Edinburgh’s Matt Scott tries to escape the clutches of Munster’s Conor Murray
in Saturday night’s upset win at Murrayfield

by Paul Cook –

There’s still five rounds to go and plenty of time for the stagger to unwind but there will be more than a couple of clubs already looking nervously ahead at a potential early exit after the opening weekend of this year’s Heineken Cup threw up some interesting results.

Of the more fancied teams to hold the famous trophy aloft for perhaps one last time at season’s end, Leicester, Northampton, Clermont Auvergne and Perpignan all came unstuck but the biggest shock came at Murrayfield where Edinburgh upset Munster, who currently sit ten places above them in the Pro 12 ladder and had already beaten the Edinburghians back in the first game of the season.

However, despite coming into this clash on the back of only one win from five matches, there was a school of thought that suggested Edinburgh’s results hadn’t truly reflected their performances and as captain Greig Laidlaw explained, the 29-23 win wasn’t the by-product of any radical change in their approach.

“We played the same game plan as the first five games – we just did it with more accuracy and more control,” he said. “It’s always important to start well in the Heineken Cup and win your home games. I thought the boys were outstanding.”

The other game in Pool 6 saw Gloucester recover from a first minute try from Perpignan’s James Hook to overcome their more fancied French opposition at Kingsholm, a late try from winger Jonny May securing a 27-22 triumph. Perpignan now have the chance to bounce back against a rejuvenated Edinburgh this weekend.

Leinster scrumhalf Isaac Boss clears from the ruck against Ospreys in a gritty win for the visitors

Pool One looks like living up to it’s pre-tournament ‘Pool of Death’ billing as the highly fancied Northampton fell short for the third time in four years away to French Top 14 champions Castres while Leinster came away with the chocolates from their visit to South Wales to face the Ospreys.

Northampton’s early form this season has many tipping them to go far on both the European and domestic fronts but even the newly acquired talents of Lions duo George North and Alex Corbisiero couldn’t save them in the South of France. They went down 19-13 but that all important bonus point could be worth it’s weight in gold by the end of the qualifying stages.

Leinster are yet to fully fire in the Pro 12 under incoming coach Matt O’Connor, who has replaced new Ireland head honcho Joe Schmidt, and they had to be at their best to repel a dangerous Ospreys side, desperately keen to become the first Welsh team to lift Europe’s most prestigious trophy at the 19th attempt.

Defence was the order of the day as the home side dominated the ball carrying and offload stats but after soaking up sustained periods of pressure it was the visitors who bagged the only try of the game through combative Lions openside Sean O’Brien, who walked off with the man-of-the-match honours as well.

Two-time champions Leicester also opened their campaign with a loss at the hands of Ulster in Pool 5, going down 22-16 at a raucous Ravenhill in Belfast. However, the losing bonus point will soften the blow and the same can be said for last year’s runners-up, Clermont Auvergne, who went down 13-9 at a Jonny Sexton inspired Racing Métro 92 in Pool 4.

Matt Giteau crossed twice for Toulon in their 51-28 win over Glasgow Warriors at Stade Mayol

By far the most impressive statement of intent – for 40 minutes at least – was from reigning champions Toulon, who racked up a half-century against the previously unbeaten Glasgow Warriors at the Stade Mayol. With Jonny Wilkinson guiding them around the park with customary aplomb, the home side streaked out to a 34-0 lead by the break, helped by a double from French international Maxime Mermoz but the Warriors weren’t going to die wondering.

Understandably shellshocked, the Pro 12 pacesetters can take much credit for regrouping in the second half to restore pride with a four try bonus point and issue a reminder to the talent laden title holders that they won’t be allowed to simply cruise through this pool in second gear. However, with Frederic Michalak on hand to replace an injured Wilkinson, Drew Mitchell only worthy of a place on the bench and the recently arrived Bryan Habana watching from the stands, there is a worrying amount of premium grade fuel still left in the tank for le Toulonnais.

Pool 3 went to form with both Saracens and Toulouse getting off the mark over Connacht and Zebre respectively, although Sarries were made to work hard for their 23-17 success by their less vaunted Irish opponents. Montpellier lead Pool 5 after their win on the road in Italy against Benetton Treviso and Exeter Chiefs showed why they may well be a surprise packet in Pool 2 after thumping Cardiff Blues – Sam Warburton, Alex Cuthbert, Leigh Halfpenny et al – 41-29. There was one Welsh victory over the weekend though, as Scarlets piled some more misery onto an indifferent start to the season by Harlequins with a 33-26 victory at The Stoop giving them the fledgling top spot in Pool 4.

With 52 tries across 12 matches, an average of 46pts per game and total attendance figures in the region of 120,000 people in six different countries, the opening weekend of the Heineken Cup has given the perfect example of exactly why this competition or a competition of equal stature, must never be allowed to disappear from the European rugby scene.

AS THEY STAND (Teams highlighted in red are in the current qualifying positions)

RESULTS:

Pool 1 – Castres 19 – 13 Northampton Saints / Ospreys 9 – 19 Leinster

Pool 2 – Exeter Chiefs 41 – 29 Cardiff Blues / Toulon 51 – 28 Glasgow Warriors

Pool 3 – Connacht 17 – 23 Saracens / Toulouse 38 – 5 Zebre

Pool 4 – Harlequins 26 – 33 Scarlets / Racing Métro 92 13 – 9 ASM Clermont Auvergne

Pool 5 – Ulster 22 – 16 Leicester Tigers / Benetton Treviso 10 – 27 Montpellier

Pool 6 – Edinburgh 29 – 23 Munster / Gloucester 27 –22 Perpignan

*******

ROUND TWO FIXTURES:

Friday 18th October

Pool 3 – Saracens v Toulouse

Pool 5 – Leicester Tigers v Benetton Treviso

Saturday 19th October

Pool 2 – Cardiff Blues v Toulon

Pool 3 – Zebre v Connacht

Pool 1 – Leinster v Castres Olympique

Pool 5 – Montpellier v Ulster

Pool 4 – Scarlets v Racing Métro 92

Pool 6 – Munster v Gloucester

Sunday 20th October

Pool 1 – Northampton Saints v Ospreys

Pool 6 – Perpignan v Edinburgh

Pool 2 – Glasgow Warriors v Exeter Chiefs

Pool 4 – ASM Clermont Auvergne v Harlequins