On a weekend when even the English Premiership’s headline fixture between Chelsea v Manchester United was postponed due to arctic conditions, it was perhaps no surprise that two Heineken Cup Round Four fixtures also fell victim to the incredibly cold weather.

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It is nothing short of remarkable that 10 of the 12 fixtures were played across Europe on a weekend which saw airports such as Heathrow, Amsterdam and Frankfurt closed for long periods. The snow and ice might have put the brakes on those traveling during the busy holiday season but for most of the teams challenging for a place in the quarter finals of the Heineken Cup it was full steam ahead.

While nobody won the Heineken Cup this weekend, Round Four of Europe’s elite competition is without doubt the most critical for those teams with realistic aspirations of progressing to the knock out stages. Although every game is important, it is Round Four which makes or breaks a team’s season. With only two rounds remaining, it is now possible to predict who will still be involved come March.

On a weekend which must have felt light years away from South Africa’s summer months, 28 South Africans did their best to keep warm across the ten games which took place.

Friday, December 17

Pool 4: Biarritz (Fra) 34 – 3 Aironi Rugby (Ita)
South Africans: 1

Pretty much as expected; Biarritz wasted no time in inflicting revenge on the Italian outfit. A week after providing Aironi with their maiden Heineken Cup win, Biarritz secured an emphatic victory at Parc des Sports on Friday. This bonus point win keeps the French team firmly on top the pool. Biarritz will now travel to Ulster in January looking to seal a home quarter-final.

Technically only one South African was involved in this fixture. South Africa’s Gareth Krause sat this one out on the bench but South African born but Italian internationals Jaco Erasmus and Quintin Geldenhuys lined out for the Italian side.

Pool 2: Racing Metro 92 (Fra) 14 – 19 Saracens (Eng)
South Africans: 10

Saracens restored some pride in their disappointing European campaign with a creditable Heineken Cup win in Paris on Friday. The club, whose squad is full of South African imports, had lost all three matches in Pool Two heading into last night’s match and have no realistic chance of reaching the knockout stages.

It was certainly a strange night for the ten South African’s involved as constant snow made the pitch barely playable at times. In fact it was hard to make out the touch and try lines despite the best efforts from local ground staff. However the conditions did not stop former Shark’s out half and centre Brad Barrett (declared for England) scoring a well taken try for Sarries in the first half. It must have been all the sweeter for Barrett considering he gifted a try in last week’s home defeat against the same opposition. Saracens actually led this fixture 0-16 at half time. Not long into the second half the gap was only two points but Saracens did very well to hang on for what is Brendan Venter’s last European Game in charge.

Also lining out for Saracens were the former Stormers trio consisting of scrum-half Neil de Kock, back row forward Justin Melck and hooker Schalk Brits. Former Nottingham prop Petrus du Plessis was named in the front row while former Lions number eight Ernst Joubert came on off the bench for Namibian flanker Jacques Burger.

Frans Steyn and Jacques Cronje lined out for Racing Metro while young back row forward Bernard Leroux was named on the bench for the home side.

Saturday, December 18

Pool 4: Bath (Eng) 22 – 26 Ulster (Ire)
South Africans: 8

Perhaps the money spent on quality South African imports will be the difference for Ulster this time round. The Northern Irish team, who have not made it past the pool stage since being crowned European Champions in 1999, won this critical battle in the West of England. The win repeated last season’s historic ‘double’ over Bath and will go down as one of Ulster’s finest days.

While Bath resign themselves to non-qualification for the second season in a row, the Ulstermen can now look forward to an epic clash in January with Pool Four leaders Biarritz.

It was a yellow card for Springbok Butch James which provided the catalyst for the men from Ulster. The math show that when James plays Bath tend to win and when he doesn’t they don’t. This time last year Bath – minus James – were heading for Christmas in eleventh place in the league with only two wins from eleven games and were virtually out of Europe. With their South Africa fly-half back, the next eleven league games produced ten wins, James not just orchestrating the rise up the table to fourth place but choreographing it as well.

But the big question now is just how long even a fit James will be around to repair Bath’s season. It is an open secret that South Africa want their 2007 World Cup winner home in plenty of time to challenge for a place in the side that defends the title next autumn. It seems to be a question of when the club let him go.

So far Bath have managed to fend off the attentions of both the Golden Lions and James’s former side, the Sharks, but are prepared to talk about ending his contract at the end of the season. However, a delegation from the Lions was back in Bath last week apparently flush with funds and prepared to pay what Bath are demanding by way of compensation to have James around for the start of the Super 15 competition in February – coincidentally the same month the 31-year-old is set to marry his South African fiancee.

