I'd go for home advantage (and in some cases, just 'being better in general' advantage) for all of them apart from against Toulouse. It'd be a big ask for Edinburgh to upset Toulouse in the knockouts.
History certainly agrees with you Gecko.
But this HC has been full of surprises!
I think the Munster Ulster game is really difficult to call
Als Sarries v Clermont Auvergne... If Clermont score early and start to turn on the flair it coud be a long day for Sarries.
In Fact i think the only obvious game is Edinburgh v Toulouse. But then again Toulouse have barley Qualified this year and got a royal hiding from Gloucester on friday!
Hell this season has been one roller-coaster after another.
No mate Leinster are home and it will be player in landsdown as far as i know. (i dont call it that other name)
Tough ask for cardiff to beat leinster in dublin. but in the Knock outs stages anything can happen, and indeed every round of this competition has thrown up a big surprise
From a Blues fans pov, it's Leinster, away.
Leinster should win this, especially seeing as we're not realy firing atm.
Going on current form, I'd say the Blues overturning Leinster would be a miracle. Slightly less so for Ulster - I think Munster's performance so far in the HC makes them the ones to beat.
I don't watch enough T14 to say how consistent Clermont are, but I think Saracens have enough 'knockout grit' these days to push past them at home.
Also worth mentioning is the possible Semi finals: I will update the main article also:
Saracens/Clermont Auvergne v Leinster/Cardiff Blues
Munster/Ulster v Edinburgh/Toulouse
The Blues are truly going to have to have the game of their lives to overturn Leinster away from home. I think Leinster put 50 on us when we went there a few weeks back.
I think it's unfair to write off Edinburgh. They play some excellent rugby at times, Toulouse didn't look hungry enough at Kingsholm. Bear in mind that they're only through thanks to the mighty Connacht.
I can also see Clermont getting the win over Saracens. I think on their day they are arguably the finest team in Europe. This fixture is purely down to how well Clermont play.
Munster v Ulster looks like a cracking game. Munster will be favourites but Ulster are the up and coming team in Europe. I would not be surprised in the slightest if they came away with the win.
Y2J
What is it they say... "the french dont travel"
Its certainly thrown up some interesting ones:
Munster - Ulster
You'd probably have to favour Munster, but only marginally, Thomond Park has been a grave for opposing sides but maybe only Leinster would be less intimidated by it. Ulster will be very familiar with the venue, and I'd say both sides are better suited to winter rather than summer (admittedly Limerick in April may be more the former than the latter) rugby, so I'd say Munster - just
Leinster - Cardiff
In my view probably the most clear cut one, very hard to look beyond Leinster, especially at home
Edinburgh - Toulouse
Edinburgh can take some heart, Toulouse were well beaten at Kingsholm (a bonus point win with no losing bonus point), but cometh the hour, cometh the man (or men)? I just think on the day Toulouse' experience and skill will see them through and the summer weather will give them a boost - though I'd say this is the hardest to call
Saracens - Clermont
Again, a tough one, but look at Clermont away - lost at Ulster and Leicester, though they did annihiliate Airioni. I'd have to go with Saracens, who I think will be too strong at home, and again I think better weather may suit Saracens more than Clermont. This may also suit Leinster who I suspect would prefer Sarries away than Clermont who seem practically unbeatable at home - though thats one for another day
SARS as always a very balanced view....
I think im gona copy u and make those predictions for sportguru... god knows i need to turn around my 54% win ratio
And thus far going with my gut has only worked with leinster!
54% is still pretty good! If you did that on a roulette wheel or a slot machine - well you wouldn't be posting on here (I'm not sure how strong the internet connection in the Cayman Islands is)
Predicting Leinster wins is like predicting Leinster matches - are they playing? if yes then they will win. Though I'd guess Leinster will be cheering on Saracens - a trip to Clermont is not for the faint hearted and not even for Leo Cullen et al
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HEINEKEN CUP QUARTER-FINALS!
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posted on 22/1/12
I'd go for home advantage (and in some cases, just 'being better in general' advantage) for all of them apart from against Toulouse. It'd be a big ask for Edinburgh to upset Toulouse in the knockouts.
posted on 22/1/12
History certainly agrees with you Gecko.
