European Challenge Cup Preview: Pool 1

As we enter into the final two weekends of games Cardiff Blues and London Irish are level at the top with 14 points with both sides in contention to secure a place in the quarter-finals. Grenoble have given themselves a chance of making it to the knockout stages after two bonus points wins over Rovigo and will need to win their remaining two games if they are to have any chance of  making it out of the group.

Cardiff Blues go into round 5 behind London Irish on points difference and will look to replace the Aviva Premiership side at the top with a bonus point win against Italian side Rovigo on Friday night. Cardiff go into the game on the back of a disappointing defeat to Leinster in which they can count themselves unlucky with the sending off to Hoeta midway through the first half giving Leinster a huge advantage as they went onto win the game. Rovigo go into this game after enduring another difficult European campaign with only one point to show for the opening four games and Friday’s game will not be any easier with the Italian side still looking for their first win on Welsh soil.

In the other game in the pool, London Irish host Grenoble in what is a must win game for the French side. London Irish have won their last six home games in the Challenge cup and go into this game full of confidence after defeating Exeter Chiefs at the weekend thanks to a late drop-goal from Shane Geraghty. As for Grenoble after suffering another away defeat at the hands of Bordeaux Begles they travel to the Madejski on Saturday having only picked up one win from the last five away games in the competition. Aswell the French side have only won twice on English soil in tournament history. To have any hope of making it to the knockout stages they will need to come up with the goods to produce an away win to keep their European campaign alive.