The 2013/14 Heineken Cup kicks off this weekend and with the ructions that French and English clubs are causing it could turn out to be the last ever campaign.
We have two live games this weekend for you to tune into. Tomorrow night (Friday) we have Ulster v Leicester live from 8pm on Off The Ball with commentary from Dave McIntyre and analysis from Eddie O'Sullivan and Bryn Cunningham.
And then on Saturday at 1.35pm, it's Munster's trip to Edinburgh. Dave is on commentary with Keith Wood, O'Sullivan and Marcus Horan providing co-com.
The Irish Times' rugby correspondent Gerry Thornley is tipping Ulster to be the best of the Irish as he told Ger and Keith Wood on Wednesday Night Rugby on Off The Ball.
Ulster
"They are probably the best equipped team particularly with Sexton and Nacewa gone from Leinster and O'Gara gone from Munster," said Thornley.
"If Pienaar's fit and playing well along with Nick Williams, Johann Muller and Jared Payne that adds quality reinforcements from abroad. Then there's a core of really experienced players like Tommy Bowe and Rory Best, a crop of excellent young players like Iain Henderson - the coming force in Ulster rugby. I think they are the most equipped to launch a campaign to win the Heineken Cup."
But there is one caveat. He believes that they have a "brute of a draw" and he thinks the clash against Leicester Tigers is a "must-win" if Ulster are to advance, especially given that the opening fixture is at Ravenhill.
Tommy Bowe ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Wood agrees that it will be a "dogfight" between two teams who need to win but he has more doubts about Ulster's credentials.
"I think they have the most balanced squad but I don't know if they are the best placed because of the mentality. It is very dependent on certain players lasting the course and key influencers being on the field. I think they have the mentality but it's whether they can hold it together," he said.
He believes that they are at an interesting point of their development.
"I think Ulster are where Munster were seven or eight years ago and where Leinster were five or six years ago, getting to the knockout stages and finals. They're all steps on the stairs to try and get there. And yet what Leicester have always had is the ability to turn it on at the end of the season. Even though Ulster won in 1999 that was a long time ago, a different Ulster team and ethos. They're trying to build that again and it is striking to see where that will go."
Pool 5 is as follows
- Ulster
- Leicester Tigers
- Montpellier
- Benetton Treviso
Thornley cites Montpellier as the form team in France and believes Treviso are a harder nut to crack then everyone thinks which should make for an ultra-competitive group.
Munster
There are positive vibes coming from head coach Rob Penney in the lead up to this campaign.
"I think they figured out how to beat Leinster. Munster have lost to Leinster a lot in the last few years and their confidence is up because of that," said Wood.
"But it's far too premature to say that they will go far."
Wood sees many players in the process of maturing but he feels they need to stand up if Munster are to go deep into the competition.
Confidence: Murray and Zebo ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
Gerry Thornley focused on a nascent half-back partnership.
"You've got to give Ian Keatley credit for what he produced against Leinster. He is more of a running threat than O'Gara was. It's going to be his third game at 10 in the Heineken Cup so he will be building experience.
"But they've lost Tommy O'Donnell who was shaping up to be the best No 7 in Irish rugby. Then again they have gained confidence from the run last year and they've particularly gained in Conor Murray. I think he will be a different player this season. He came back from the Lions Tour not as a poor man's Mike Phillips but as a rich man's Mike Phillips and would have been the starting No 9 had there been a fourth test. His box-kicking is almost as good as Pienaar's now and he's stopped taking steps. That's a great benefit for Munster and Keatley."
But Thornley believes they are still over-reliant on Paul O'Connell's drive and leadership and fears for them if he suffers an injury.
Pool 6
- Munster
- Perpignan
- Edinburgh
- Gloucester
Leinster
Leinster are starting a transition into a new era and that will dictate their chances in 2013/14. They are also missing experienced names in their opening game away at Ospreys.
"Given the shortfall in experience with no O'Driscoll, Jennings or Cullen and Sexton and Nacewa having gone, Matt O'Connor might revert to Gopperth at 10 for this game and have Ian Madigan off the bench," said Thornley.
New coach Matt O'Connor is also trying to "find his feet" according to Wood. But he thinks Madigan should get the nod in the long-term.
"There were glimpses last year of absolute brilliance and solidity from Ian Madigan. I think for the long haul you have to go with Madigan but that's a really tough call for a coach.
Pool 1
- Leinster
- Northampton Saints
- Ospreys
- Castres Olympique
Connact
Connact face Saracens in their opener and Thornley is under no illusion that it is a "daunting task" and "David v Goliath fixture" against a team that is targeting the trophy and has 10 times the budget.
Pool 3
- Connacht
- Toulouse
- Saracens
- Zebre
