MILES HARRISON'S ROUND 3 PREVIEW

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3
Castres (Fra) v Munster (Ire)(KO 7.30pm)
LIVE on Sky Sports 2, 7pm

Munster have lots of experience in Europe and experience of coming through crunch fixtures like this one, just as they did against Gloucester last year to decide that group. They'll need all that experience to make sure they come away from this match with something.
These sides have a long tradition of facing each other in this competition. In fact this will be their seventh meeting in the Heineken Cup - a record only matched by Toulouse versus Edinburgh - with Munster winning four and Castres two. This reflects Munster's standing but they've all been tight games, even in Ireland.
Munster have struggled by their standards in Europe this season. They beat Quins at home and the Ospreys away but only just.
Castres in France will be a further notch up though and the Stringer-O'Gara combination will be critical if Munster want to come away with any points.
PREDICTION:
I wouldn't be surprised if Castres won. Munster need to limit the bonus points, stay within seven and stop the French from getting four tries. If they can do that, then they can welcome Castres back to Thomond Park in good shape. The Frenchmen won't fancy the return if they give too much away to Munster in their own backyard. All the same, I'll go for a Castres win on Friday.

Pool 6
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4
Stade Francais (Fra) v Ulster (Ire)(KO 5.30pm)
LIVE on Sky Sports 2, 5pm

Stade have been really impressive this season. Fabien Galthie has made a big impression in his first year as coach and they all seem very happy. They are clearly a club who know where they are going, what they're doing and there really is a good vibe around the whole squad.

Stade came through the opening two games with a maximum ten points and this is going to be a really tough one for the Ulster boys.
Playing Stade away is about as tough as it gets but just like the Castres-Munster clash, this is a match with fantastic French-Irish rivalry. They met in the 1998-99 semi-final when Ulster came out 33-27 winners and were also in the same group last season when Ulster won at home and lost by just three points in Paris.
Having said that, a year on, Ulster are not in the form they were and Stade are in better shape, so there has been a widening of the gap between the sides.
PREDICTION:
I'll have to go for Stade.

Pool 2
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4
Treviso (Ita) v Bath (Eng) KO 1.30pm

Treviso are not a team to be taken lightly as they proved with their shock 34-0 win over Bourgoin in the last round. That's the beauty of this great sporting competition, it is wonderfully unpredictable - mind you, of all the shock results this was one of the biggest. I don't think anyone expected that score!
The victory will give Treviso fresh heart to move up to the next level in European rugby and I think we will see them prosper.
Having said that, Bath have a good pack and are looking gritty at the moment plus they know they must go and get a win. But it is not a forgone conclusion and if they fail, Leinster will get away from them in the Pool.
Pool 5
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4
Dragons (Wales) v Perpignan (Fra) KO 1.30pm

This is a really hard group to fathom. Newcastle have played two and won two but haven't picked up any bonus points leaving the Dragons and Perpignan close behind them.
I expected the Dragons to play better when Newcastle visited them in the first match in this Pool and although the conditions were bad the Welsh didn't turn up, which leaves them in a must-win position against Perpignan.

They have stuttered with a lot of players missing during the international period but with some of their big names back you would expect to see a different Dragons.
Perpignan might not think they can win away but they will certainly think they can win at home next weekend. But the French can't just rely on their home form to get through in this group. They are also without locks Mick O'Driscoll and Christophe Porcu as well as prop Nicolas Mas so they have some injury problems up front.
PREDICTION:
The Dragons can't be as bad as they were against Newcastle even though the Falcons played well. The crowd will be important, in fact coach Chris Anderson has called them their 16th man. The Dragons to take it with our old friend, home advantage.

Pool 3
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4
Northampton Saints (Eng) v Toulouse (Fra) KO 2.00pm

Northampton are a club in turmoil at the moment and have had a shocking season in the English Premiership. However, they have used Europe to take their minds off their woes at home.
Both these sides have played two, won two but Northampton will feel they have to get a result at home this weekend because not many teams go to Toulouse and live to tell the tale.
Budge Pountney and Paul Grayson have taken over at Franklin's Gardens and are looking towards Europe to get something out of a troublesome season.
Northampton have got high quality players and even though their domestic spirit is low, they need to rediscover some form. I think it will be a passionate day with the crowd playing a massive part. If they can have a big first twenty minutes then Franklin's Gardens could be about to see a turn-up.
As for Toulouse they went to Wales and dragged out a win against Llanelli and then went on to beat Glasgow convincingly but Northampton might just be in the mood to beat them.
PREDICTION:
I've just got a feeling that this could be Northampton's day. Don't ask me to explain it in too much detail though - there are not too many rugby reasons for this assessment. It is based purely on passion. We'll know half way through the first half what mood Northampton are in but I'm going to have a wild stab and go for the Saints.

Pool 2
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4
Leinster (Ire) v Bourgoin (Fra) KO 5.15pm
LIVE on Sky Sports 3, 5pm

Leinster look good to me this season. They scored some lovely tries against Treviso and did a fine job on Bath.
They are 'ones to watch'. If they go on to win the Pool and get seeding for a home quarter-final draw, then they just might be looking at the last four at least. Mind you, I said the same thing last year and they let me down.
This is also a 'Lions watch' match with O'Driscoll and D'Arcy leading the charge.

PREDICTION:
Leinster without a doubt...Bourgoin just won't do it.

Pool 1
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4
Biarritz (Fra) v Calvisano (Ita) KO 5.30pm

There are two sides in this pool who would fancy winning the overall prize but might just have to fall on their swords with Biarritz, Wasps and Leicester competing for top spot.
Despite losing at Wasps on the opening weekend, Biarritz are back in the running after getting the better of Leicester but they will know they have to register all five points against Calvisano - Leicester did and so did Wasps, so that's crucial.
The French look good but they are a strange side. Against Wasps in that first match they were very negative then they breezed past Leicester and were at times sublime.
For Calvisano, being in this group is just a learning curve and they won't really trouble Biarritz.

PREDICTION:
There will be only one winner - Biarritz

Pool 6
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4
Gloucester (Eng) v Cardiff Blues (Wal) KO 7.30pm
LIVE on Sky Sports 3, 5pm

There is a great tradition between these two teams from the days before the leagues began in England and Wales. It's just a short journey across the border and the atmosphere will be excellent.
Like Northampton, Cardiff Blues are carrying that 'club in turmoil' tag, although more in Europe and less so domestically. They have played two and lost two in this competition.
They had chances in the opening game against Ulster and it seemed like it was going to be another one of those seasons when they would fail to close out tight matches. Then the Blues were thumped by Stade and were booed by sections of the crowd.
Having been hot and cold again during the international period, Cardiff need to pick it up in Europe. They have a strong tradition in the competition having been in the first ever final and had a reputation for being big game players but it's been a long time since they've reached those heights. There would be no more enjoyable place to get back on track than Kingsholm.
Gloucester however have never lost a Heineken Cup match at home but are without Duncan McRae and have some issues up front with Phil Vickery and Chris Fortey out of action.
It's not their ideal side and not one they would want to field if they had to turn out a team for the Final this week.
PREDICTION:
Cardiff could be thinking maybe, just maybe. Being the outright underdogs might be the motivation they need. Not many people will be backing the Blues and I'll play safe and go with the majority - Gloucester at home to win.