Next May will mark five years since an Irish province won the European Cup. Will the wait continue or does an Irish side have a fighter’s chance?
All four Irish provinces are dining at the top table and their supporters are approaching the upcoming fixtures with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation.
Here’s how we feel each province will get on.
LEINSTER
Opening fixture: Castres (H)
Crucial game: Montpellier (A) on October 23. Get eight points out of the opening two fixtures and Leinster can realistically target topping this pool.
Chances: The best of all the Irish provinces. Leinster have most of their best players fit and with game-time under the belt. Had a disaster in Europe last season but their pool is far from daunting. The December games against Northampton Saints will test them severely.
Top the group and there is a good chance they can reach the semis off the back of a quarter final win at the Aviva Stadium. After that, anything is possible but winning the whole lot is unlikely.
CONNACHT
Opening fixture: Toulouse (H)
Crucial game: Their opening fixture against the French giants. Win that and take down Zebre (away) next and momentum will have been established ahead of two dangerous games against Wasps.
Chances: Decent enough. Connacht could advance by taking maximum points off Zebre, winning their home games and getting bonus points in Toulouse and Coventry. Wasps are the pool favourites but there’s no reason – bar a straining squad – why Connacht can’t advance too.
ULSTER
Opening fixture: Bordeaux (A)
Crucial game: Same as Connacht – their opening game. Few will give Ulster much chance of getting out of Stade Marcel Michelin with a win so, if they want to top their group, toppling Bordeaux would give them every chance. Each team should take points of each other so a statement win away from home may prove key.
Chances: It’s going to be very tough but it is not hopeless. Ulster are looking good, so far this season, under Les Kiss but they are already hampered by injuries. No easy match in this pool, unless Bordeaux are out of the loop by round six.
MUNSTER
Opening fixture: Racing 92 (A)
Crucial game: Leicester Tigers (A) on December 17. An opening round win is a steep ask but Munster will be realistically looking at coming into this game off the back of two home wins. Successive victories over their old rivals could revive them.
Chances: Slim. The two-time champions are in a dog of a group and they have looked horribly inconsistent in the Guinness PRO12. That being said, if Munster can push Racing close in Paris and get two wins at Thomond Park in their opening three fixtures, they will get the scent of glory again.
PREDICTED QUARTER FINALISTS
- Racing 92
- Wasps
- Toulouse
- Toulon
- Saracens
- Leinster
- Clermont Auvergne
- Ulster
On the latest episode of the GAA Hour, Wooly chats to new Meath boss Andy McEntee about the flawed Dublin Championship and catches up with new Clare joint manager Donal Moloney. Listen below or subscribe on iTunes.
