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Luck of the Draw

Tough tests and tricky battles: the Irish provinces react to yesterday's Heineken Cup draw

Which Irish province is looking forward to a tie against the “aristocrats of European rugby?”

ONLY A COUPLE of weeks have passed since Leinster pulled off their stunning comeback against Northampton in Cardiff, but thoughts have already turned to next season’s Heineken Cup and the road to Twickenham.

The draw for the 2011/2012 tournament was made yesterday, throwing up a number of mouth-watering ties in the pool stages. Munster versus Northampton? Toulouse versus Connacht in the Sportsgrounds? Yes please.

But enough about what we think – here are the provinces’ thoughts on next season’s groupings.

Tough tests and tricky battles: the Irish provinces react to yesterday's Heineken Cup draw
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  • Leinster

    Source: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
  • Munster

    Source: ©INPHO/Donall Farmer
  • Ulster

    Source: Darren Kidd/Presseye.com
  • Connacht

    Source: ©INPHO/Mike Shaughnessy

Read: More of Joe Schmidt’s comments in the Irish Times >

Read: Brian McLaughlin talks to the Belfast Telegraph >

Read: Barry Coughlan speaks to Gerry Kelly in today’s Irish Examiner >