Heineken Cup 2009 Pool 6 Fixtures and Preview
Brive, Leinster, London Irish, The Scarlets
Oct 7, 2009
Leinster seem to have a good group from which to launch their Heineken Cup defence, but they are missing some key personnel, which must weaken them.
Heineken Cup Brive
Brive won the Heineken Cup back in 1996 in the competition’s second season, but since then they were relegated from the Top 14 and have only recently become a force again.
This season hasn’t been easy for them and they sit in the bottom half of the table with only three wins from their nine league matches. Their most recent result was a 44-19 stuffing to the glamour boys of Stade Francais.
A team traditionally built around robust forward play, they will relish playing against their opponents, all of whom are more renowned for open running rugby. If they are to succeed in this pool, they will have dragged their opponents into an arm wrestle.
Brive are likely to be the stereotypical French team, dominant on their own patch but unless they are in with a strong chance of qualification will not perform on the road.
Players to watch: Alix Popham will relish playing against his old club the Scarlets. Riki Flutey when he returns from injury.
Heineken Cup Leinster
Last season’s champions Leinster finally came out from under the shadow of their bitter rivals Munster, defeating them comprehensively in a pulsating semi final. They will look to rub it in by defending their title this season.
The men from Dublin 4 are missing two key components from their side last year. Playmaker Felipe Contepome, who missed the final through injury has left for pastures new and flanker Rocky Elsom, man of the match in the final and a force of nature throughout the tournament has returned down under.
However, they still have plenty of class in their ranks, mainly focused in a back division boasting Rob Kearney, Gordon D’Arcy and of course Brian O’Driscoll. The question is can the forwards give them enough ball?
Players to watch: The incomparable Brian O’Driscoll and the broken play running of Rob Kearney from full back or wing.
Heineken Cup London Irish
Irish made the final of the Guinness Premiership last year, losing comfortably to Leicester Tigers. The question is, how much of their success was down to the irrepressible Mike Catt? Now that he's finally hung up his boots, wiil the Irish still have that spark?
They’ve certainly started well this season, winning their last four matches after a narrow loss to Saracens in the opening fixture and they sit second in the Guinness Premiership.
Given their form, they look the biggest threat to Pool favourites Leinster.
Players to watch: winger Topsy Ojo and outside half Ryan Lamb, newly transferred from Gloucester.
Heineken Cup The Scarlets
Semi finalists three seasons ago, the Scarlets of Llanell didn’t win a game in 2008, spluttered in a 2009 season that saw them decimated with injuries and don’t look much better this season.
Now firmly established in their new Parc y Scarlets ground, they have a very young squad who are finding life at the top level difficult. Lions outside half Stephen Jones is a steadying influence, but their pack is nowhere near good enough to provide some talented backs with the ball to win matches.
They may be a threat if the game breaks up and the weather is good, but if it’s raining, they may as well pack up and go home. This could be a long Heineken Cup for the Scarlets and it will take more than the spirit of Ray Gravell to see them through.
Players to watch: Outside half Stephen Jones, possibly the best in the Northern Hemisphere, Jonathan Davies, a young centre far bigger than his famous namesake, but looks to be a very good prospect.
Heineken Cup Pool 6 Fixtures
9th Oct ’09 20:00 Leinster v London Irish – Royal Dublin Showground
10th Oct ’09 15:00 Scarlets v Brive – Parc y Scarlets
17th Oct ’09 15:00 London Irish v Scarlets – Madjeski Stadium
17th Oct ’09 16:45 Brive v Leinster – Stade Municipal
12th Dec ’09 18:00 Scarlets v Leinster – Parc y Scarlets
12th Dec ’09 19:00 Brive v London Irish – Stade Municipal
19th Dec ’09 15:00 London Irish v Brive – Madjeski Stadium
19th Dec ’09 14:35 Leinster v Scarlets – Royal Dublin Showground
15/16/17 Jan ’10 Leinster v Brive – Royal Dublin Showground
15/16/17 Jan ’10 Scarlets v London Irish – Parc y Scarlets
22/23/24 Jan ’10 Brive v Scarlets – Stade Municipal
22/23/24 Jan ’10 London Irish v Leinster – Madjeski Stadium
Leinster to qualify with ease.
Heineken Cup Pool 5 review and fixtures
