Blues Draw Tough Pool
Blues Draw Tough Pool
Blues Draw Tough Pool
By Andrew Collins
June 9 2009
The Cardiff Blues’ have been drawn in an highly competative HEC Pool 5 ahead of the 09/10season. The Welsh region will face Toulouse, Sale and Harlequins in what most are calling ‘the group of death’.
Blues Draw Tough Pool
June 9 2009
The Cardiff Blues’ have been drawn in an highly competative HEC Pool 5 ahead of the 09/10season. The Welsh region will face Toulouse, Sale and Harlequins in what most are calling ‘the group of death’.
Last season, the Blues completed an unbeaten Pool stage of the tournament, claiming victories over Calvisano, Gloucester and Biarritz both home and away, however it looks very, very unlikely to happen again.
This time out, the Blues face their quarter final opponents of the past two seasons, Toulouse, Kingsley Jones' Manchester-based Sale, and last season's beaten quarter finalists Harlequins.
It's a very tough group for the second tier seeded Welsh region, who would have been top seed had Biarritz' end of season not been so strong.
Perhaps the one good thing about the Pool is that the two English sides makes attending away games cheaper and easier.
Elsewhere, The Dragons have been drawn in perhaps the easiest pool, along with Biarritz, Gloucester and Glasgow, although the same could be said for the Scarlets who meet Champions Leinster, London Irish and Brive.
The Ospreys face sterner opposition in Leicester and Clermont, but the inclusion of Viadana should guarantee them an away victory. Two sides are likely to qualify from their pool, and the Ospreys will certainly fancy their chances.
In other news, Blues winger Leigh Halfpenny has dropped out of tomorrows Lions side to face the Sharks. The 20 year old had been named on the bench, but has been replaced by James Hook following his withdrawal.
There are currently just two injured players on tour, with fellow Cardiff Blue Martyn Williams the other. The two injuries are not considered serious, with Martyn expected to play on Saturday, but Halfpenny has already missed the first 3 games of the tour, and needs to make a big impression if he is to have any chance of making the test team.
Heineken Cup 2009/10
Pool 1
Munster (Ire)
Perpignan (Fra)
Northampton (Eng)
Treviso (Ita)
Pool 2
Biarritz (Fra)
Gloucester (Eng)
Newport Gwent Dragons (Wal)
Glasgow (Sco)
Pool 3
Leicester (Eng)
Ospreys (Wal)
Clermont Auvergne (Fra)
Viadana (Ita)
Pool 4
Bath (Eng)
Stade Francais (Fra)
Ulster (Ire)
Edinburgh (Sco)
Pool 5
Toulouse (Fra)
Cardiff Blues (Wal)
Sale (Eng)
Harlequins (Eng)
Pool 6
Leinster (Ire)
London Irish (Eng)
Scarlets (Wal)
Brive (Fra)
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StumbleuponBlues Draw Tough Pool
Posted by: theArmsPark.co.uk (IP Logged)
Date: 09/06/2009 13:12
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Re: Blues Draw Tough Pool
Posted by: hands in the ruck (IP Logged)
Date: 09/06/2009 13:22
Would prefer us to play Toulouse than Munster or Leicester, as perhaps they don't travel as well?