Luke Watson, who is certain to return to South Africa in the New Year, was again not available to lead out his side but in his absence fellow country man Michael Claassens did the honours for the second week running. Former South African schools captain Pieter Dixon was named on the bench for the English side.

Five South Africans lined out for Ulster. Johann Muller lead out the side and was joined by top signing Ruan Pienaar. Robbie Diack came back into the side at number eight, Pedrie Wannenburg again started on the flank and BJ Botha provided much of Ulster’s presence up front.

Pool 2: Leinster (Ire) 24 – 8 Clermont Auvergne (Fra)
South Africans: 2
       
Leinster marketing maestros dubbed this match the ‘Fever in the Aviva.’ And despite the freezing cold conditions there is no doubt Leinster turned up the heat to make this one hell of a party for the Irish fans in Dublin’s new Aviva Stadium. Prop Cian Healy crossed for two tries as the home side closed in on a place in the quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup with a comfortable victory over French Champions Clermont Auvergne.

A record Heineken Cup pool attendance for a game in Ireland of 44 873 saw Joe Schmidt’s side establish a 10-3 half-time lead on the back of Healy’s eighth-minute try.  Third-quarter tries from Healy and flanker Sean O’Brien, added to nine points from the boot of fly-half Jonathan Sexton, then put the result beyond doubt. Leinster were boosted by the return of their two most influential players, British and Irish Lions Jamie Heaslip and Brian O’Driscoll. In fact the only negative from a Leinster perspective was not picking up a bonus point for scoring a fourth try. But Leinster look like a side capable of going far in this year’s competition and five point cushion at the top of Pool Two should be enough to see them bag a home quarter final in March.

Former Cheetahs hooker Richardt Strauss again demonstrated his skills in open play when nearly crossing the line inside the first five minutes for Leinster. Former Lions prop Heinke van der Merwe came on for man of the match Cian Healy towards the end of the match.

Pool 3: Ospreys (Wal) 19 – 15 Munster (Ire)
South Africans: 1

Pool Three has provided some of the most exciting rugby in the competition so far. Dubbed The Pool of Death by many before a ball was even kicked it has proven to be just that. Munster were battled out of it by an incredible Ospreys scrum in a feisty contest that occasionally threatened to boil over, but ultimately produced another high-octane encounter that has become a Heineken Cup trademark.  Will this be the season when the Ospreys finally make an impression in Europe? Rugby traditionalists will have loved what they saw on display here; a pack which ultimately won the game at the set piece for the Ospreys. This was the Welsh team’s first win against Munster in the Heineken Cup.

The loss is not the end for Munster, they have yet again managed to loose with a bonus point in the bag, but there is no doubt this result makes things a lot trickier for the Irish giants. A win on the road against Toulon and at home against London Irish is now required if Munster are to be with a chance of making it to the knock out stages for a record thirteenth season in succession. 

The Ospreys starting XV featured six Lions and a couple of All Blacks. The Welsh region are now on an unbeaten run of fifteen Heineken Cup games at the Liberty Stadium since losing to Leicester five seasons ago, in which time they have twice beaten Leicester and Clermont and now Munster. This was a badly needed victory for the Welsh outfits but they also have much to do if they are to qualify for the next round and remain one point behind Munster in third place in Pool Three.

Although it was generally a bad day for Munster’s tight five, it was Ireland’s Tony Buckley and later John Hayes who were consistently penalized in the scrum. Former Cheetah’s prop Wian du Preez was not once deemed the guilty party as his front row were put under enormous Welsh pressure.  All in all it was another solid performance from the South African loose-head.

Pool 3: Toulon (Fra) 38 – 17 London Irish (Eng)
South Africans: 2

Despite a twenty-one point victory, this is a game which could have gone either way. The home side led 17-0 at the break but a 14 man London Irish side managed to battle themselves right back into contention when they leveled the score at 17-17 in the second half. However the extra man showed as Toulon punished Irish’s red card for wing Sailosi Tagicakibau with a strong final quarter.

The win leaves Toulon on top of Pool Three with Munster and the Ospreys still in contention for an automatic qualification (by winning the group). Two Boks were involved in the contest: the prolific Joe van Niekerk is managing to stay fit and is in fantastic form for the French side while former Stormers prop Faan Rautenbach again lined out for the Exiles.

