posted Jun 9, 2009

bbr if seedings are based on total history please explain bath being 1st seeds to me, also dragons being 3rd seeds and quins 4th!!!
i'm not sure how seedings work, but of the last 3 years 2 1/4s and a semi, pretty sure thats better than bath and biarritz!!

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I was asking the question too, as im unsure. im thinking it amy be over last few years and perhaps taking account league form too.

Guy Noves has just said that he will not be able to be successful in top 14 and H cup, so may decide not too take the latter seriously this year

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posted Jun 9, 2009

Group 1 is not at all easy. In fact, it's one of the tougher groups:

Munster: Magners League champions
Perpignan: French champions
Northampton: Very strong at home and getting stronger with new signings
Treviso: Whipping boys

Munster and Perpignan might be favourites but both could lose at Northampton. In the end, it might come down to bonus points and how many points the teams put past Treviso.

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posted Jun 9, 2009

really, i see treviso turning a poor northampton side over home and away!!!

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posted Jun 9, 2009

Group 1 IMO it's gonna be easy for Munster. The rest will find it hard.

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posted Jun 9, 2009

I'm sorry but I dont understand group 5. Cardiff got to the semi final. surely they should be top seeds and not be in a group with tolouse

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posted Jun 9, 2009

rankings are explained here: http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/12_12782.php

and here are the rankings themselves.http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/121_9900.php

Basically, the better you do in the H-Cup over the previous four years, the better the ranking. It is not only based how far you got, but also how the club was placed in the pool.

So Toulouse in the past four years:
2008/09 second in pool + qrt final = 3+1
2007/08 pool winner + qrt final + semi + losing final = 4+1+2+2
2006/07 second in pool = 3
2005/06 pool winner + qrt final = 4+1
Total: 21

Cardiff:
2008/09 pool win + qrt final + semi = 4+1+2
2007/08 pool win + qrt final = 4+1
2006/07 3rd in pool = 2
2005/06 3rd in pool = 2
Total: 16

And that is why Toulouse are ranked higher than Cardiff

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posted Jun 9, 2009

Group 5 is a nightmare,and a real toughie.I am looking forward to next years competition already!!!!

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posted Jun 10, 2009

Whatever the group, Sale Sharks will struggle next year to get beyond the first round in the Heineken Cup. They are going to be rebuilding I think.

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posted Jun 11, 2009

group 3 no walk in the park either. two tough groups. hard t see a 2nd placed side from these two groups emerging.

elsewhere, think munster, perp, biarritz, stade, glouc & leinster should all progress to quarters.

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posted Jun 11, 2009

bath really do have it tough, edinburgh are the weakest team and they came second in the magners league!!

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