish. A mouth watering tie expected - BOD, Lukie, Shaggy, Nathan Hines, Jonny Sexton and Nacewa against Bob Casy & Co! Hopefully a home win and a good game. Tomorrow sees troubled Munster take on Northampton at Franklin Gardens - but expect the bruised Reds to come through and stake their claim as Ireland's second best team. Ulster take on Bath - who have come down from their recent high! So we could have 3 Irish wins out of 3 - hopefully. So sit back and enjoy a feast of rugby over the coming 6 months or so!

Is this the pool stages or what? How are my beloved Ulster (the first Irish province to win the HC) going to do this year?

RMDrive wrote:Is this the pool stages or what? How are my beloved Ulster (the first Irish province to win the HC) going to do this year?

Aye RMD - start of Pool stages. Lot of quiet confidence among Ulster folk - I fear it is misplaced! Not the worst group but Stade Francais are a formidable bunch and I fear Ulster will not get out of pool. Incidentally the ONLY time Ulster got out of their Pool was 1998/99.

Indeed Ulster were the first Irish province to win the Heino in a 16 team competition with no English participation.

Word is Tommy Bowe will be making a return to Ulster next year, he'll be the final piece in the jigsaw and lead Ulster back to HC glory! Ulster have a grand aul team, just have no depth in the panel.

mid-mon man wrote:Word is Tommy Bowe will be making a return to Ulster next year, he'll be the final piece in the jigsaw and lead Ulster back to HC glory! Ulster have a grand aul team, just have no depth in the panel.

Please don't let Tommy sing if ye win MMM!!!

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

mid-mon man wrote:Word is Tommy Bowe will be making a return to Ulster next year, he'll be the final piece in the jigsaw and lead Ulster back to HC glory! Ulster have a grand aul team, just have no depth in the panel.

Please don't let Tommy sing if ye win MMM!!!

Ah sure there's no holding that lad back once he has a few jars! If the rest of the team sang along for a change it might be an improvement though! Doubt this will be an issue anyway!

Apparently the whole joke was on Tommy from the rest of the lads - they hung him out to dry!

Aye sure he didn't have a clue about it, even Des was in on it! He thought they were going to join in but they never did!

Hard to believe it was 10 years ago since Ulster won the HC, granted it was a smaller competition back then in terms of teams but it was still a magnificent performance from them.

I really dont think they have the players to pull off any major surprises this year but they have a new coach at the helm in Brian Mc Laughlin and Humphries is in there with some role or other so you never know what they might do.

I used to love watchin the HC on a friday evening after school on RTE. Its a pity it was lost to sky.

Gunit wrote:I used to love watchin the HC on a friday evening after school on RTE. Its a pity it was lost to sky.

Absolutely true Gunit. Sick as a dog that Leinster lost at home this evening ... to an English team ... - don't care if they are 'half' Irish! Well done Ulster - sorted out those coke heads!!

Jayo Cluxton wrote:

Gunit wrote:I used to love watchin the HC on a friday evening after school on RTE. Its a pity it was lost to sky.

Absolutely true Gunit. Sick as a dog that Leinster lost at home this evening ... to an English team ... - don't care if they are 'half' Irish! Well done Ulster - sorted out those coke heads!!

was looking at the odds on PP before the matches started - no value for money there at all, in most matches both teams were the same odds 10/11

"London Irish serious title contenders" according the the BBC. Would like to see Muster go all the way again but don't think it's their year really. Actually IMO any Irish champion looks to be a bit far off at the moment.