Jeux Sans Frontieres

Some 40 odd years ago, Sunday afternoon entertainment on TV included watching teams from European cities do battle in a series of silly games, which were watched over by the shrieking Stuart Hall, and his side kick Eddie Waring, with the eventual winners proudly receiving a meaningless trophy.

This Sunday brings the final round of group matches in this season’s Amlin Cup, and for many fans, this competition is on a similar level.

However, for Leeds Carnegie, and their opponents, Bourgoin, this Sunday brings a slightly more serious, European, winner takes all clash at Headingley.

Without being disrespectful to the other teams in this pool, it was always likely that the group would be dominated by Sunday’s rivals, and so it has proved. They will kick off level on points at the top of the league, but because of the rules for qualification should teams finish level at the top, then Leeds must win to progress to the quarter finals. A draw, unless Leeds can acquire an extra point by virtue of a try scoring bonus will not be enough.

So, what can we expect? It is a competition that was not at the top of the priority list, but now, with a chance to go into the last 8, and with another 2 week gap before GP hostilities resume, I believe we will see most of Leeds ‘big guns’ taking the field on Sunday. There is also, again because of the way the competition is structured, a strong possibility that we would be playing one of the Heineken Cup ‘failures’, at Headingley in the next round should we progress.

Bourgoin, like Leeds, are struggling near the bottom of their domestic league, but they have won 7 of their 17 starts, so they too could be reasonably optimistic of their chances of reaching the quarter finals. Ex ‘Negie Alberto Di Bernardo is now plying his trade with our visitors, and will no doubt be seeking to put one across his former club, but hopefully he will spend most of the afternoon defending, and not get too much opportunity to keep the scoreboard ticking over. However, French teams in general are renowned poor travellers, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Bourgoin decide to concentrate their efforts on improving their league position at home, and send a side containing one or two fringe players to give them experience.

Even if that is the case, Leeds must not underestimate their task. Our resident weather forecaster has predicted a dry day and good conditions for this mouth watering clash, so hopefully both sides will be prepared to play running rugby to entertain the fans. If Leeds can start strongly, I see no reason why they can’t secure that bonus point win. That will guarantee a home draw in the last 8, and for me, the icing on the cake would be opponents who we do not meet in the GP.

I would happily exchange any of our Amlin victories for a GP one, but in the circumstances, let’s enjoy the success we are having, and may it continue beyond Sunday. I’m going for a Leeds win by 18 points.

Enjoy the game.