Irish cricket star takes on rugby legend for first place in Heineken Star Predictor.
When it comes to cricket there can be no mistaking the talents of Ireland’s Niall O’Brien. The Sandymount native has played over 150 times for his country and was part of the Irish team that famously beat England at the 2011 World Cup, but this Dubliner’s skills are not limited to the wicket! In his spare time, passionate rugby supporter O’Brien has shown a particular talent for predicting the fate of teams in the Heineken Cup, using Heineken’s online match prediction game Star Predictor.
The cricket star is currently in third place in the Star Predictor Pro League behind rugby pundit George Hook, ex- All Ireland winner Jason Sherlock and former Lions manager Donal Lenihan. Niall’s predictions this week include wins for Leinster, Munster and Ulster: ‘three out of four for the Irish, unfortunately I don’t see Connacht beating Harlequins away from home.’
Niall’s rugby loyalty stretches across the Irish Sea: ‘I am a Leinster supporter first and foremost but having played professional cricket in England for 11 years I have started to following Northampton Saints. Now that I have signed a contract with Leicestershire Cricket I am starting to follow Leicester Tigers… this is akin to swapping between Leinster and Munster so it’s quite controversial!’
As for the Heineken Cup final: ‘it’s got to be a French team who will lift the trophy in May,’ says O’Brien. This is a prediction his Star Predictor rival, Donal Lenihan, shares: ‘Clermont Auvergne are my tournament favourites at this stage and while surprises are harder to come by in round five, I will give careful consideration to the fact that bottom of the Aviva Premiership side, Sale Sharks, may have it in them to shock Montpellier at home.’
Kiwi rugby pundit Brent Pope – also playing Heineken Star Predictor – believes that there might be a surprise in store for round five: ‘I think Exeter Chiefs can run Clermont very close.’
With weekly prizes of Heineken Cup match tickets up for grabs, a chance of winning an exclusive VIP package to the Heineken Cup final, not to mention an opportunity to ‘beat the pros’, it is not surprising that scores of rugby fans have signed up to play Heineken Star Predictor. Match tickets can be won each week, so no matter when fans sign up to make their predictions, there are always tickets to be won.
Play Heineken Star Predictor, the online match prediction game, for your chance to win match tickets and a VIP package for the Heineken Cup final in May. Log on to www.heineken.ie/heinekencup and register by 5.00pm Friday 11th January.
