HEINEKEN CUP:In order to progress to the knock-out stages for the eight time in nine years, Leinster will almost certainly need a bonus point win away to Exeter Chiefs on Saturday. But it is a measure of the task facing the champions that Clermont's 46-12, six tries to nil win in Sandy Park in the second round of Heineken Cup pool matches is the only time Exeter have conceded an attacking bonus point in 37 Premiership or European matches at their Devon fortress since winning promotion two and a half seasons ago.
Furthermore, such is the price of their successes in recent years, that whenever Leinster come to town it is usually a marque fixture for the home side and Sandy Park is already close to a 10,744 sell-out.
“I think it’s probably, in a lot of ways, the game that our supporters have been looking forward to the most all season really,” their coach, Rob Baxter, told The Irish Times yesterday. “Obviously to welcome the current Heineken Cup champions to our ground in our first season in the Heineken Cup is a fantastic reward for them really. A lot of them have been there for a long time and they’ve watched us play a lot less prestigious fixtures than this one.
“They’ve been part of quite a long journey and it’s certainly one that we intend competing in to our absolute utmost. Although we can’t qualify, we are big believers in the integrity of cup competitions and as far as we’re concerned we’re going to put our best available team on the pitch, and as in every other Heineken Cup game, we’re going to go for it.”
Montpelier best placed
In this, as in much else, events seem to be conspiring against Joe Schmidt’s team. Conceivably, the runners-up in the other five pools could finish on at least 19 points, with Montpelier best placed on 18 points and hosting a Toulon side who know that one losing point would ensure them of a home quarter-final, which club President Mourad Boudjellal has vowed will be held in their Stade Felix Mayol bearpit as a reward for their fans.
Montpelier will be giving this game their all. Aside from the huge rivalry between the clubs and their respective coaches, Fabien Galthie and Toulon’s Bernard Laporte, Montpelier have become the latest ultra ambitious, nouveau riche force in French rugby under their president of the last two years, Mohed Altrad.
A humble self-made millionaire, Altras hails from relative poverty in Syria. They have some stellar signings lined up, such as Nicolas Mas from Perpignan and the Blues outside back Rene Ranger, have a relatively new stadium in the Stade Yves du Manoir, which was built for the 2007 World Cup and want to become a serious force in French rugby.
Toulouse, by dint of a bonus point defeat in Leicester on Sunday, and at a push Biarritz and Northampton could also finish on 19 points while Munster, like Leinster on 15 points and with a try more scored, have the advantage of knowing Leinster’s result before hosting Racing on Sunday.
In contrast to Leinster, Ulster travel to a Castres side who have little hope of even reaching the Amlin and will be mindful of a trek to Bayonne the following Thursday, while Munster host a Racing side who only have the Amlin Challenge Cup to play for and may also be acutely mindful of a trek to Bordeaux the ensuing Friday. The 16th round of Top 14 matches have been brought forward so as the French squad can meet up for the Six Nations on Saturday week.
Out of position
Toward the end of their 46-3 defeat away to Clermont last Saturday, as in the first meeting, Exeter ended up with players out of position (a hooker in the backrow, both outhalves on the pitch) and they will continue to assess Argentinian winger Gonzalo Camacho and centre Phil Dollman, but could also start Aussie international Dean Mumm and recall Fijian star Sireli Naqelevuki.
“There will be a couple of changes but certainly not wholesale changes,” said Baxter, “but we’ve been rotating players more this season as we feel we have a bigger squad this season and we certainly feel we’ll be competitive at the weekend.”
The Chiefs can also draw confidence from the 9-6 defeat at the RDS in round one, when they had a kick to draw the game, although Baxter admits Leinster are in a better place now, which is also what he wants.
“We’ve talked about this week with the players; this is the type of game you want to test yourself in. Leinster coming here, with the pressure on them to win but maybe a bit more than a win and that makes it a fantastic challenge that we’ve got to relish and enjoy. I’m really looking forward to it, and we learned some tough lessons in Clermont against a very good side, and particularly that the little bits matter the most.”
Exeter were disappointed to lose their unbeaten home record this season in the Aviva Premiership in a 30-19 defeat a fortnight ago, though even then the Saints become only the fifth away side to manage as much as five tries in 29 Premiership games at Sandy Park.
Sandy Park record
English Premiership
Played29
Won18
Drawn1
Lost10
Bonus points won4
Attacking bonus points conceded0
Tries for49
Tries against37
Amlin/Heineken Cups:
Played8
Won6
Drawn0
Lost2
Attacking bonus points3
Attacking bonus points conceded1
