CHAMPIONS CUP RUGBY POOL-BY-POOL GUIDE

POOL ONE Harlequins, La Rochelle, Ulster, Wasps

Wasps and Quins are hit by injuries while Ulster lost to Italy’s Zebre this month. La Rochelle are favourites, after doing a ‘Leicester’ last season to finish top of the French Top 14 against the odds.

Player to watch: Charles Piutau (Ulster) Prediction: La Rochelle

POOL TWO Clermont, Northampton, Ospreys, Saracens

Saracens bid to match Toulon (2013-15) in winning three successive titles. But they are drawn with Clermont, last year’s runners-up. Ospreys will struggle but Northampton could surprise.

Player to watch: Owen Farrell (Saracens) Prediction: Saracens, Clermont

POOL THREE Exeter, Glasgow, Leinster, Montpellier

On paper, at least, the ‘pool of death’ with Glasgow, Pro14’s only unbeaten side, drawn with English champs Exeter, three-time Euro kings Leinster and big-spending Montpellier.

Player to watch: Sam Simmonds (Exeter) Prediction: Leinster

POOL FOUR Castres, Leicester, Munster, Racing 92

Leicester and Munster are Euro giants of yesteryear, with two titles apiece in the Noughties. Racing and Castres are French clubs with no form to speak of.

Tigers are the form team, having won four straight, and in Ben Youngs and George Ford they have the halfbacks to test any team.

Player to watch: George Ford (Leicester) Prediction: Munster, Leicester

POOL FIVE Bath, Treviso, Toulon, Scarlets

This is the 20th anniversary of Bath’s European Cup-winning campaign and they have barely won a bean since.

Overhauling three-time champs Toulon and Pro12 winners Scarlets will test them.

Player to watch: Anthony Watson (Bath) Prediction: Scarlets, Bath