Wednesday 17 June 2015

Champions Cup draw as difficult as expected

This years Champions Cup has set-up five mouth-watering pools featuring the nest sides from the French Top14, the Aviva Premiership and the Guinness Pro12. The full draw is available below.

Pool One sees last years semi-finalists and 2014 finalists Saracens face off against 2012 finalists Ulster as well as four time champions Toulouse as well as Oyonnax, who are making their debut in the Champions Cup. Saracens are the clear early favourites to win this pool, but both Ulster and Toulouse will push them close and won't be far away from qualifying for the knock-out stages themselves.


Pool Two pits Clermont Auvergne against the Ospreys and Exeter Chiefs, two sides who have improved significantly over the last twelve months. Expect a few surprises from this pool, strong recruitment from the Chiefs including Geoff Parling and Salvi will make them much more competitive than their last appearance in the competition two years ago. Clermont still the overwhelming favourites to top this pool, while Bordeaux seem to have little chance of replicating the performances of last years play-off winner Wasps.

Pool Three is possibly the most even pool and makes you wonder was it to Glasgow's benefit that they were the Pro 12's top seed. They face off against Northampton Saints, who finished top of the Aviva Premiership in the regular season and Racing Metro, who welcome Dan Carter, Chris Maseo and Nyanga onto their books in the off season. Scarlets aren't likely to be a push over either, whichever games they can win will likely decide the pool.

Pool Four has a very retro Heineken Cup glory days feel about featuring Top 14 champions Stade Francais, alongside Munster and Leicester, both of which have been champions of Europe Twice. Treviso's presence makes it likely that two sides will more than likely progress from this pool and recent form indicates that this will be real three way struggle.

Pool Five is undoubtedly the toughest pool this year if not in the history of European rugby, Tier One seeds Bath will be gulping hard at the prospect of facing a Toulon side gunning for an unprecedented fourth straight title with new recruits of Paul O'Connell, Samu Manao and Ma'a Nonu, to name but a few. Leinster too will be motivated to show a better account of themselves in Europe following last years semi-final defeat to Toulon. Wasps are going to be the danger team in this group with little to lose and a lot to gain and will be hoping to build on last years surprise quarter-final appearance. This pool could go to anyone, expect Toulon to qualify but, expect it to go down to the wire.

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