Quarter Final calculator

Someone, French by the looks of it, has put together a Heineken Cup Quarter Final calculator (or calculatrice for the Francophones).

The inventor displays his new creation

Frankly, it’s brilliant.

Click on the link below, fill out your predictions.

I got Perpignan at home for Leinster…I’d settle for that!

http://aulus.pagesperso-orange.fr/hcup.html

Edit: I had predicted a tight, non-bonus point win for the Boys in Blue (rather than the boys in Blue and White hoops), i.e. 1-4 in group points. When I reversed the score (i.e. 4-1 to Racing Metro) cet. par. we got Ulster away. A 4-0, 5-0, 5-1 or 5-2 group points win for Racing Metro or a draw also gave the same result, whereas a 4-0, 4-1, 5-1 or 5-2 win for Leinster also got us Perpignan at home.

For the record, the scores I went for were:

Contepomi to return to Leinster?

This weekend’s results have left open the mouthwatering prospect of Dr. Phil returning to the RDS/Lansdowne Road with his Toulon side, fresh from a handy win against an ageing, ill-tempered and ultimately clueless Munster side.

As things stand, Leinster are ranked third among the teams that would qualify for the last 8, with Toulon in 6th, meaning that the sides would play each other in a match that would surely be played at Lansdowne Road after the 6 Nations.

The teams currently occupying the top eight spots are:

1. Toulouse
2. Northampton
3. Leinster
4. Perpignan
5. Biarritz
6. Toulon
7. Leicester
8. Ulster

Other teams still in with a shout of either winning their group or finishing among the best runners up are Clermont, Bath (though very unlikely), Scarlets and Wasps.

It’s a pretty stellar cast of the best teams in Europe, with all bar three of those 12 having previously contested a European final, and seven having previously won the competition. Further, the three non-finalists are Toulon, Clermont and Scarlets, none of which would be an easy proposition for Leinster.

New Leo and the schooling of Gavin

Just arrived back in the door from the RDS. What an incredible performance from the boys in blue!

My accumulator on Leinster, Ulster, Toulon, the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers is being ambushed by Biarritz, but after watching Sean O’Brien (or am I required under Irish media law to refer to him as “Tullow native Sean O’Brien”?!) play like that I don’t mind donating a fiver to the Paddy Power benevolent fund!

However, despite the sterling efforts of 22 men in blue (poor Heinke didn’t get a run) there was an impostor wearing blue prancing around the sideline…just who is the new Leo the Lion? Could someone please teach him the following fundamentals of being Leo?:

– There are 4 elements to the gun show, the Arnie, the Usain Bolt, the double fist-pump and the single fist-pump (wrist backwards)

– You never EVER give up mid-gun show because the crowd are not joining in

– It is compulsory to carry (and use) a Bodhran

I did, however, enjoy his  high-fiving of Jared Saunders as the Sarries replacement came back from the half time break.
All that being said, if the 15 on the pitch are going to play like that every week, I don’t care what Leo’s at on the sideline!

As a final note, it was good to see Gavin Henson come back…come back to bench having left it earlier in the match…is there any greater insult than being subbed on, then off again? Perhaps there is: such as when he got dump tackled by Cian Healy; imagine being dumped by a (DJ) Church for the second time in 12 months!

P.S. Since writing this, the Ulstermen have pulled through and kept my bet alive…waheyyyyyy!!!

There’s only one Ricky Hatton… ahem… Brian O’Driscoll

We will leave the pre match build ups to the likes of Sky and BBC but we did come across this rather funny piece during the week.

The one and only Brian O’Driscoll being confused for… well… the one and only Ricky Hatton. The video speaks for itself.

I like the way Jonny Wilkinson clarifies that he doesn’t usually surprise people in toilets as if there was some doubt in the public’s mind!

And for all you Ricky Hatton fans of which there are quite a few at Points of Blue here’s the Hitman.

I’m sure Jooooooooe would love if the below was adopted by Leinster fans and if you look closely you will prob see the other POB members in the crowd at some of these fights.

