If the quarter finals of the Heineken Cup prove half as unpredictable as last weekend's Premiership fixtures we are in for some hair-raising shocks. Once again the Guinness Premiership revelled in its constant ability to bloody the favourites' noses.
Not for the first time the leaders find that no sooner have they reached the top than they start travelling in the other direction. Gloucester actually went to the top of the table, courtesy of a losing bonus point whereas Bath managed nothing at Sale, which was no surprise considering the number of players rested. And behind the West Country duo, Leicester lost at home to Wasps who are steaming up on the rails.
Harlequins, Sale, Saracens and Wasps have helped concertina the top of the table to the extent that going into April seven teams have a realistic chance of making the play offs. It has been a thrilling competition with no side standing out although Wasps' run has an ominous air to it.
No Wasps, Leicester, Leinster, Clermont Auvergne or Stade are left in the last eight of the Heineken Cup but the tournament seems to have lost only a little from the battles of the pool stages.
The quarter finals look superb with Gloucester against Munster my personal highlight. These clubs have two of the most partisan and amusing sets of supporters and when they clash at Kingsholm the place is going to crackle with electricity.
Munster's know how on the European stage makes them clearer favourites than the bookies think with Gloucester's loss at Worcester a reminder of the improvement the Cherry and Whites need. But given a dry day and a firm surface, Ryan Lamb, James Simpson-Daniel, Lesley Vainikolo and friends can scare any team.
Toulouse are firm favourites to beat Cardiff Blues but those who backed the 6-4 favourites when they were 14-1 (I know some of these people) could yet have a difficult Sunday afternoon's viewing.
The Blues were brilliant in Bristol and with Nicky Robinson probably fit are boosted further. Toulouse will be hard to beat but Biarritz showed they are far from unstoppable last Friday. Martyn Williams and Xavier Rush are the keys here. The Blues have to control the breakdown and the tempo. Do that and the 14-1 boys will be very nervous, I promise you.
I can see Saracens being much better than they were in the EDF semi final pasting against the Ospreys but not turning it around enough to win; having written that I am not as convinced about the Ospreys as those flocking onto their side for the rest of the Heineken Cup.
As for London Irish against Perpignan, it is your call; on the balance of the two pool encounters between the teams, Perpignan look slightly the better side but if Nick Kennedy can do to the French line out what he did to Bath's in the second half at the Rec recently, that set piece dominance with home advantage could shade it.
The tournament winner might not (be bold, will not) come from this fixture but it is shaping up as the tightest of the four. So much for predictions, now for the action, I cannot wait.
