Henson's Opsreys play host to Gloucester in the battle of the entertainers

Heineken Cup / Geoffrey Riddle / 11 January 2008 / Leave a Comment

The Racing Post's Geoffrey Riddle previews the three biggest clashes from this weekend's Heineken Cup

Leinster [2.3] v Toulouse [1.68] Draw [16.5]

Traditionally, things used to be pretty tight whenever Toulouse came to Ireland, but in their last two visits to the Emerald Isle, they have been thumped. Ulster annihilated them 30-3 in 2006, and when Leinster hosted them in 2001, the Dubliners beat them 40-10.

Leinster also have a fine record against raiding French sides, repelling 11 of the 14 such teams who have had the temerity to turn up in Dublin.

Leinster coach Michael Cheika has the benefit of being able to call upon some of his best backs in the shape of Brian O'Driscoll, who looks to be regaining form after his poor World Cup campaign, as well as Gordon D'Arcy and Felipe Contepomi. Keith Gleeson, Malcolm O'Kelly and streetwise former Leicester lock Leo Cullen should bulk up the forwards in what will be an epic and decisive contest up front.

Betfair punters have taken it upon themselves to make Toulouse favourites however, with the Irishmen trading at odds-against for the match at the RDS.

And it is not as if Leinster are struggling. They sit top of the Magners League having gained 33 points from their ten league matches. We all know that this is hardly an indication of a great side, such is the lamentable commitment that Irish teams often display when going about their domestic chores, but it does show they are in good heart right now.

Many will point to Toulouse's 33-6 dismantling of Leinster in France in round two as an indication of the Irish side's chances. You only have to look at Leicester's efforts however, in the Stade Municipal, where they lost 22-11 this season, to see that that the reverse fixture can often be very different. The Tigers beat the Frenchmen 14-9 at Welford Road.

And that could be the crux of the matter. Punters will have noticed that Toulouse sit top of the French league, and have come to the conclusion that the top French side is a 1.68 chance to beat the best that the Magners League currently has to offer.

Ospreys [1.69] v Gloucester [2.22] Draw [23]

This is one of the match-ups of the entire Pool stage. Both Gloucester and the Ospreys play some of the best, and most entertaining rugby in Europe at the moment, and Gloucester will be looking to continue their 100 per cent record in the competition at the Liberty Stadium.

Gloucester's defeat at Bath on a muddy, sodden pitch last Friday has seen the Welsh side shade favouritism at around [1.69].
And looking at their results against English teams, that is probably a fair reflection of their chances.

Since coming together as a region, the Ospreys have played 19 matches against English sides, losing seven, which is mirrored by the fact that only three English teams won in Wales in 2007 from 11 attempts.

True, Gloucester were one of those sides who came back from the principality with a victory, but their dour 13-11 success against the Dragons in the Anglo-Welsh Cup will not be good enough to win in Swansea.

Ospreys coach Lyn Jones has named his strongest starting line-up with Gavin Henson operating in between fellow Welsh internationals Sonny Parker and James Hook in the three-quarters.

Gloucester won the tie at Kingsholm 26-18, but perhaps crucially, Jones can call upon Ryan Jones at blind-side flanker and fleet-footed winger Shane Williams, who both missed that clash.

The Cherry and Whites are surely the best team in Europe at the moment, but on their day, and with their best side out, the Welsh region is not far off, and they are rightly favourites in the match market.

Clermont [1.33] v Munster [3.3] Draw [21]

The romantics will be siding with Munster on the handicap here. The Irish province have been a standing dish in this tournament and their jaunts both across the Irish Sea, and to France have reaped both jubilant reward and painful loss.

They have had some notable successes on the road - their 21-19 defeat of Leicester last season stands out - but they have often come up short as well. A one-point loss to Wasps in round one this season was agonising, as were the single-figure defeats to Biarritz, Castres, Wasps, Toulouse, Stade Francais and Leicester over the years.

That is a serious cast of Heineken Cup heavyweights, including three champions, and it is precisely this reason that Munster may be worth an investment in the handicap market if it nudges double-figures.

Big-spending Clermont have assembled an impressive group of mercenaries down in the Auvergne, and although they have the mantle of European Challenge Cup champions, they face a fierce test against the seasoned Irish veterans.

It took Munster five attempts to win in France in this competition before Colomiers finally succumbed 31-15 in 1999, and since they recorded their maiden victory there, Munster actually average a positive points supremacy.

For so long Munster have searched for a true tryscorer to put the gild on their more prosaic, workmanlike efforts. Despite his previous track record, Christian Cullen never really did it for them, but in former All Black Doug Howlett, they have someone who has the application, and ability, to make a real difference.