The Champions Cup has thrown up some intriguing clashes, so here are the sides who have gained and lost most from the draw…
Champions Cup Fixtures: Winners and Losers
POOL ONE
Winners: Ulster
Saracens, Ulster and Toulouse were all secretly hoping that they would draw Oyonnax first, and Ulster are the lucky ones to have done so. They travel to the Stade Charles Mathon in round one with an easy victory in their sights before welcoming Saracens to the Kingspan Stadium in round two which they hope will be a morale-boosting victory. Playing Toulouse at home first in the double-headers could be vital as by round four Toulouse may give up and yield to a vital away win. And to make matters even better, Oyonnax at home in round six is the perfect game for a five-pointer.
Losers: Oyonnax
Ulster at home may be an outside chance of a victory in this pool, but Oyonnax have been handed a stinker of a draw. After hosting Ulster, the Frenchmen travel to Toulouse and then to Saracens in the next two rounds, before welcoming Saracens back to the Charles Mathon. They are odds on to be pointless after round three, and after that there may be little more than pride to play for.
POOL TWO
Winners: Exeter
Clermont Auvergne will walk this pool according to most, but Exeter have been handed a draw that offers hope. Yes, they start with a difficult trip to the Ospreys, but if they can even grab a losing bonus point, then their two home games against Clermont and Bordeaux suddenly become tasty. Take wins from those two games then Rob Baxter might be sniffing a runner-up spot, especially with the final game at Sandy Park against the Ospreys. The Tribe will be thoroughly excited about that.
Losers: Bordeaux-Begles
Bordeaux could make strides this season, but their draw will make their European campaign a battle. First up are Clermont, and if they can’t manage a win there then you’d struggle to back them to win either away to Exeter or Ospreys in round two or three. After that, they may take the typical French line of giving up and focusing on the Top14, especially with a trip to the Marcel Michelin in round five.
POOL THREE
Winners: Racing Metro 92
This pool may well be decided by bonus points, and Racing have been gifted an easy draw. Glasgow are first up at the Stade Yves-du-Manoir and, given Glasgow’s poor European form, you’d imagine Racing can get the first win on the board. An away trip to Pro12 mid-tablers the Scarlets could yield a second, and most importantly away, win before Northampton visit France – a match that last year saw Racing overcome them without surrendering a losing bonus point. 12 points after three games and Racing would be flying.
Losers: Northampton Saints
Poor Northampton were humiliated in two knock-out matches towards the end of last season, and this season they may not fare any better in Europe. A relatively straightforward opener at home to the Scarlets probably equals four points, but trips to Glasgow and Racing in games two and three will be very difficult for them, although both is within their reach. But with Racing likely to go three from three to start their campaign Northampton will be playing catch-up, and they won’t fancy their trip to the Parc y Scarlets in round six if they need a result.
POOL FOUR
Winners: Munster
Opening at home to Treviso is a godsend – five points to start and a nice confidence booster too. Then they can head to Stade in round two with nothing to lose and everything to gain. Similarly, having Leicester in Limerick first is vital as a win will set them up nicely heading across the pond the week after – again, nothing to lose and everything to gain. Stade at home in round five could be the pool decider, and at home you’d be brave to bet against Munster, before another easy five points to round off the campaign away to Treviso. If they need them that is.
Losers: Leicester Tigers
Leicester had a bit of an off-colour season last year, and they find themselves in a tricky pool once again with a tricky draw too. Stade visiting Welford Road to open the competition will be a big night in the Midlands, but we have seen the Tigers struggle in Italy (where they travel in round two) and then they have to travel to Limerick and hope to come away from Thomond Park with a result. If they don’t, then the return at Welford Road may be a nervy game, and don’t forget they have to go to Stade in round six – that will by no means be a simple match should they need a result from it.
POOL FIVE
Winners: Toulon
In a pool as difficult as this, is it really fair to pick a winner? We had to, so we went for Toulon. Two home games in their first three games determines that they are probably still favourites to qualify with early point gathering opportunities home to Bath (round one) and Leinster (round three). Wasps away should be another four points gained too, so Toulon could be sitting pretty on 12 after three games. And when the Toulon juggernaut gets going, it steamrolls everything in its path – so Leinster and Bath away may not be as difficult as they sound.
Losers: Leinster
In the same way as for Toulon, is it really fair to pick a loser? If any of them it’s probably Leinster. Wasps at the RDS should be easy enough to start, but travelling to Bath second time up will prove problematic, and then going to the Stade Felix Mayol after that will prove near impossible. With a relatively inexperienced coaching set-up, two big losses could prove extremely detrimental to their chances. And Wasps away will not be an easy final match either, should Leinster still have a chance of qualifying.
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