But this HC has been full of surprises!
I think the Munster Ulster game is really difficult to call
Als Sarries v Clermont Auvergne... If Clermont score early and start to turn on the flair it coud be a long day for Sarries.
In Fact i think the only obvious game is Edinburgh v Toulouse. But then again Toulouse have barley Qualified this year and got a royal hiding from Gloucester on friday!
Hell this season has been one roller-coaster after another.
posted on 22/1/12
Leinster away?
posted on 22/1/12
No mate Leinster are home and it will be player in landsdown as far as i know. (i dont call it that other name)
Tough ask for cardiff to beat leinster in dublin. but in the Knock outs stages anything can happen, and indeed every round of this competition has thrown up a big surprise
posted on 22/1/12
From a Blues fans pov, it's Leinster, away.
Leinster should win this, especially seeing as we're not realy firing atm.
posted on 22/1/12
Going on current form, I'd say the Blues overturning Leinster would be a miracle. Slightly less so for Ulster - I think Munster's performance so far in the HC makes them the ones to beat.
I don't watch enough T14 to say how consistent Clermont are, but I think Saracens have enough 'knockout grit' these days to push past them at home.
posted on 22/1/12
Also worth mentioning is the possible Semi finals: I will update the main article also:
Saracens/Clermont Auvergne v Leinster/Cardiff Blues
Munster/Ulster v Edinburgh/Toulouse
posted on 22/1/12
The Blues are truly going to have to have the game of their lives to overturn Leinster away from home. I think Leinster put 50 on us when we went there a few weeks back.
I think it's unfair to write off Edinburgh. They play some excellent rugby at times, Toulouse didn't look hungry enough at Kingsholm. Bear in mind that they're only through thanks to the mighty Connacht.
I can also see Clermont getting the win over Saracens. I think on their day they are arguably the finest team in Europe. This fixture is purely down to how well Clermont play.
Munster v Ulster looks like a cracking game. Munster will be favourites but Ulster are the up and coming team in Europe. I would not be surprised in the slightest if they came away with the win.
posted on 23/1/12
Y2J
What is it they say... "the french dont travel"
posted on 23/1/12
Its certainly thrown up some interesting ones:
Munster - Ulster
You'd probably have to favour Munster, but only marginally, Thomond Park has been a grave for opposing sides but maybe only Leinster would be less intimidated by it. Ulster will be very familiar with the venue, and I'd say both sides are better suited to winter rather than summer (admittedly Limerick in April may be more the former than the latter) rugby, so I'd say Munster - just
Leinster - Cardiff
In my view probably the most clear cut one, very hard to look beyond Leinster, especially at home
Edinburgh - Toulouse
Edinburgh can take some heart, Toulouse were well beaten at Kingsholm (a bonus point win with no losing bonus point), but cometh the hour, cometh the man (or men)? I just think on the day Toulouse' experience and skill will see them through and the summer weather will give them a boost - though I'd say this is the hardest to call
Saracens - Clermont
Again, a tough one, but look at Clermont away - lost at Ulster and Leicester, though they did annihiliate Airioni. I'd have to go with Saracens, who I think will be too strong at home, and again I think better weather may suit Saracens more than Clermont. This may also suit Leinster who I suspect would prefer Sarries away than Clermont who seem practically unbeatable at home - though thats one for another day
posted on 23/1/12
SARS as always a very balanced view....
I think im gona copy u and make those predictions for sportguru... god knows i need to turn around my 54% win ratio
And thus far going with my gut has only worked with leinster!
posted on 23/1/12
54% is still pretty good! If you did that on a roulette wheel or a slot machine - well you wouldn't be posting on here (I'm not sure how strong the internet connection in the Cayman Islands is)
Predicting Leinster wins is like predicting Leinster matches - are they playing? if yes then they will win. Though I'd guess Leinster will be cheering on Saracens - a trip to Clermont is not for the faint hearted and not even for Leo Cullen et al
posted on 23/1/12
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