Heineken Cup 2009 Pool 5 Fixtures and Preview

Cardiff Blues, Harlequins, Sale Sharks, Toulouse

Oct 7, 2009

Cardiff Blues lost agonizingly in the semis last year, Toulouse are always a threat. Quins are recovering from the 'BloodGate' affair and Sale Sharks can cause problems.

When the draw was made, Heineken Cup pool 5 looked a very strong group, with two of last year’s semi finalists, a quarter finalist and a previously strong Guinness Premiership side. However, a year is a long time in rugby as well as politics.

Toulouse have had a mediocre start to the season, lying 5th in the Top 14. The Blues have been hit by key injuries, loss of personnel and have started the season poorly. Harlequins appear to still be in shock after last season’s semi final and the fallout of the fake blood injury scandal and Sale Sharks have only one a single game all season.

Heineken Cup Cardiff Blues

Last year, The Blues went through the pool stages unbeaten narrowly beat Toulouse in the quarters and then lost the first ever penalty shootout in rugby history when they were level after extra time with Leicester.

The British Lions squad had a significant number of Blues players and that may have taken its toll. Firstly they have lost two of their best players to long-term injuries gained on that tour. Flanker Martyn Williams, who missed the fateful kick against Leicester, and prop Gethin Jenkins who was such a revelation in South Africa have both had surgery.

Arguably, their biggest loss is outside half Nicky Robinson, who was so instrumental in their run last year. Robinson has defected to Gloucester and the two replacements Ceri Sweeney and Australian Sam Norton-Knight don’t look to be anywhere near as influential.

Players to watch: Jamie Roberts, Lions player of the tour in South Africa, Leigh Halfpenny, a Lions tourist at the age of 19 and destined to be one of the greats.

Heineken Cup Harlequins

With a run to the semi-final last year, where they narrowly lost to eventual winners Leinster, Harlequins should be licking their lips at the chance to go one better.

Instead, their coach Dean Richards and several of their staff have resigned in the wake of one of the most bizarre scandals in rugby history. Harlequins were found guilty of faking an injury with theatrical blood so that they could get their kicker back on to try and sneak a win in the semi final.

‘Quins don’t appear to have recovered from the trials and tribulations of the summer and have got off to a dreadful start this season, hovering near the bottom of the Guinness Premiership with only a single win.

Players to watch: Assuming the answer isn’t all of them to make sure there are no fake blood injuries, Ugo Monye, dangerous winger and Nick Easter in the back row.

Heineken Cup Sale Sharks

Sale Sharks have no real Heineken Cup pedigree with a single quarter final to their name in the history of the competition. Given the lack of form of the others in this pool, they would be looking to make the quarters again, but they are also struggling with a single win to their name this year.

There looks to be too much class in Toulouse and at the Blues for them to keep playing mediocre rugby. The same cannot be said about Sale, so coach Jason Robinson will need to find the sort of spark he had as a player for them to progress.

Players to watch: Andrew Sheridan man mountain at prop and scrum half Dwayne Peel, forgotten man of the Welsh team who’ll be desperate to oust Mike Phillips in the Autumn internationals.

Heineken Cup Toulouse

Winners of the Heineken Cup a record three times, Toulouse were the only French team to qualify for the knockout stages last year. There they lost to the Blues in a tight game at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.

They have had a mediocre start to the Top 14 this year, sitting in 5th position with 5 wins out of 9, but given the form of the others in the group, they must fancy themselves as favourites to qualify from pool 5.

In Guy Noves, they have a master tactician as coach and no-one will relish the trip to the South of France.

Players to watch: Star studded squad with ex All Black scrum half Byron Kelleher and French international star Yannick Jauzion standing out.

Heineken Cup Pool 5 Fixtures

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