Former Ireland and Lions manager, Donal Lenihan, made it a clean sweep as he correctly predicted the outcome of every game in round two of the Heineken Cup. The rugby legend has been making his predictions for the Heineken Cup season using the online match prediction game Heineken Star Predictor. When asked about Munster’s performance against Edinburgh, Lenihan was clear: “Munster are not Heineken Cup contenders this year”
Scores of rugby fans have signed up to beat the pros with their own match predictions using Heineken Star Predictor and each week they compete for prizes of Heineken Cup match tickets and the ultimate prize of an exclusive VIP package to the Heineken Cup final at Aviva Stadium. Among those already playing the game are Irish cricket star Niall O’Brien, Newstalk’s Ger Gilroy, rugby pundit Brent Pope, former Dublin GAA star Jason Sherlock and musician and broadcaster Tom Dunne.
Explaining his belief that Munster will not win a third Heineken Cup crown this season Lenihan said: “I have not seen a reaction like that from Munster players at a final whistle in a long time. They knew that they had to perform. It was a huge psychological boost for them. However, we must temper that with the fact that Edinburgh are awful”.
Broadcaster George Hook got his weekend off to a perfect start. The Corkman correctly predicted the results of the first ten matches but came undone when Ospreys failed to beat Leicester Tigers at Welford Road. Hook backed the Welsh team to pip the two time champions on their home patch, but it wasn’t to be. His mistake means Donal Lenihan and George Hook are neck and neck at the top of the Heineken Star Predictor pro league after two rounds.
Lenihan, who believes Connacht will win three matches in the pool stage, was full of praise for the westerners: “Connacht were brilliant, they took on the English champions and proved that they have what it takes to make an impact.”
The rugby legend has marked Clermont Auvergne as the team to beat: “Clermont look in a league of their own at the moment. Their performance is on a different level. Clermont versus Leinster is the place to be for round three. It’s not going to be easy for Leinster to click into gear as they will be handicapped by the autumn internationals. They will probably only have one more match together before Clermont. It’s a big ask. After two rounds you would have to say they are the team in the driving seat.”
Looking ahead to round three and four of the Heineken Cup Hook said: “The big battalions from France are looking strong, Toulon, Toulouse and Clermont Auvergne together with Harlequins and Saracens look the teams to beat from what we have seen in the early matches. The back to back games in December will be much harder to predict and that’s when Donal and I will be fighting the public hardest for the top of the Star Predictor leader board.”
To be in with a chance of winning match tickets, and an opportunity of beating George Hook, play Heineken Star Predictor; log on to www.heineken.ie/heinekencup and register by 5.00pm Friday 7th December.
