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Three tricky home ties
Leinster v Leicester Tigers
RDS, Saturday, 1.30pm
It will be a case of friends reunited at the RDS on Saturday afternoon
as old pals square-up in this Heineken Cup clash.
Leicester full-back Geordan Murphy will meet up with his Irish international
colleagues for the first time since the World Cup while Leinster forward
Shane Jennings will face his former Leicester colleagues for the first
time.
Leinster’s form has been patchy thus far this season and the retirement
of Denis Hickey has weakened their fabled attacking unit.
Leicester enjoyed a memorable campaign last season, winning the Powergen
Cup and losing out in the Heineken Cup final. They are likely to welcome
back a host of their England international contingent for this game including
Martin Corry, George Chuter and Daniel Hipkiss.
Although they can never be written off it is hard to see Micheal Cheika’s
men getting anything from this game.
Ulster v Gloucester
Ravenhill, Friday, 7.15pm
Struggling Ulster will be hopeful of getting something from this clash
with English outfit Gloucester.
Mark McCall’s Ulster traditionally start their season strongly but
the opposite has been the case this year, with the result that McCall
is likely to jettison some of the younger players who have been the core
of their team in recent seasons and replace them with veterans such as
David Humphreys at out-half and Trevor Philpot.
Gloucester have made considerable progress in recent seasons, and they
currently top the English Premiership after six games. Former All-Black
Jeremy Paul signed for the West Country side in the summer and adds some
class to an experienced pack while the England international James Simpson-Daniel
is the man who Ulster fans will fear the most as Gloucester’s main
attacking force.
At the top of their game Ulster would expect to beat Gloucester and as
they are starting to hit top form they should get their Heineken Cup campaign
off to a winning start
Connacht v Brieve
Brieve, Friday, 7.30pm
Connacht open their European Shield campaign hoping that their expensively
assembled squad will be able to launch a genuine title challenge.
Micheal Bradley has spent big in the close season with former Australian
international 7s player Tim Donnelly the principal new addition while
Irish international Gavin Duffy and Johnny O’Connor have plenty
of experience.
Brieve are a side with few household names, drawing many of their international
players from countries such as Canada, and Connacht have faced far tougher
opponents than the French outfit in recent weeks.
The IRFU will be hoping that their investment in Connacht rugby will pay
off, and the first dividend should arrive on Friday with a victory. |
