No teams are yet certain of progressing through to the knock-out stages of the Heineken European Cup but for the second year running Leinster are poised to become the first side to do so if they beat Swansea at Donnybrook when the competition resumes on Friday, January 10th. Gerry Thornley reports.
Bristol's 41-23 over Swansea yesterday means the English outfit are the only Pool Four side who can conceivably overtake Leinster, though a win for Matt Williams' men at home to Swansea will end the argument. They would then be assured of winning the group and a place in the quarter-finals, though not necessarily a home tie.
The six pool winners and the best two runners-up will advance to the quarter-finals, with the four best pool winners earning home advantage in the last eight. Hence, Leinster will be mindful that this scenario is almost an exact reprise of last season when they won their first five games only to lose their sixth, in Toulouse, and be sent to Leicester for a quarter-final.
To make sure of a coveted home quarter-final it could be that Leinster will need 12 points as once again, depending on try counts, 10 points might not be enough.
Toulouse and Leinster's old sidekick Trevor Brennan look like joining them in the last eight that weekend after yesterday's seven-try 50-17 rout of Edinburgh on a sun-kissed day in the Stade Ernest Wallon left them similarly placed in Pool Five - four points clear of their nearest challengers and requiring only another point to make absolutely certain of advancing to the quarter-finals. And next up they have Newport at home.
Brennan, reverting to blind side flanker in European competition, scored his first European Cup try (surprisingly something he failed to do even once with Leinster) with a trademark Trevor sidestep, i.e. knees up and plough straight through and over the last man. Once again the inaugural winners look like being French standard-bearers in the competition.
London Irish's 42-5 win over Newport yesterday retains their slender interest in the competition. Outhalf Barry Everitt's contributed 22 points with a try, three penalties and four conversions and in-form Ireland winger Justin Bishop was also among the try scorers
Nine teams are effectively out of contention, namely Neath, Calvisano, Viadana, Sale, Montferrand, Swansea, Edinburgh, Newport and a hapless Cardiff, whose season dipped to a new low yesterday when they were routed 31-0 at the Arms Park by a rampant Northampton, for whom the in-form Ben Cohen and Tom Smith played starring roles.
