EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP POOL BY POOL
POOL 1
Harlequi■s La Rochelle Ulster Wasps
WORLD STAR: Former All Black back-row Victor Vito adds athletic ball-carryi■g to the back of a beefy La Rochelle pack a■d has the capacity to damage i■ broke■ field.
IRISHMAN ABROAD: Prop Marty Moore is i■ year two at Wasps a■d will fa■cy his cha■ces of catchi■g the Irela■d coaches’ eye whe■ he plays agai■st Ulster.
VERDICT: Arguably the weakest pool, E■glish fi■alists Wasps have had a poor start to the seaso■ a■d while they were table-toppers i■ Fra■ce last year La Rochelle are ■ewcomers at this level. If Ulster ca■ get off to a good start agai■st Wasps tomorrow a quarter-fi■al is a realistic ambitio■.
POOL 2
ASM Clermo■t Northampto■ Ospreys Sarace■s
WORLD STAR: E■gla■d a■d Lio■s seco■d-row Maro Itoje has ■ever lost a Champio■s Cup game a■d is the proud ow■er of two wi■■ers’ medals. The full package.
IRISHMAN ABROAD: His team are favourites to capture a third successive title, but Sarace■s coach Mark McCall remai■s a relatively u■heralded figure i■ his ow■ la■d.
VERDICT: Pre-Christmas fixtures betwee■ last year’s fi■alists are compulsory viewi■g, but both will expect to emerge from the pool. Ospreys are havi■g a terrible seaso■, while Northampto■ are ■ot the force of old.
POOL 3
Exeter Chiefs Glasgow Lei■ster Mo■tpellier WORLD STAR: Acti■g Lei■ster captai■ Joh■■y Sexto■ will relish his battles with Aaro■ Crude■ a■d is the key to the provi■ce’s ability to emerge from a fie■dishly difficult pool.
IRISHMAN ABROAD: Give■ there is somethi■g of a■ out-half shortage behi■d Sexto■ right ■ow, Joe Schmidt could do worse tha■ look to Exeter’s ultra-co■siste■t No 10 Gareth Stee■so■.
VERDICT: The hardest pool of them all to call give■ the prese■ce of the E■glish champio■s, Fra■ce’s biggest spe■ders a■d two old PRO14 rivals who are ■ever easily separated. Likely to go to the wire, Lei■ster’s Europea■ experie■ce could prove key.
POOL 4
Castres Leicester Mu■ster Raci■g 92
WORLD STAR: Tiger Matt To’omua has the capacity to light up a■y game he’s playi■g i■ with his attacki■g visio■ a■d passi■g ra■ge.
IRISHMAN ABROAD: Do■■acha Rya■ is i■jured right ■ow a■d will miss Raci■g’s visit to Limerick, but the Tipperary lock could still have a big say i■ how this pool goes.
VERDICT: Much depe■ds o■ Raci■g’s i■terest levels because this is a■ ope■ pool. Rya■’s loss weake■s Mu■ster, but they still have what it takes to get e■ough poi■ts to wi■ the pool a■d wo■’t fear a■y of their away trips.
POOL 5
Bath Be■etto■ Scarlets Toulo■ WORLD STAR: Has■’t hit his All Black heights, but Ma’a No■u remai■s a formidable force i■ the Toulo■ midfield whe■ they ca■ get him goi■g. IRISHMAN ABROAD: Mu■ster-bou■d lock Tadhg Beir■e has thrived i■ Lla■elli a■d his all-rou■d game is key to the Scarlets’ ambitio■.
VERDICT: Although they’ve improved this seaso■, the Italia■s look like bei■g out-muscled i■ this tour■ame■t a■d much depe■ds o■ whether Toulo■ ca■ recapture their old drive a■d muster a charge. PRO14 champio■s Scarlets are eyei■g their ■ext step, while Bath have improved o■ last seaso■