Heineken/Amlin Challenge Cup Fun

I know there is a long way to go, and this will look vastly different come Sunday night, but after the round one fixtures in both competitions, the quarter final contests would look like this...

Heineken Cup

Saracens vs. Toulouse
ASM Clermont Auvergne vs. Northampton Saints
Harlequins vs. Toulon
Ulster Rugby vs. Ospreys


Amlin Challenge Cup

Worcester Warriors vs. Bath Rugby
Bayonne vs. Leinster
Grenoble vs. Racing Metro 92
London Irish vs. Connacht


Just as a bit of FUN (the clue is in the title), I would be chuffed with this scenario. Three English teams in the Heineken quarters, my own London irish at home to Connacht in the Amlin would be craicing, and I would be roaring Ulster on the Heino, with Toulon my second favourites.

How would fans of the other clubs feel about this draw?

Leinster in the amlin?! Baths hope of some silverware would take a serious dent if that happened! Seriously though with my English hat on I'd be very happy with those teams going through, would be hopeful of at least one english h cup semi finalist.

You have to wonder how seriously Leinster would take the Amlin if they did end up dropping into it.

Quins v Toulon- That would be a mental game. At least we wouldn't be going away to them but still

I'd prefer Ulster or Ospreys.

Yappysnapp

I'd take Toulon over Ulster any day of the week trhe way their playing.
I think Ulster are going to be real competition to win it this year!

Leinster would (I feel) go all out for Pro12 title if they fell into the Amlin. I mean to say, I think they'd then play their lesser players in the Amlin and give the Pro12 to their big guns.

Ulster are on a roll... haven't lost any game so far this season. Don't think any side would wisely look for them as preferential opponents just now. Of course, the whole map could all change by the end of Sunday as the OP suggested.

I really have a feeling Ospreys too will have a big say in this year's competition.

thebluesmancometh wrote:Yappysnapp

I'd take Toulon over Ulster any day of the week trhe way their playing.
I think Ulster are going to be real competition to win it this year!

Difficult to compare as they're both in different leagues. Both teams have weaknesses but both have shown that they can be deadly!

Actually from that list I don't think there's any team there that I'd bank on Quins beating except Saints, such a strong competition this.

Having just had it pointed out me elsewhere that points difference isn't the first decider if teams from different pools have the same number of pool points, my OP is incorrect and the draw would in fact look like this...

HC

Clermont v Sale
Sarries v Saints
Toulon v Ospreys
Quins v Ulster


Amlin

Worcs v Bath
Bayonne v Racing
Grenoble v Connacht
Irish v Toulouse


Leinster being the only winning side that didn't cross the try line would be out of Europe altogether, and yappy would get his wish of Quins facing Ulster!!!

I took that back!!!!

Clermont would be laughing... Very tough for O's and Saints

I'd be interested to see what sort of side Toulouse would send over to us for and Amlin QF.

And as per the OP, it's all change after round 2, with the QF draws looking like this with current standings...

Heino

ASM Clermont Auvergne vs. Munster
Saracens vs. Leinster
Harlequins vs. Toulouse
Toulon vs. Ulster


Amlin

Worcester Warriors vs. Stade Francais
London Irish vs. Ospreys
London Wasps vs. Biarritz Olympique
Bath Rugby vs. Northampton Saints

this will look very different after the Dedcember double headers of course.

there are some seismic encounters due:

Saracens/Munster
Leinster/Clermont
Toulouse/Ospreys
Ulster/Saints

Meanwhile Quins (and tigers) face Italian sides and should move up the rankings ahead of the final two rounds.

another bit of fun:

Ireland, 4 clubs, 27pts - 6.75 per club
France, 7 clubs, 44pts - 6.29 per club
England, 6 clubs, 34pts - 5.67 per club
Wales, 3 clubs, 7pts - 2.33 per club
Scotland and Italy, 2 clubs each, 0pts.

LondonTiger wrote:this will look very different after the Dedcember double headers of course.

there are some seismic encounters due:

Saracens/Munster
Leinster/Clermont
Toulouse/Ospreys
Ulster/Saints

Meanwhile Quins (and tigers) face Italian sides and should move up the rankings ahead of the final two rounds.

These 4 match-ups are seriously good. I wouldn't wager on any of them. But will make for great Rugby.

LondonTiger wrote:another bit of fun:

Ireland, 4 clubs, 27pts - 6.75 per club
France, 7 clubs, 44pts - 6.29 per club
England, 6 clubs, 34pts - 5.67 per club
Wales, 3 clubs, 7pts - 2.33 per club
Scotland and Italy, 2 clubs each, 0pts.

I think we should capitulate to the Anglo-Franco alliance on the dismantling of the HEC right away and just award the the trophy based on which union is ahead.

So that would be....Ireland!

Now that we've sorted that out, which Irish team should we give it to?

I suppose it had better be the Irish team with the most points.

Now, which one is that I wonder?



Thanks lads! Couldn't have done it without ya!