THE FACTS
OWEN FARRELL and his Saracens team are fired up to make amends for letting slip their stranglehold on Europe.
The English champions made the tournament their own between April 2015 and December 2017, going a record 20 matches unbeaten and winning back-to-back titles.
But a hammering at home by Clermont in last season’s pool stages brought the run to a shuddering halt and condemned the Londoners to a quarter-final trip to eventual champions Leinster.
“Nobody enjoyed watching the semi-finals and final which we weren’t involved in,” said boss Mark McCall. “That has added fuel this time round.
“They’re an ambitious group who want to do well in the Premiership and Champions Cup. They know we’re good enough and I don’t think the double is impossible.
“They don’t feel bulletproof but they are confident. If we do certain things they think we will be difficult to beat.”
Last season’s tournament was a humbling experience for the Premiership. Five English quarterfinalists in 2016 became two the following year and one in April.
The new season brings fresh hope but also a sense that only Saracens, who start at Glasgow, and Exeter, at home to Munster, are well equipped to go the distance.
Each boast 100 per cent records heading into rounds one and two. Even so, both know what comes next is a step up.
“A block of two games is a little bit all or nothing,” said Exeter boss Rob Baxter. “You need your players to be saying: ‘Right, we want something out of this.’
“I think what we do will work in Europe; it’s just we have to do it really well.” POOL ONE
HOLDERS Leinster are clear favourites to top the pool and give head coach Stuart Lancaster back-to-back titles. They have the strongest squad and their stars are well rested.
BATH
Best finish: Champions (1998)
Last season: Pool stages
Form guide: 8th in Premiership (P6 W2) Player to watch: Joe Cokanasiga (Eng) LEINSTER
Best finish: Champions (2009-11-12-18) Last season: Winners
Form guide: 1st in Pro 14 (Conf B: P6 W5) Player to watch: Johnny Sexton (Ire)
Best finish: Champions (1996-03-05-10) Last season: DNQ
Form guide: 6th in Top 14 (P7 W4) Player to watch: Jerome Kaino (NZ) WASPS
Best finish: Champions (2004-07) Last season: Pool stages
Form guide: 3rd in Premiership (P6 W4) Player to watch: Willie le Roux (SA) Four points for a win, two for a draw. Bonus point for scoring four or more tries and for team losing by seven points or fewer. Five pool winners plus three best placed runners-up progress.
DATES: – round 1 Oct 12-14, round two Oct 19-21, round 3 Dec 7-9, round 4 Dec 14-16, round 5 Jan 11-13, round 6 Jan 18-20; Mar 29-31; Apr 19-21; Final (Newcastle) May 11.
ODDS (William Hill): 2 Leinster, 11/4 Saracens, 8 Montpellier, 9 Exeter, 14 Munster, Racing, 20 Scarlets, Toulon. POOL TWO
EXETER are yet to get past the quarterfinals but have won every game this season and have a record of improving every year. Rob Baxter will demand that continues. They get my vote.
Best finish: Semi-finals (2002)
Last season: Pool stages
Form guide: 5th in Top 14 (P7 W4) Player to watch: Scott Spedding (Fra)
Best finish: Quarter-finals (2016) Last season: Pool stages
Form guide: 1st in Premiership (P6 W6) Player to watch: Henry Slade (Eng) GLOUCESTER
Semi-finals (2001) DNQ
4th (P6 W3)
Danny Cipriani (Eng) MUNSTER
Best finish: Champions (2006-08)
Last season: Semi-finals
Form guide: 4th in Top 14 (Conf A: P6 W3) Player to watch: Conor Murray (Ire) IMPOSSIBLE to look past Saracens who come into this having strung together a club record 13 wins. Europe is a step up but they have all the tools for the job.
Best finish: Final (1996)
Last season: DNQ
Form guide: 3rd in Pro 14 (Conf
A: P6 W3)
Player to watch:
GLASGOW
Best finish: Quarter-finals (2017)
Last season: Pool stages
Form guide: 1st in Pro 14 (Conf A: P6 W5) Player to watch: Stuart Hogg (Sco) LYON
Best finish: Debut season
Last season: DNQ
Form guide: 3rd in Top 14 (P7 W4) Player to watch: Carl Fearns (Eng) SARACENS
Best finish: Champions (2016-17)
Last season: Quarter-finals
Form guide: 2nd in Premiership (P6 W6) Player to watch: Owen Farrell (Eng) Ellis Jenkins (Wal) POOL FOUR
SCARLETS reached the semi-finals last season and were a joy to watch. Look the class act in this pool. Other three teams are out of sorts.
LEICESTER
Best finish: Champions (200102)
Last season: Pool stages
Form guide: 5th in Premiership (P3 W3) Player to watch: Manu Tuilagi (Eng)
Best finish: Runners-up (2016-18) Last season: Finalists
Form guide: 7th in Top 14 (P7 W4) Player to watch: Simon Zebo (Ire)
Best finish: Semi-finals (2000-02-07-18) Last season: Semi-finalists
Form guide: 2nd in Pro 14 (Conf B: P6 W4) Player to watch: Gareth Davies (Wal) ULSTER
Best finish: Champions (1999)
Last season: Pool stages
Form guide: 5th in Pro 14 (Conf B: P6 W3) Player to watch: Rory Best (Ire) WITH Toulon all over the shop, Montpellier should boss this pool - though we have said that before. Newcastle are a better team than league form suggests.
Best finish: Semi-finals (2012)
Last season: DNQ
Form guide: 4th in Pro 14 (Conf B: P6 W3) Player to watch: Hamish Watson (Sco) MONTPELLIER
Quarter-finals (2013) Pool stages
4th in Top 14 (P7 W4) Nemani Nadolo (Fij) NEWCASTLE
Best finish: Quarter-finals (2005)
Last season: DNQ
Form guide: 12th in Premiership (P6 W1) Player to watch: Niki Goneva (Fij)
Best finish: Champions (2013-14-15)
Last season: Quarter-finals
Form guide: 12th in Top 14 (P7 W2) Player to watch: Rhys Webb (Wal)