Kings of Europe

Join the Sky Sports debate on who will win the Heineken Cup

Last updated: 8th October 2009  

Kings of Europe

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The Heineken Cup kicks off this weekend with the race on to emulate Leinster in lifting the famous trophy.

And with confidence high among the squads, who will finish the season as the kings of Europe?

Can Leinster go on to record back-to-back triumphs, or will Leicester avenge last season's heartache?

Will Harlequins put their Bloodgate scandal behind them or can Cardiff or the Ospreys claim the title for Wales?

Having finished second in the Magners League last season, can Edinburgh defy the odds and come out on top, or will the honours be heading back to France?

Who will be the stars of the 2009-10 tournament and who will top the scoring charts?

Join the Sky Sports debate and let us know your views via the form below...

Comments (13)

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Luke Berry says...

I think ospreys have a good chance after beating the team to beat in there group (clermont) and its about time they win a major tournament with the squad they have. I happen to think it will be a ospreys - leinster final with ospreys to win but if another team was to win it i would like Stade Francais as they have a very good squad but never to well in major tournaments and i think there time has come.

Posted 21:13 24th October 2009

Brendan H says...

munster and toulouse final with munster to win

Posted 20:14 11th October 2009

Chops Collins says...

Niall Dogg - great win for northampton last night but yet again Munster get a point away from home - will northapton get one in limerick or france? Doubtful i would say. Write off Munster at your peril. London irish showed grit which they never showed but I still say a french team to lift the cup next may

Posted 11:32 11th October 2009

Michael Tompson says...

first thing first, it gonna be a great tournament and imo there r quite a lot of teams that can win it, muster, leinster, leicester, osprey, london irish, gloucester, stade, clemont, edinburgh, biarittz and pergingnan (even tho they did some how lose 2 treviso 2day) but if i had 2 chose 1 team i have a smeeky feeling that team could be gloucester yes they have had an average start 2 the season but there is something that tells me this is there year but like i said u never know there r so many great teams in the tournament

Posted 21:44 10th October 2009

John Sugrue says...

Niall Dogg, Of course Munster have a chance. As a Munsterman; I was gutted with the display last weekend. Everybody in munster colours was outplayed. But be realistic. Look at the team. Flannery and O'leary are just coming back from injury. O'Connell, Earls and Wallace were playing their first match since the Lions tour, which was ages ago. O'Gara and O'Callaghan were playing in only their second match since the Lions. De Villiers is just after arriving and can't be expected to settle into the team in the space of a week or so. Mafi is playing out of position to accommodate de Villiers. So, don't be so harsh. Yes, it was bad looking last weekend but you can't write off the team because of one match. Besides, Leinster vs. Munster matches are about much more than rugby. Munster will get at least a bonus point today and kill Treviso in Thomond Park next week. And hopefully, we'll be there at the end again this season.

Posted 10:21 10th October 2009

James O'shaughnessy says...

My quarter finalists; Munster Biarritz Edinburgh Toulouse London Irish Glasgow Perpignan Winner of Pool Three, ( Clermont, Leicester, Ospreys).

Posted 02:34 10th October 2009

Rory Stone says...

Gloucester's poor start to the season suggets that they will not bhe in contention for end of season honours, however, with a relatively 'easy' group they could find from by the time the 1/4 finals arrive. Northampton would be my tip as they are very strong at home and whilst they are in a difficult group the tough tests early on should bring overall benefits and they will learn from them so that come knock-out time they will have experience against tough opposition. Leciester, as usual, are expected to do well but once again the squad they have does not look particularly strong of dynamic. They appear to be in a transformation process which happens to every team every few years. Come next season they should be ready but they certainly wont make it as far as they did last season. Harliquins with the controversy behind them will still be tough to beat. They are suffering from a lack of confidence at the moment this could effect their chances of success in Europe. No more than a group finish for them. London Irish could do exceptionally well. however, injuries seem to be an issue at the club at the moment. With lively backs and agile forwards they would be disappointed with a 1/4 final finish. Expect them to make the last 4. Bath, again another club hoping to put the last year behind then, will be eager to make a success of this season in Europe. Good away wins last season were encouraging, however, they do not look like they have the experience to go the full length this season. A tough group to be in with Edinburgh, Stade and Ulster and I think the silky backs play that Bath have adopted will not be enough to contest with big-packed teams.

Posted 15:15 9th October 2009

Niall Dogg says...

Lets face it, Munster don't have a chance this year they are not the european force of old. Leinster tore them apart last week with ease. it will be fought out between the french team, london irish and leinster.

Posted 13:12 9th October 2009

Chops Collins says...

Munster could do it but I think Perpingan might do it.Stade and Clermont want to win the top 14 - semis could be Cardiff, Munster, Leinster and Perpignan.Perpignan to win. Leicester are the only english team to threaten for it.

Posted 14:02 8th October 2009

Dan Lettice says...

Only teams that can win it in my mind are Leinster, Munster, Leicster, Toluose or possibly Clermont. Rest dont have a chance. Simple as that

Posted 13:28 8th October 2009

Alex Garraway says...

lets face it... when it comes to a european campaign, nobody come close to leicster, leinster and munster. they will be our semi finalists and i also rate stade to make the final 4. as from years past a winner be decided on what happens on the day so any of these 4 have the chance. i would love sarries to win it one day but for this year i'm gonna have to back the tigers

Posted 13:18 8th October 2009

Colin Madden says...

I can't really see Cardiff or the Ospreys doing it anyway. Cardiff overperformed last year and I think they won't do as well this year, and Ospreys always manage to lose in the important matches. Leicester as always will be a threat, but I don't think any other English club has a chance really. Leinster are looking good but the liklihood of winning it two years in a row is very slim, and it's not as if this team is one of the greats, so I don't think they'll manage. Leicester, Munster, Stade Francais, and Clermont are the likely four in my mind. Toulouse look like a shadow of their former selves, whereas Stade and Clermont have a lot of class and haven't done as well as they should have in recent years, so if they come good they're in with a great shout. And of course Munster... well, need I say more?

Posted 11:17 8th October 2009

Arthur Garcia says...

I fancy Gloucester to be decent outsiders for the tournament... they have the easiest groups and could go all the way given the quality and experience in their squad. Leinster will undoubtedly be the team to beat again, but their pool looks realy difficult. Of the French teams, Stade are putting together a decent run - so watch out for Haskell to make a statement of intent.

Posted 11:14 8th October 2009
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