News
Heineken Cup preview: Pool Three
October 09 2008
It's here again! The Heineken Cup begins on Friday, with the clubs now battle-hard and ready after six weeks of domestic battery. Here are a few pointers on the forthcoming action in Pool Three.
Teams:
Benetton Treviso
Leicester Tigers
Ospreys
Perpignan
Forecast: This will be a three-horse race between three of Europe's thoroughbreds, with Italy's Benetton Treviso the number-makers. All three know what it takes to win, but only Leicester have done so previously - although that's not to say they will have it all their own way in what could be construed as this year's 'Pool of Death'. The Ospreys will feel they need to deliver this season after disappointing last time around, whilst Leicester will be a tough nut to crack under Heyneke Meyer. But the team to watch, with Dan Carter pulling the strings, will be Perpignan - no team with Carter in will be bad and the Catalan boys will fancy a dark horse run to the final, as long as they can pick up the points they need before Carter arrives.
Players to Watch:
Leicester Tigers: It took Aaron Mauger a season to settle at Welford Road, but now there is no looking back. Already this season he has been the catalyst in the Tigers' back-line, letting his actions do the talking. If he stays fit Meyer will be able to build a back division around him that is capable of taking Leicester all the way to Edinburgh in May.
Ospreys: So many top players to chose from, but perhaps the most important is full-back Lee Byrne - so often overlooked due to those who surround him. Byrne has flourished since joining the Ospreys from the Scarlets, and will be key to the Ospreys' title ambitions this time around. Given that it is a Lions year he will be eager to repeat the form that won him so much praise for Wales last season.
Perpignan: Hardly surprising that Dan Carter is the pick of Perpignan's impressive-looking squad, despite the fact he will miss the opening two pool games. There is no doubting Carter's brilliance, and it will be interesting to see how he adapts to the more intense and physical surrounds of European rugby. You will also want to keep an eye on Scotland's Chris Cusiter, who is quietly making a name for himself in France.
Benetton Treviso: The hero of last season's victory over the Dragons, Marius Goosen is Treviso's star player. Not only does he provide the bulk of their points through the boot, but he is the go-to man in the team. He is not club captain without reason, and will once again look to inspire his side to an upset in a pool they have no chance of winning.
Squads:
Leicester Tigers: Marcos Ayerza, Richard Blaze, Santiago Bonorino, Martin Castrogiovanni, George Chuter, Dan Cole, Martin Corry, Jordan Crane, Tom Croft, Mefin Davies, Brett Deacon, Louis Deacon, Julien Dupuy, Harry Ellis, Ayoola Erinle, Toby Flood, Sam Harrison, Ben Herring, Dan Hipkiss, Derick Hougaard, Ben Kay, Ben Kayser, Aaron Mauger, Lewis Moody, Geordan Murphy, Johne Murphy, Seru Rabeni, Greg Sammons, Matt Smith, Boris Stankovich, Alesana Tuilagi, Tom Varndell, Sam Vesty, Marco Wentzel, Julian White, Ben Woods, Ben Youngs, Tom Youngs.
Ospreys: Lyndon Bateman, Huw Bennett, Ryan Bevington, Dan Biggar, Andrew Bishop, David Bishop, Tommy Bowe, Lee Byrne, Ian Evans, Ian Gough, Cai Griffiths, Gavin Henson, Richard Hibbard, Marty Holah, James Hook, Paul James, Adam Rhys Jones, Alun-Wyn Jones, Duncan Jones, Ryan Jones, Ben Lewis, Andy Lloyd, Andrew Millward, Craig Mitchell, Jamie Nutbrown, Gareth Owen, Sonny Parker, Mike Phillips, Edward Shervington, Tom Smith, Jonathan Spratt, Steve Tandy, Jonathan Thomas, Filo Tiatia, Jonny Vaughton, Nikki Walker, Rhys Webb, Shane Williams.
Perpignan: Rimas Alvarez Kairelis, Sebastian Bozzi, Gerrie Britz, Philip Burger, Julien Candelon, Romain Cazals, Sebastien Chobet, Damien Chouly, Chris Cusiter, Nicolas Durand, Perry Freshwater, Charles Geli, Jean-Philippe Grandclaude, Guilhem Guirado, Bertrand Guiry, Nathan Hines, Gavin Hume, Nicolas Laharrague, Grégory LeCorvec, Christophe Manas, David Marty, Nicolas Mas, David Mele, Maxime Mermoz, Steve Meyer, Samueli Naulu, Olivier Olibeau, Jean-Pierre Perez, Adrien Plante, Jérôme Porical, Kisi Pulu, Jérôme Schuster, Farid Sid, Marius Tincu, Ovidiu Tonita, Henry Tuilagi, Viliami Vaki, Guillaume Vilaceca.
Benetton Treviso: Augusto Allori, Michael Barbieri, Robert Barbieri, Tobias Botes, Vittorio Candiago, Andrea Ceccato, Enrico Ceccato, Salvatore Costanzo, Benjamin de Jager, Pedro di Santo, Davide Duca, Marco Filippucci, Ezio Galon, Mark Gilbride, Marius Goosen, Michael Horak, Giorgio Intoppa, Dion Kingi, Roderick Labuschagne, Hottie Louw, Alberto Lucchese, Andrea Marcato, Matteo Muccignat, Emiliano Mulieri, Marco Neethling, Silvio Orlando, Antonio Pavanello, Enrico Pavanello, Simon Picone, Mark Riva, Andrea Sartoretto, Franco Sbaraglini, Alberto Sgarbi, Cornelius van Zyl, Diego Vidal, Andrew Vilk, Fraser Waters, Brendan Williams.