Pool 5: Benetton Treviso (Ita) 15 – 38 Scarlets (Wal)
South Africans: 2

Unfortunately for the Italians they were unable to repeat their heroics when beating the same opposition in the opening Magners League fixture of the season. This bonus point victory puts the Welsh side in a strong position to qualify, however, with tough matches against Perpignan and Leicester to come this group is far from decided. All in all it was a work man like display by the Welsh who dominated the Italians in most aspects of the match.

Two South Africans were involved for the Italian team. Veteran out-half Willem de Waal and second row Cornielus Van Zyl were named in the starting XV.

Pool 6: Toulouse (Fra) vs Glasgow (Scot) – postponed

Toulouse’s Heineken Cup clash with Glasgow initially scheduled for Saturday was then postponed until Sunday before now being moved to Tuesday at 19:00. Toulouse will be expected to win this one comfortably and top Pool Six ahead of Rounds Five and Six next January.

Sunday, December 19

Pool 1: Edinburgh (Sco) vs Castres (Fra) – postponed   

A new date for the fixture is yet to be announced, but it is possible the game could be played on Monday if conditions improve.

Pool 1: Cardiff Blues (Wal) 19 – 23 Northampton (Eng)
South Africans: 1

For the second week running Northampton scored 23 points against the Blues and for the second week running it was enough for victory. It has been a fantastic season so far for the former European Champions, who top Pool One, but Northampton know better than anyone that it where you are at the end of the season that counts.

For the Cardiff Blues it looks as though their dream of reaching the Heineken Cup quarter finals is over. Matters were made increasingly difficult for the Welsh team when number eight Xavier Rush was red carded for a dangerous tackle on Courtney Lawes.

The only positive from a Cardiff Blues perspective was introduction of British Lion Jamie Roberts at half-time for his first outing of the season following a wrist operation in the summer.

South African prop Regardt Dreyer was named on the bench for the second week running for Northampton.

Pool 5: Leicester (Eng) 22  – 22 Perpignan (Fra)
South Africans: 0

Leicester may well be left to seriously regret their missed opportunities in this fascinating encounter. Twice they had the opportunity to get themselves six points clear of the French outfit but in the end had to settle for a draw. Perpignan left Welford Road with two points, Scarlets now top the group and Pool Five remains wide open.

It was a brave performance by Perpignan who traveled to Leicester for Sunday’s vital Pool Five return clash without three of their French internationals. As part of the agreement between the League and Federation French clubs are obliged to give internationals that took part in the November Tests one week off before December 31. USAP have allowed place-kicking full-back Jérôme Porical, prop Jérôme Schuster and hooker Guilhem Guirado to take a week-long vacation as a result.

Leicester will face Treviso at home in Round Six in what should result in a victory but must travel to Wales to face Scarlets in Round Five which is a must win game for both sides. The Heineken Cup has a way of bringing pools down to the wire and this season is no different with a number of Pools now in similar positions whereby three teams still have a realistic chance of automatic qualification.

Pool 6: Wasps (Eng) 38 – 10 Newport-Gwent Dragons (Wal)
South Africans: 1

Wasps moved top of Pool Six and kept their Heineken Cup quarter-final hopes very much alive with a good win over the Dragons at Adams Park on Sunday. The match had been locked at 3-3 at half-time before Wasps took control by running in four tries after the break to earn a bonus point.

A crowd of only 1 236 attended a match that was under threat of postponement until late morning. If Wasps can keep their nerve over Glasgow Warriors, then the Round Six clash with Toulouse will be a winner-takes-all thriller. South African tight head Shaun Ruwers was named on the bench for the English side.

Summary

Round Four will go down as one of the coldest and most weather affected weekends in Heineken Cup history. Arctic conditions across Europe forced two fixtures to be postponed and many others to be played in conditions not conducive to expansive rugby. These are the days when forward fire power and an ability to tuck the ball up the shirt can be the difference.

A little over four weeks remain until Round Five of this season’s Heineken Cup gets underway. A week later Round Six will conclude the pool stages of the competition before eight teams are matched in four mouth watering quarter-finals. Realistically eleven teams are now contesting the six automatic qualification spots for topping their respective Pools. The final two quarter finalists qualify as best runners up from the six Pools.

Although the various leagues across the Northern Hemisphere continue over the coming weeks, it will not be until mid January 2011 before Heineken Cup action returns. Shortly after which the Six Nations and, of course, the Super 15 tournaments get underway.  The Heineken Cup Final will be played in May, then it’s the turn of the Tri-Nations before the Rugby World Cup kicks off in New Zealand… a relentless but thrilling nine months await.