This weekend's Heineken Cup matches

Harlequins have taken the decision to move this match with Munster across the A316 from their traditional home at the Stoop, to the home of English, if not world rugby, namely Twickenham. There will be vacuous spaces at the monolithic stadium, but with around 25000 fans expected, the Londoners have a duty to put in a good performance.This is despite the fact that they have little else to play for. They are certain to finish bottom of Pool 4, after a 13-58 hammering at Castres last weekend. Their supporters have had little to be happy about this term, as to go with their demise in this competition, they have been knocked out of the Powergen Cup and remain in serious danger of relegation in the Zurich Premiership. At present they are in last place, and domestic survival must be the main consideration now.Mark Evans has made three changes to the team. Ugo Monye has recovered from a hand injury and will be welcomed back on to the wing. In the back row Nick Easter and Tony Diprose fill the boots of Maama Molitika and Kai Horstman.Munster have still never been beaten at home in the history of the Heineken Cup, although Quins came about as close as anybody has in Round One. They travelled to Cork in poor form but pushed them all the way to the very end before going down by 9-15. They also came through a potentially very tough contest there last week against the Ospreys by 20-10.Ronan O'Gara was absent for that one, and the influential fly half will also play no part at Twickenham. Paul Burke takes his place to go up against the side he used to play for. Munster have been struck by bad luck over the years, and it would be unfortunate if they did not advance to the quarter finals. To make sure of doing so they must win this game.There is no lack of motivation then, and they should be able to see off a Quins team which has rarely clicked into gear this term. 2/9 is the best price to be found, or there is a handicap of around ten points on the handicap at 10/11.The South West of France is the venue for the vital Pool 1 contest of the weekend, when Biarritz host Wasps at Parc des Sports Aguilera. The French were tremendous last week against Leicester and having won at Welford Road are now favourites to advance as winners from this "Pool of Death."Both coaches have named their strongest possible line-ups and a real area of interest will be in the back row. Serge Betsen made more than twenty tackles against Leicester, but in Joe Wosley goes up against the best tackler in English rugby. Thomas Lievremiont leads from the front in the same way that Lawrence Dallaglio does for Wasps, and Johnny O'Connor and Imanol Harinorduquy are arguably the most exciting young loose forwards in Europe. Their re-acquaintance will be made in the Six Nations. We would expect Wasps to compete better in this vital area than Leicester could.The Londoners must win if they are to have any chance of progression, and this is a similar scenario they faced twelve months ago. On that occasion they travelled to the incredibly hostile Stade Aime Giral in Perpignan and won by 34-6.Their rugby this term has not been as impressive as we have become used to, but Warren Gatland has a way of getting the best out of his players when it comes to the crunch. Two seasons ago they were languishing in mid table at the New Year but then went unbeaten for the remainder of the campaign (with one meaningless exception against Harlequins) and ended up taking the Premiership title and the Parker Pen Challenge Cup come May.There are many top class performers in the side, and having Trevor Leota return will be an advantage, especially at the lineout. Alex King and Matt Dawson were rested for the win over Calvisano last week and so should be sharp, whilst the likes of Abbott, Erinle, Waters, Voyce and Lewsey all have match winning qualities.It is a massive ask against a Biarritz side that was superb last week, but the French are famously unpredictable, and at 7/4 we feel it is worth having a bet that they have an off day. When the two clubs met in week one, Wasps were utterly dominant and have more fight than arguably any other team. This was on display when losing against Leicester, but has many times pulled a victory from the clutches of defeat in recent times. They will not rest until the final whistle, and so long as they start the match strongly, we are confident they can shock their opponents and the odds.