Leinster to Conquer Europe Again

The European rugby season reaches its climax this weekend with Stade Francais taking on Harlequins in the Amlin Challenge Cup final on Friday and Leinster facing Northampton in the Heineken Cup final on Saturday. While both finals look destined to be tightly contested, this is how I see them progressing.

Stade Francais Vs Harlequins

There will be more than silverware up for grabs on Friday night when Harlequins and Stade Francis line out at Cardiff City Stadium. Both teams have failed to qualify for the Heineken Cup after disappointing domestic campaigns but a place in Europe’s premier rugby competition for next season awaits Friday’s winners. Quin’s have the opportunity to become the first team to win the Challenge Cup on three occasions and will be full of confidence after their impressive win over Munster at Thomand Park in their semi final clash. Head coach Conor O’Shea fields the same starting line up from the tie in Limerick with the only change being in the reserves. Twice on the wrong end of Heineken Cup finals, Stade head into their first Challenge Cup finale on Friday. Despite a disappointing Top 14 season, the French are unbeaten in this competition so far. Their line up will have some English presence with flank James Haskell and lock Tom Palmer in the starting fifteen. I’ll be very surprised if more than a converted try separates these two come full time. I was at the Harlequins/Munster semi final and was very impressed with how Conor O’Shea’s men restricted an in-form home side and how Quin’s, very much outnumbered, fans got behind their team in what in a fortress for Munster. This weekend, I feel these factors may just help them edge out what will be a tight contest. They are best price at 8/11 (Blue Sq) to lift the trophy. Also consider Ugo Monye at 5/2 (Stan James) to be an Anytime Try scorer.

Leinster Vs Northampton

On Saturday, Leinster will set out to win their second Heineken Cup in a three year period. Once tagged “The Nearly Men” of European rugby, fortunes have been overturned by Michael Cheika and now under Joe Schmidt. With their guidance they have become the continents number one club side over the past three years. The Irishmen are also boosted by the news that their star man Brian O’Driscoll has been given the green light to take part in the season decider. In contrast, Northampton have learned this week that they will be without one of their stars in Tom Wood. But despite this, I feel they will be no push overs and with players like Soane Tonga’uiha, Dylan Hartley, Courtney Lawes, Chris Ashton and Ben Foden cannot be underestimated. I expect Northampton to get in Leinsters faces in the early stages and try dominate up front in attempt to disrupt the Irish sides game plan but Leinster have been very impressive this season and I really fancy them to simply out class the Saints come Saturday evening. They are best priced for the win at 2/5 (Blue Sq) to lift the trophy, Evens (Blue Sq) for HT/FT and consider Sean O’Brien, Leinster’s top try scorer in Europe this season with four, at 10/3 (Paddy Power) to be an Anytime Try scorer.

My Tips

1pt Harlequins Win

1pt Ugo Monye Anytime Try

2pt Leinster Win

1pt Leinster HT/FT

1pt Sean O’Brien Anytime Try

1pt Leinster and Harlequins Double

2011 Rugby Tips

Staked = 52.5pts

Returned = 57.5pts

Profit/Loss = +5pts

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