The Six Nations is coming and the next two weekends will offer an appetiser, as the Heineken Cup group stage reaches its conclusion. All eight quarter-final places are still up for grabs and some pulsating cross-border contests lie ahead, starting at Thomond Park tonight.
Pool 1
Sale were the Premiership champions then and they had already beaten Munster, who needed a bonus-point win to top the group, convincingly at Edgeley Park. But they were blown away by the ferocity of Munster's opening 20-minute salvo, Sébastien Chabal was marked out of the game and the home side's victory was resounding.
Sale will have learned from that. They have the same coaches and a number of players who were involved that night. They will know that they have to weather the opening storm and I fancy them to cause an upset – though that is not to downplay the size of their task.
Sale have won at Clermont Auvergne this season and in Charlie Hodgson they have a fly-half with as strong a kicking game as Munster's Ronan O'Gara. They may have to hide Hodgson in defence but, if he is given any sort of platform by his forwards, he will be able to boss the game. He could prove the difference between two well-matched sides.
Pool 2
Over the years Wasps have never been more dangerous than when their backs are against the wall and this is an occasion for us to relish. We have been on the wrong end of big defeats in the past and we have always bounced back. We have to do so again.
Pool 3
With Treviso in the group, the runner-up may well go through to the last eight. The seeding system based on past performance in Europe adopted this season has undoubtedly made a difference but being pooled with an Italian team still makes it more likely that two teams will progress.
The Ospreys will have it all to do in Perpignan, even with Dan Carter missing, and it will be a big test for them. Knowing a number of their players as well as I do, I think they will emerge with at least a bonus point. They will then back themselves at home to the Tigers.
Pool 4
It is a remarkable transformation – all credit to their coaching staff and players. It is some achievement to have beaten Stade Français twice and, though Quins may have suffered a dip in form since the second of those victories, a warm welcome will await them in Ulster tomorrow. I am sure they will respond.
Pool 5
Bath were made to fight all the way at the Recreation Ground in the first match between the sides and the Dragons will again push them hard. You would back Bath to win because of the quality they have throughout the side but I cannot see there being much in it.
Pool 6
Gloucester need to win and deny the Blues that bonus point. They also need a maximum five points themselves, with a final-round visit to Biarritz following five days later. It will be a compelling Anglo-Welsh encounter, a game which sums up the appeal of the Heineken Cup because it is so hard to call.
