Howley may hold key to cup clash

Stade Francais coach Nick Mallett believes the Parker Pen Challenge Cup quarter-final with London Wasps will decide who wins the trophy and gain automatic entry into next season's Heineken Cup.

"It's a shame it's not the final," said Mallett, the former Springbok coach whose French club side were far too strong for Harlequins in the previous round.

Wasps face Stade home and away on successive weekends, starting at Adams Park on Sunday, and Mallett said: "I believe we are two of the best teams left in the competition. Wasps would have been as disappointed as us to miss out on the Heineken Cup this season."

Mallett also pin-pointed the scrum-half clash between French captain Fabien Galthie and former Wales and Lions No9 Robert Howley (above) as the one that could decide the tie.

He said: "It is unusual for a player of Howley's quality not to be playing international rugby. He and Fabien Galthie are both great players and their passing of the ball is top class. It will be a good test for them both and the result could depend on which of them comes out on top."