Scarlet fever
Monday 11 October 2010 11:51, UK
Stuart Barnes reviews Heineken Cup Round One with plaudits for Scarlets, but not for Saints.
Barnes picks the bones out of the opening round
From the sublime to the seriously stupid... The first weekend of the Heineken Cup pulled the emotions from the sheer ecstasy of the attacking invention of the Llanelli Scarlets to the total bemusement of Bath's tactical catastrophe against Biarritz. Saturday's action occasionally bordered on the sublime, Sunday's was something of an anticlimax, although both matches in Bath and Toulouse were long on tension. Amidst the drama and the carnage here are a few observations.Pool 1
The Saints are not going to win this year's competition. The problems of game management at half back remains very real yet it dwindles almost into insignificance compared to the goal kicking issues. Against a French team that came with slightly less than half a full team the attractive English team struggled to win let alone chase a bonus point. The missed kicks placed too much pressure upon try scoring and enabled Castres to concede penalties rather than quick ball whilst gaining belief as the game progressed. They were deprived of a messy try by an awful piece of inaccurate refereeing and travel home with a mixture of pique and a bonus point. This pool is a matter of all even as the Blues scraped a win with a poor performance against an Edinburgh side adept at getting under their skins. Forget about this being a two-horse race; Castres could emerge as a contender and Edinburgh have more disruption seemingly within their capabilities.Pool 2
The outstanding overall pool of the first weekend with Leinster playing some superb rugby against Racing Metro, who produced some pretty slick stuff of their own.
This was a game that mixed massive collision and delicate attacking skills as the Irish side improved again from their win against Munster. Racing are severely disadvantaged after leaving empty handed but if they throw their full weight into this pool they will be formidable opponents for any side, starting with French champions, Clermont Auvergne this weekend.
Clermont accomplished their mission; no bonus point but they shut a sterling Saracens side out 25-10. The match was notable for the power of the French defence which was fearsome on their own line, just as well for Saracens battered them for the second quarter of the match.
In that 20 minutes they produced some of their most heavyweight rugby and looked what they are, an extremely good team.
It is vital for them to not only win at Wembley against Leinster but to deprive the Irish of another bonus point in a pool where the role of bonus points could emerge as central. Both the forthcoming matches are fabulous prospects.
Pool 3
London Irish won the match with Munster but have they blown the pool, or rather has an organised but indifferent Munster team given themselves their regular lifeline with their last second try which sneaked them a losing bonus point? Irish would have felt a whole lot better had they kept the clean sheet. However they have much to build upon. The intensity required for a successful European campaign is there for all to see. The defensive performance was as good as any English side has produced for a while and the controlled nature of their 80 minutes - compared to say Northampton - was impressive with their half backs featuring positively. Their game against the Ospreys appears as one of the most significant games of the second round. Munster is suffering from injuries and suspensions. Paul O'Connell is missed, as is Jerry Flannery up front, but the decision to leave David Wallace on the bench and the arch poacher, Alan Quinlan, out of the match day squad proved self destructive. It assisted Irish take control of contact and minus Wallace, there was a noticeable lack of bite in the loose carrying game. Wallace's second half performance was the highlight for Munster and directly responsible for what may yet prove THE vital point. Tomas O' Leary was also missed; his threat in the middle of the field holds defences and allows Ronan O'Gara's impressive passing game to cause more trouble. As it was London Irish were never sucked infield and duly scrambled to superb effect. This was a fascinating battle of tactics. The Ospreys should have beaten a mediocre Toulon side and maybe should be upset with just the bonus point but at home they will cause any team problems. As for Toulon, a majestic piece of play from one Jonny Wilkinson baled them out Saturday but I don't think they have the will or structure to win in Limerick. If there is one weak link in this pool, mark the French down as that side.Pool Four
Advantage Biarritz in a pool where the away win looks crucial.
Bath's failure to drop at goal in the 75th minute when they were one point behind goes down as the dumbest non act of the season and probably the most callow piece of rugby the Recreation Ground has witnessed since Jack Rowell turned Bath into a power in the land. Many more decisions like that and they'll be boasting of victories against Weston Super Mare away as was once the case.
Biarritz were well, Biarritz. They were the smarter team and controlled territory without appearing to extend themselves. Imanol Harinordoquy and Dimitri Yachvili were head and shoulders above everyone else and Damian Traille made a re-appearance after injury from the bench. It is very much a case of job done for the Basque side.
In Belfast Ulster duly scored their bonus point win against Aironi. At the least they must grab a point in Biarritz and stop the French getting a bonus point otherwise the French could run away (well plod along) with the pool.
There's no bigger game in terms of pool importance than Biarritz versus Ulster. I am looking forward to this game as much as any. Ulster has the players to ask a few questions in Biarritz, do they have the belief on the road?
Pool Five
If Pool Two produced the most impressive rugby, Five delivered five stars in the entertainment stakes. Leicester achieved a notable bonus point win on the road yet were within two minutes of defeat in Italy where Treviso proved victories against Leinster and the Scarlets in the Magners League were no flukes. The focus is on Leicester's struggles but come the denouement of this pool the win may be regarded in a very different light to the prism through which it is currently seen. That was a thriller but the match of the weekend for attacking rugby was the Scarlets' free-running epic with Perpignan. Quite why Perpignan joined in the open entertainment is beyond me. It is Bath-like in its stupidity because the Welsh region is deadly opponents when the ball has space. The manner in which Nigel Davies is creating this easy-on-the-eye team is credit to the man. He was an extremely intelligent centre, a pleasure and a worry to play against. In Regan King he possesses a poet. The ball flows through his hands as easily as water. Rhys Priestland was outstanding, Turnbull, Lyons, Matthew Rees, the list goes on... and to think that Jonathon Davies and George North were injured! The neutrals' favourites are once again this proud West Walian rugby region. Like all heroes they are however flawed and unless they tighten their defence the thrill of their off loads will only take them so far. It probably won't take them past the winners post in Leicester where the home side will want a prolonged scrum if they know what is good for them. The visitors will attempt to create another fluid masterpiece, the Tigers to stop them and utilise their more direct power. It's my pick of the weekend games...Pool Six
Was it the stoic effort of the Wasps, the rain or Toulouse in one of their shoulder shrugging moods? The Pool of Life was anything but straightforward for the defending champions.
Wasps made every contact into a collision and rocked the home side. Even when David Lemi put them in front with 65 minutes on the clock I thought David Skrela would step up and kick them to victory as they did against Bath two years ago. Toulouse have that sort of aura... they will get better.
Wasps have a useful bonus point and a game they can take much from. The Dragons and Glasgow Warriors are not the most powerful of opposition and the chances of Wasps sneaking into the knock out stages grew a little, especially as there was no bonus point for Glasgow Friday night against the Dragons.
I enjoyed some of the Scottish side's work in midfield but Wasps must target a win with nothing for Glasgow in another important game next Sunday.
It's one worth disrupting Sunday lunch for... heck, it's a tournament worth wallowing in for the weekend.
