Newport
‘Newport I’m sorry to say, have lost their way, and it follows along the old adage of too many foreign coaches and foreign players. It’s time that Welsh clubs looked inwardly because there is plenty of homegrown talent here already.
‘I don’t imagine they’ll make it to the quarter-final.’
Llanelli
‘Of all the sides we have in Wales, Llanelli are the best hope we’ve got. They’ve got the European pedigree, we saw that blossom last year, and they always raise their game to the big occasion.
‘Plus the majority of their players are Welsh, which is good to see.
‘They are in the one of the easier groups, and I expect them to do well again this year. They should beat Glasgow at home in their first match.’
Swansea
‘I can’t see them doing well in Europe this year. They been disappointing in previous years of the Heineken Cup, and I can’t see them changing this season- particularly in view of recent performances.
‘I can see it being a damage limitation exercise in Montferrand. Montferrand have never lost a Heineken Cup match at home, and I can’t see that changing this year either.
Cardiff
‘Cardiff are improving with every game, and look a different side from the end of last season.
‘I’m delighted to see a Welsh coach Dai Young at the helm and doing so well.
‘Do I expect them to make the quarter-finals? That is a tricky question, and it could come down to their last game … a tricky away match at Biarritz.
‘But the real strength of Cardiff is behind the scrum. They have a very good back line, lots of power, creativity, and ingenuity. But good backs are useless without the ball being given to them…and I see that as being a potential problem.’
Neath
‘Neath flatter to deceive. They play a kicking game, and rely very heavily on the boot of Lee Jarvis.
‘I question their ball handling skills, but there is a hunger about them this season, and that has been building over the last few years.
‘It’s vital that they beat Leicester on Friday night otherwise they can kiss goodbye to Europe this year.’
What do you think…?
Have your say on the wru.co.uk message board