New Leinster Song – Dorce Outsoide

A huge shout to JL Pagano (@HarpinOnRugby) for this great adaptation of Rubberbandits ‘Horse Outside’. Good luck learning it before Saturday! Sung to the tune of the Rubberbandits’ ‘Horse Outside’…..

I play in blue for Leinster, they call me Jonny Ten

I’m lookin for a chance to beat those Munster boys again

I know it won’t be easy, it won’t come as a gift

The loikes of Isa, Drico, Luke & Shags will hafta shift

But they aint getting nowhere without lineout scrum & maul

The loikes of Leo, Jamie, Cian & Sean to win the ball

And when I get that pass from Reds, and see what’s in my way

I’ll drop my shoulder, chorge ahead and this is what I’ll say

I’ll say…

.

Fock your Strings & Warwick I’ve got Dorce outsoide

Fock your Tuitupou I’ve got Dorce outsoide

Fock your Earls & Mafi I’ve got Dorce outsoide

When I’m lookin for a try I’ve got the Dorce outsoide

.

He went to school in Clongowes, then at Lansdowne he was great

He stepped up to the interpros in 1998

Tackles like a demon, blessed with blinding pace

When he got that try at Croker I slagged Ronan to his face!

We’ve got world class backs, down the OarDeeEsh

And our droive for foive showed em all who’s best!

So when we get to Thomond, and I’m facing Wian du Preez

I’ll look that loose-head up and down and give ‘im one of these

I’ll say…

.

Fock your Bull & Quinny I’ve got Dorce outsoide

Fock your Paul O’Connell I’ve got Dorce outsoide

Fock your Fla & Leamy I’ve got Dorce outsoide

When I’m lookin for a try I’ve got the Dorce outsoide

C’mon Gordon D’Arcy, let’s get across that loine

Let’s play those fockers off the pork for yet another toime

And if you think my taunting makes me sound a cruel bloke

Don’t worry; when we all wear green we’ll laugh and have a joke

Cos if rugby had no banter, it wouldn’t be the same

Its fans know how to keep control unlike some other games!

And if Munster thinks theyown this tune, they don’t and here is why

I’ve just got these four words for them – “The Fields of ATHENRY”???!!!

.

EVERYBODY…

Fock your Strings & Warwick I’ve got Dorce outsoide

Fock your Tuitupou I’ve got Dorce outsoide

Fock your Earls & Mafi I’ve got Dorce outsoide

When I’m lookin for a try I’ve got the Dorce outsoide

He’s gonna move inside… He’s gonna cross that line…

He’s gonna beat yiz down in Thomond Pearrrrrk (Limerick accent)

.

lyrics © JL Pagano 2011

Mon Dieu! Heaslip & Sexton to leave Leinster?

Which of Leinster’s two big stars will be plying their trade abroad next season in France? It is almost certain that at least one of them will be. Both Jamie Heaslip’s and Jonathan Sexton’s respective contracts are up at the end of the season and there have been strong rumours, though he has denied it, that Sexton has been to Paris to see Michael Cheika and even stayed in his apartment. When you hear Philip Browne say at the Ulster Bank sponsorship launch last Monday that the IRFU will not able to keep all the top players here, it looks like he preparing us for some bad news. There was also some media speculation last week that Australian and Waratahs outhalf, Berrick Barnes, was on his way to the RDS next year. Two and two equals ???

It is hard to believe the IRFU and Leinster would let them go but after a World Cup but perhaps they won’t mind as much as long as they are back in the fold in time for the 2015 WC.

I personally find it infuriating that the IRFU would allow such marquee players to leave Leinster. I understand the thinking from the players. They have a relatively short career to earn top money and are under the constant threat of injury therefore they are entitled to seek the top compensation. If Leinster/Ireland are to win European and World honours in the future it is vital to keep our top players. It is time for the IRFU to put up or shut up.

Watch this space. Or alternatively, just ask Jamie Heaslip on twitter.

PS. I am not trying to sensationalise this story but want to express my anger if both of these world class players are not at Leinster next year. I hope the media hype is the work of both players respective agents to secure a better deal much like Wayne Rooney and Manchester United. Until then, allez les bleus.