By Chris Gleadell
October 28 2005

Its round two of both the Heineken and European Challenge Cups. There's some mouth watering clashes and maybe some money to be made for those who like the odd punt. The Heineken Cup throws up the outstanding fixture of the weekend, if not the season so far, in Wasps v Toulouse, the last two winners of the competition. After two notable loses for French sides, Biarritz and Stade Francais, last week the question will be, can our Gallic brothers travel? Remember last season even we (Northampton), when we were at our lowest ebb, managed to grind out a win against the mighty Toulouse at the Gardens. Can Wasps do the same?

Be in no doubt Toulouse travel to High Wycombe wanting to lay that Twickenham ghost for once and all and will come out with all guns blazing while Wasps surely cannot play as dourly as they did last week. I believe though that home advantage may be the only one of the few things in the English sides favour. A loss for them, with them still having to visit the European champions, would mean all but curtains for Wasps Heineken ambitions as a best qualifier spot with three losses is a very tall order.

If they allow Toulouse to get into rhythm the side from La Ville Rose could win this at a canter but I’m expecting a war of attrition from Mr Dallaglio and crew. This may not be enough to hold back the crimson tide though and I take Toulouse to win by five.

Other games. All times local.

Friday 7:30 Dragons v Sale

Is there a more influential forward playing in the British Isles than Chabal when he is on song? The Dragons will have trouble containing him and Sales backs could be in for a busy evening Sale. by 10.

Fri 8:00 Leeds v Calvisano
Calvisano pulled of a couple of shocks last year but a windy night in Yorkshire might not be the ideal place to open their account this season however badly Leeds are playing. Leeds to edge it but it would not be a total surprise if the Italians got something out of this game.

Fri 8:30 Perpignan v Cardiff
At the Stade Aime Giral the Catalans are near unbeatable and with the Blues having already lost the influential Kiwi Xavier Rush I can see USAP running away with this and winning by a 15 point plus margin.

Saturday 14:00 Stade Francais v Leicester Sky
After the demolition of one French side last week, can Tigers do it again? Stade come off an away defeat in the first round at Ospreys but have never been particularly good travellers in this competition. As the only team to beat Toulouse this season I’m taking them to up a gear and defeat Tigers by 8 at the Stade Charlety.

Saturday 14:00 Treviso v Saracens
Sarries travel to Italy after a good win over Biarritz at Vicarage Road last Sunday. I take them to continue in this good vein of form and beat Treviso by twenty, picking up a bonus point into the bargain.

Sat 14:15 Bath v Bourgoin
Bath v the Brutal Battlers of Bourgoin. An interesting one for those who like their rugby hard and abrasive. Bourgoin have a hard nosed forward based approach to the game, Bath have a pack coming back into form, especially after that win over Leinster last week. The man of the match could be the ref, but I’m taking Bath to rise above the combat and win by 10.

Sat 15:00 Scarlets v Edinburgh
A fine win for the Gunners last week over Wasps while Llanelli were turned over in some style by Toulouse.
I have a sneaky feeling though that the Stradey factor will come into play and reverse that form, the Scarlets will sneak this by three.

Sat 16:00 Biarritz v Ulster
The Ulstermen did the business last week at Ravenhill over Trevisio but BOPB are a completely different proposition even given their defeat at Saracens. Biarritz by 20.

Sat 17:15 Munster v Castres
Thomond Park has never been a happy hunting ground for visiting teams despite the warm welcome. It will not be any different for Castres. Munster though are still not firing on all cylinders and I’m taking them to win by around a dozen points.

Sunday 13:00 Glasgow v Leinster
Glasgow came second best in a poor game in Bourgoin last Friday while Leinster were edged by Bath. Leinster however look the better bet, but only just. The Irish by three.

Sun 15:00 Wasps v Toulouse
See top of page.

Sun 16:00 Clermont Auvergne v Ospreys
A fine win for Ospreys last week over Stade Francais while Clermont were taken apart by Tigers. With their passionate crowd behind them I’m looking at a reverse this week though and I’m tipping ASM to beat the Welsh region by 10.

European Challenge Cup

Pool One
The Saints travel to Bristol on the back of their seven try win over Viadana. Bristol, despite fielding an almost exclusive 2nd XV narrowly went down at Narbonne.
Saints though are starting to string some form together and I’m taking they to win this in a high scoring encounter by no more that seven.
If Narbonne can travel I’ll take them to gain the spoils in Viadana and joins Saints at the top of the group.

Pool Two
London Irish should overcome Overmach Parma at the Madstad. Meanwhile there’s an all French clash in Agen where our old friends take on Pau. Home advantage should see the Agenais through.

Pool Three
Gloucester, if they have the mind, could put Bucuresti to the sword and a triple point score would not be a surprise.
Toulon take on Bayonne at the Stade Mayol and again home advantage should see Toulon through.

Pool Four
Despite defeat at Newcastle last week Brive should see off L’Aquila while in the local derby between Borders and Newcastle at the gluepot I’m opting for a surprise and the Reivers to topple Falcons by a single score.

Pool Five
Worcester should have no problems overcoming Catania while Montpellier v Connacht tonight is a very hard one to call. What about ending this column predicting that elusive draw.