RUGBY/Heineken European Cup fixtures:Leinster have petitioned the Heineken Cup organisers, ERC, to have the kick-off of their fixture against Toulouse at Stade Ernest Wallon on Sunday, November 18th, brought forward from 9pm local time (8pm Irish time). The fixtures and television schedule for the first four rounds of fixtures were released yesterday.
The Irish province is extremely annoyed with the proposed kick-off time and Leinster chief executive Mick Dawson confirmed he had written to ERC expressing their displeasure. "We are very unhappy. No one plays rugby at 9pm on a Sunday night.
"How can you expect supporters to get home from Toulouse on a Sunday night at 11.30pm. We brought 5,000 fans with us when we played them in the quarter-finals a couple of seasons ago and would expect a similar interest this time.
"I cannot see how this is encouraging people to travel and enjoy the experience, which should be one of the main priorities in developing the tournament. I don't know any city that rocks on a Sunday night at 11.30pm when people will be leaving the stadium. It means that supporters would have to take the Monday off work.
"The second issue relates to the team, who will have to wait around all day for a 9pm kick-off. If you look at all the other fixtures in the first four rounds, the next latest kick-off on a Sunday is a 4pm slot.
"We have written to ERC to voice our displeasure in the strongest possible terms and while we have received a reply we have asked them to take the issue to an ERC board meeting scheduled for today."
Dawson confirmed Leinster weren't consulted with regard to any of the fixtures, although that is not unusual in deciding on the fixtures. ERC meet the television rights holders and agree a schedule of matches based on television interests.
Although Sky Sports will cover the game, the host broadcaster is Canal+ and they will have decided on the kick-off time, possibly with Toulouse's blessing. Leinster are also miffed their opening fixture of the campaign, against Leicester Tigers at the RDS, has been afforded a 1.30pm kick-off on Saturday November 10th, while the prime television slot on Sky Sports - they transmit both matches live - has been given to Edinburgh's clash with Toulouse at Murrayfield.
Again it's likely that the French television company, on this occasion FR2, requested the mid-afternoon slot as they, too, will screen the match and the inevitable bartering between the television rights holders would require some shuffling to facilitate all requests.
Dawson is resigned to the fact that Leinster's plea to ERC is unlikely to meet with a favourable response. Michael Cheika's side are sure to guarantee a sell-out crowd for their opening fixture against last year's beaten finalists at the RDS in the opening game and then after returning from Toulouse face Scottish side Edinburgh in the traditional mid-pool back-to-back fixtures. The first encounter takes place on Friday, December 7th at the RDS (8pm) before travelling to Scotland eight days later, on Saturday, December 15th, for the return fixture at Murrayfield (3.30pm). All four of Leinster matches will be screened live on Sky Sports. The dates for the final two rounds of pool matches and the television schedule have not yet been decided.
The 2006 Heineken European Cup champions Munster will travel to London to take on the team that emerged from last year's tournament, London Wasps, in a mouth-watering opening fixture to Pool Five on Saturday, November 10th (5.30). As with Leinster, all four of Munster's matches will be screened live on Sky Sports.
Munster have opted for the same pattern of fixtures that has served them so well in recent seasons, opting to play away to an English club in their first game - last year they beat Leicester 21-19 at Welford Road - home against French opposition (Clermont Auvergne in this case) and successive fixtures against the Welsh side (familiar foes Llanelli).
Last year's fullback Shaun Payne, who has succeeded Jerry Holland as team manager, admitted: "In terms of preparation and travel we know what's required as well. But obviously it's three very tough teams and two away trips in the opening three games. I think home advantage brings its own pressure particularly in the opening round. I would always prefer to play away in the opening round."
Although the venue hasn't been confirmed, suggestions are Wasps will look to play their game in a stadium other than their own Adams Park. "I have heard reports they had inquired about playing at Twickenham but it wasn't available."
Munster face two late Saturday kick-off times (5.30pm) but will play their other two games as the early match (1pm) on the Sunday.
Munster and Ireland secondrow Donncha O'Callaghan pointed out: "Each year this competition gets tougher and tougher. From day one when the pools were announced I'm not sure we could have swapped anyone we got for a tougher side. I mean, you have the trophy holders, the side that beat us in the quarter-final last year and a class French side.
"How important when and where we play them is hard to judge. There is an awful lot of pressure on you if you are playing at home in the opening game. If, say, we were home first game against Wasps and we didn't win, it'd leave us travelling to France with a huge job to do. So maybe being away in the first game isn't the worst place to be. I suppose what it really comes down to is you just have to be right on the day and if a few things fall right for you, you're in with a shout. But if you're not right, against any side, never mind the quality we're up against, you're in bother."
Ulster have the honour of being the first Irish side into the tournament when they host Gloucester at Ravenhill on Friday, November 9th (8pm). That match will be screened live on Sky Sports as will their fourth outing, at home to the Magners Celtic League champions, the Ospreys. All four of their games take place on Friday nights including the two in Belfast, while from a television perspective highlights of the other two games, involving Bourgoin (away) and the Ospreys (away) will be shown by Sky on the day.
