Heineken Cup preview: The road to Dublin goes through London for Irish provinces

Munster travel in hope rather than expectation, Ulster will need to show much needed discipline in Twickenham and there's a Gallic flavour to the other two games.

By Declan Whooley

Can Munster upset the form book at the Stoop?

Given that Munster snuck into the quarter-finals at the expense of Leinster and that Harlequins are the form team in the competition, this was always going to be a tall order for Rob Penney. With shaky results since, injury doubts over key-players and shipping 51 points last weekend, the task doesn’t exactly look any easier.

Logic would point to a home win. Munster gave away three intercept tries to Glasgow, a symptom of the kind of expansive game Penney has attempted to introduce this season, to varying results. The scrum was under intense pressure all night, and when you consider they will be facing all of the 22 stone of James Johnstone, brother of Census, and English international Joe Marler in the front-row, then they will need to be firing on all cylinders. At the other end, Munster’s attacking threat on the road this season has been pretty blunt to say the least.

Like Ian Madigan, Danny Care's hair style is questionable, his talent isn't

However, Harlequins themselves have not been in the best of form, losing three from the last five, though the last two were difficult away fixtures to Saracens and Gloucester. Munster are traditionally strong with their backs against the wall and are the only team to have won three away quarter-finals in the competition.

A fourth would be an upset and while hearts say ‘maybe’, heads would tend to side with Conor O’Shea’s men.

Munster: F Jones; D Hurley, C Laulala, J Downey, S Zebo; R O’Gara,  C Murray;  D Kilcoyne , M Sherry BJ Botha; D Ryan, P O’Connell capt; P O’Mahony,  T O’Donnell , J Coughlan. Replacements: D Varley W du Preez, S Archer,  Donncha O’Callaghan, P Butler, C Sheridan, I Keatley,  I Dineen.

Aviva Premiership leaders face Rabo table-toppers at Twickers

Considering Ulster are facing an away trip to the form team in England, last weekend’s hard-fought victory at the RDS, their first since 1999, was the perfect preparation.

Mark Anscombe’s men looked threatening in attack and were dogged in defence. And by dogged, we also mean illegal. Nick Williams showed again that while impressive on the front foot, similar to an actual battering ram, he is brawn rather than brains. He gave away two penalties and like some of his team-mates, was incredibly lucky not to see yellow. Should they repeatedly offend, Owen Farrell will lap up the opportunities.

Nick Williams on the front foot

Criticised earlier in the season for being one dimensional - Sarries scored 14 tries in their first 14 games in the league - they have been far more expansive since the turn of the year where they have averaged 27 points a game.

It is the pack that is particularly fearsome with a starting front row last weekend of Mako Vunipola, former Springbok captain John Smit and Petrus Du Plessis. Their English contingent of Owen Farrell, Brad Barritt, Alex Goode and Chris Ashton won’t lack for confidence in the back division either.

A disciplined Ulster are more than capable of winning this match, but penalty concessions may prove their undoing.

Ulster: J Payne, A Trimble, D Cave, L Marshall, C Gilroy, P Jackson, R Pienaar; T Court, R Best, J Afoa, J Muller (c), D Tuohy, I Henderson, C Henry, N Williams;
Replacements: R Herring, C Black, R Lutton, R Diack, M McComish, P Marshall, S Olding, T Bowe.

There are two other games taking place. Honestly

We tend to just focus on Irish participation in the competition, but there are two other games that should be entertaining in their own rights.

The Stade Marcel Michelin hosts the all-French clash of Clermont Auvergne and Montpellier. Clermont are many people’s favourites to win the competition outright with their array of stars and won this fixture 36-18 back in January.

Montpellier's talisman Mamuka Gorgodze

In Mamuka Gorgodze, Montpellier have an inspirational captain and a man who relishes a physical challenge. His efforts this season have been recognised as he is a nominee for of the ERC Player of the Year, and they have a sprinkling of international class in Trinh-Duc, Ouedraogo and Beattie, but this should be a bridge too far for Fabien Galthie’s men.

The final game of the weekend sees Leicester travel to Toulon in what is the past against perhaps the future of the competition. The two-time winners saw off Toulouse in the pool stages, but travel to the play the galacticos of the rugby circuit in what will be just their 14th game in the Heineken Cup. The Tigers aren’t the force they once were, but will fancy their chances of wearing down Jonny Wilkinson and colleagues. At 4/1 on, the bookies don’t agree.