I follow the Glasgow warriors forum a bit to see what's going on over there and their opinion of the Scotsman or hoots man as they like to call it is one of complete disregard. Aparantly their rugby coverage is one of fantasy and best taken with a grain of salt.
That said its most likely inevitable that pro12 unions will have to surrender some automatic slots in the interest of compromise. What's most important IMO is that it remains a competition controlled by 6 unions and not 3 legs like Perl want.

Looks like the PRO12 unions may be prepared to concede a few qualifying spots and concentrate on fighting for cash:

www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby/top-rugby-s...ot-for-sru-1-2969914

ummm, wrote: I've got mine

www.scotweb.co.uk/materialproducts/55244

Man - I am seriously impressed. :woohoo: :woohoo:

Yeah, Munster will be confident of their chances of making it out of their pool. It will be tricky for Leinster but if they take care of business at home and get at least 1 away win it might only be a matter of bonus points. Not sure with Ulster. Given their opposition they could finish anywhere from 5-1 to 3-3. They'll need to top the pool to make it to the knockout stages.

Connacht will obviously have a tough time and if they are to drop a game to Zebre next season I would rather it be here than the Rabo12. With the uncertainty of the 14/15 HEC and qualification league position may be more important than the past while they could still finish 3rd in the pool even with a loss to Zebre.

I've got mine

www.scotweb.co.uk/materialproducts/55244

sea_point wrote: Toulouse/Zebre away in October would be nice. shorts weather still... :woohoo:

or even kilt's :sick: :woohoo:

Toulouse/Zebre away in October would be nice. shorts weather still... :woohoo:

Pool 1 Leinster Rugby, Northampton Saints, Ospreys, Castres Olympique
Pool 2 Toulon, Cardiff Blues, Glasgow Warriors, Exeter Chiefs
Pool 3 Toulouse, Saracens, Connacht Rugby, Zebre
Pool 4 ASM Clermont Auvergne, Harlequins, Scarlets, Racing Metro 92
Pool 5 Ulster Rugby, Leicester Tigers, Montpellier, Benetton Treviso
Pool 6 Munster Rugby, Perpignan, Edinburgh Rugby, Gloucester Rugby

Could have been a lot worse. The main thing I'm happy with is that we didn't get Harlequins. Won't feel right not playing them next season though.

Toulouse in Galway may offer (remote) possibilities. Saracens are a dogged team but we can give them a game at home at least. Don't think we'll get much / anything away to either of those two.

Two wins over Zebre and 3rd place would be my minimum aim. 3rd place would get us some valuable ranking points with future campaigns in mind. We have walked the tight rope a bit against Zebre at times but we need to win those two games. I think we may take one scalp during the group but my main concern would be 8 points (or more) v Zebre.

Lets see how the schedule plays out.

Leinster got badly done over for the 2nd year running. However assuming Ospreys don't spook them too much, they should still emerge from that group but after a summer of upheaval they maybe heading into an away quarter final.

Ulster will have mixed feelings, 3 tough away dates, getting the right result in Treviso could determine their fate.

Munster have got to be very happy, they should be looking towards qualification from that pool unless Perpignan and Gloucester strengthen significantly.

rossie wrote: Its always 2nd + 3rd wkend of oct, dec and jan. The back to backs in dec and reverse of oct in jan.

Thanks rossie but think it will be 1st/2nd weekends in Dec as the 3rd is only 3 days before Christmas

That would make it
11th-13th & 18th-20th of OCT
6th-8th & 13th-15th of DEC
10th-12th & 17th-19th of JAN

Summer timetable for a lot of airlines runsuntil 25th/26th Oct so should get 1st away match in without too much touble.

rossie wrote: Its always 2nd + 3rd wkend of oct, dec and jan. The back to backs in dec and reverse of oct in jan.

2013/14 Heineken Cup pools

Pool 1 Leinster Rugby, Northampton Saints, Ospreys, Castres Olympique
Pool 2 Toulon, Cardiff Blues, Glasgow Warriors, Exeter Chiefs
Pool 3 Toulouse, Saracens, Connacht Rugby, Zebre
Pool 4 ASM Clermont Auvergne, Harlequins, Scarlets, Racing Metro 92
Pool 5 Ulster Rugby, Leicester Tigers, Montpellier, Benetton Treviso
Pool 6 Munster Rugby, Perpignan, Edinburgh Rugby, Gloucester Rugby

2013/14 Heineken Cup dates

Round 1 11/12/13 October 2013
Round 2 18/19/20 October 2013

Round 3 6/7/8 December 2013
Round 4 13/14/15 December 2013

Round 5 10/11/12 January 2014
Round 6 17/18/19 January 2014

Quarter-finals 4/5/6 April 2014

Semi-finals 25/26/27 April 2014

Final 23/24/25 May 2014

Its always 2nd + 3rd wkend of oct, dec and jan. The back to backs in dec and reverse of oct in jan.

Anyone know when the fixture list will be announced? Or even the weekends the matches will be played?

pinky wrote:

salmson wrote: Cape Town the week before Christmas....

I heard Nigel Wray was in negotiations with the Roscommon County board to have it as a double bill with the County Final in the Hyde.

How do you say "Circle the wagons, boys" in Afrikaans?

salmson wrote: Cape Town the week before Christmas....

I heard Nigel Wray was in negotiations with the Roscommon County board to have it as a double bill with the County Final in the Hyde.

Cape Town the week before Christmas....

We rode our luck against Zebre last year, I fancy them to beat us at least once in our 4 meetings next year.

Toulouse are probably the best Tier 1 team to get, they're not hitting the heights of previous seasons.

I get bored to tears watching Saracens. I saw them against Racing Metro in Brussels and it was a snooze fest. And with their owners who knows what country they'll move our game to!