The HC coaches have their say
Tue, 08 Jun 2010 18:02
The Heineken Cup draw for 2010/2011 has dished up some mouthwatering battles to look forward, and the coaches shared on their thoughts on what should be another intriguing tournament.
Cardiff Blues boss Dai Young expects all four teams in Pool 1 of nest season's Heineken Cup to be pushing hard for a quarter-final spot come early next year.
Having been one of the six Tier 1 sides for Tuesday's draw, the Blues were named alongside last season's beaten quarterfinalists Northampton Saints, fellow Magners League side Edinburgh and French outfit Castres Olympique when the groups were announced in their home city.
Pools 2 and 3 have been singled out as particularly tough groups for the four sides involved but, while Young admits the draw could have been crueller to his men, he insists there will be no easy games in Europe's premier club competition.
"There’s probably four teams in our group who all feel they can win it,
and that's exciting," said Young.
"We could have had a worse draw but, as we all know, there’s no easy games in this competition.
If they were dancing a jig in the London Irish commercial department after their side had been drawn with Munster, the Ospreys and Toulon in next season's Heineken Cup, the reaction from head coach Toby Booth was a bit more circumspect.
"Normally when the Heineken Cup draw is made there is a ‘Pool of Death’ and it looks like Pool 3 will be that this year," said Booth.
The only dissenters to that view may have come from the fans, or rather coaches, of the teams in Pool 2 – Leinster, ASM Clermont Auvergne, Saracens and Racing-Metro 92 – but after the initial shock Booth was quietly happy with his side’s lot.
"There is no denying that it is a challenging Pool but, if you want to be associated with the best teams in Europe, as London Irish do, then you have to test
yourself against the very best - we will certainly be doing that next season," he added.
"Our progress in the group will be a useful benchmark to how far the club has developed in recent years."
Saracens coach Brendan Venter echoes his counterparts sentiments been while that makes their task of quarter-final qualification even harder, they can expect bumper crowds for the visits of their Pool 2 opponents
Saracens have already taken domestic fixtures to England’s national football stadium, Wembley, with great success and Venter sees no reason why that shouldn't transfer to the continent's biggest stage.
"It's a big competition and we want to be playing the big teams," said Venter.
"A couple of our group matches may be played at Wembley, and we can all look forward to a couple of fantastic European occasions at the national stadium."
Click here to see the 2010/2011 Heineken Cup Draw!
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