DALLAGLIO’S LOOK AHEAD | EUROPEAN ACTION PREVIEW
LAWRENCE DALLAGLIO tells Morning Wire how he thinks London clubs will fare in this weekend’s fixtures in the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup
OSPREYS V LONDON IRISH
(Heineken Cup, Friday)
Ospreys will be disappointed to have lost against Toulon last week as they held firm until the last quarter of the game. This is a really strong looking group so neither team can afford to lose too many games. London Irish had a great win over Munster but it’ll be interesting to see how their injuries will impact performance going forward. Ospreys to win for me; Irish will be pleased to come away with a bonus point and no more injuries.
SARACENS V LEINSTER
(Heineken Cup, Saturday)
This is another tough group and this fixture looks to be a must-win game for Saracens following a round one defeat. Formidable opposition in the form of Leinster will tell us a lot about Sarries’ European hopes this season. Another defeat would see their Heineken Cup chances diminish and the focus this season might then turn to Premiership success. Leinster need an away victory in the group to guarantee qualification and will target this game. It will be interesting to see what kind of team Saracens put out but I predict a closely fought home win.
HARLEQUINS V CAVALIERI PRATO
(Amlin Challenge Cup, Saturday) Quins are playing well at the moment but only seem to be doing the business at home. This is reflected by last week’s defeat to Bayonne which was not unexpected. Cavalieri will be confident after a great win against Connacht, last season’s Amlin Challenge Cup semi-finalists. My guess is that Quins will leverage home advantage for a fairly convincing victory.
WASPS V GLASGOW
(Heineken Cup, Sunday)
Wasps will have been disappointed after just being edged out in Toulouse. It was a good performance against the reigning champions despite difficult conditions and they fully deserved a bonus point. This is yet another tough pool and a must-win game against Glasgow. These two played in pre-season, with Wasps the emphatic winners 36-17, but Glasgow enjoyed a good home win in round one against Newport and will be confident. Wasps to win; victory is key to show that they will be serious contenders this season.
Lawrence Dallaglio is an ambassador for Amlin, premium partner of the Heineken Cup and title partner of the Amlin Challenge Cup.