Harold Camping, preacher, prophet of Doom, said we were all going up in a fireball in 2011. So allowing for the fact that we're bound to get odd little things wrong from time to time, what does the quarter final draw tell us, fellow fans ?Munster v Ulster
Leinster v Cardiff Blues
Edinburgh v Toulouse
Saracens v Clermont Auvergne
Munster as top dogs and top seeds have had an exhilarating ride thus far, pinching wins with last minute drop goals, and managing to bring through new talent to freshen up an ageing team. A quarter final at Thomond Park should see them through to the semis, perhaps even to the final, but are they quite the force of yore ?
It is great to see Edinburgh playing with such freedom, and they have the considerable advantage of a home tie, but it is hard to see them overturning Toulouse. The Sarries, however, should be able to make home advantage count against Clermont. It would be nice to see England's Brave-New-World-all-attacking-high -tempo midfield of Hodgson, Farrell and Barritt cutting loose, but don't hold your breath. The club is South African to the core, and see anyone with a double digit number on his back as a tackling, kicking robot, if the latter Heineken games are any indication of the way forward.
The Blues will hit the brick wall that is Leinster at the moment. Even without O'Driscoll, they look to have the air of champions. Everything they do says "Winners". Superbly coached, and having highly skilled players who have the nous to adapt a game plan, they look to be a good bet for the Cup again. The game will at least allow us a sneak preview of a Lions backrow - O'Brien, Warburton, Heaslip anyone ?
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