European Champions Cup round one preview

The European Champions Cup returns this weekend as players and clubs from all over the northern hemisphere look to put their disappointing Rugby World Cup campaigns behind them.

RC Toulon are the reigning champions from the 2014/15 season and kick off their bid for a fourth successive title at home to Bath, in one of the premiere matchups of the opening round. The team from the south of France have strengthened their squad with a plethora of southern hemisphere imports and remain the team to beat in the competition.

Get into the mood for this season’s campaign with our preview of the opening round, which will hopefully tantalise the taste buds for a weekend chock-full of elite European rugby.

Match of the Round – Leinster vs Wasps

There are plenty of candidates for this spot, not least so the aforementioned match between Toulon and Bath. League leaders Saracens playing host to high-flying Toulouse also certainly whets the appetite, but Leinster and Wasps played out a memorable match last season and both teams look to have strengthened and added quality moving into this campaign.

Neither team has yet to hit top gear, but with their returning internationals now all settled back into province/club life, this weekend could be when both teams finally click. With Toulon and Bath also in their pool, both sides know that there is no room for complacency and that a dropped bonus point or points difference could be the decisive factor in qualification.

Jonathan Sexton has returned to Leinster after a brief sojourn in France and should make them a far more dangerous prospect in this year’s competition, while Charles Piutau is stopping over in Coventry on his way to Belfast and provides a sprinkling of superstar ability to Wasps’ back line. While both players will undoubtedly have big impacts on the game, it’s up front where the real advantages will be eked out.

Matt Mullan’s importance to the Wasps scrum cannot be underestimated and his return to the starting XV will keep the visitors hopeful of parity at scrum time. Mullan’s battle with Mike Ross could go a long way to deciding this game.

Upset Alert – Scarlets, vs Northampton Saints (at Franklin’s Gardens)

Given the respective form of both teams, this is perhaps not the boldest call for an upset, but Saints are a team with a calibre of player that should be confident about winning all their home games and that confidence has quickly been eroded ahead of the Scarlets’ visit to Franklin’s Gardens.

The Welsh region sit third in the Guinness Pro12 table and have won six of their seven games so far this season. By contrast, Northampton have lost three of their four games in the Aviva Premiership, including an opening day loss to Worcester Warriors. 

Returning internationals, home advantage and depth of squad should all make Northampton favourites, but the Scarlets are more than capable of turning the English side over on their own patch and putting themselves in a fantastic position in Pool 3.

Matchups of the Round

Billy Vunipola vs Louis Picamoles

The meeting of these two colossal eights should happen much more frequently once Picamoles makes the move to Northampton next season and it will likely take on a new dimension in the now fierce rivalry between Saracens and Saints. Picamoles will be one of Toulouse’s primary sources of front-foot ball and his offloading game will be key in their attempts to prise open Saracens’ vaunted defence.

Louis Madaule vs Alexandre Lapandry

These two should have quite the battle on their hands when they meet at Stade Chaban-Delmas this weekend. The two flanks will be critical to their respective side’s ability to recycle quick ball and feed the back lines. Lapandry is an established force at this level with Clermont and it will be interesting to see if Madaule can step it up and help Bordeaux to a priceless victory.

Johannes Goosen vs Stuart Hogg

The Racing 92 pack will prove a formidable foe for Glasgow and could see the Scottish side overpowered at set-piece and in the tight. If that’s the case, Glasgow will be hoping Hogg can produce some counter-attacking magic from full-back and help the Warriors steal a win in Paris. If Racing do dominate up front and have the advantage in territory and possession, Goosen will need to show ambition in joining the back line and trying to turn those advantages into points.

Scott Baldwin vs Luke Cowan-Dickie

Baldwin has stepped up to international rugby well over the last year but now needs to turn his attentions towards reigniting the Ospreys season. With Cowan-Dickie throwing well at the lineout and continuing to have a strong impact at the scrum and in the loose, Baldwin will need to match the young tyro or else the Ospreys could struggle against the in-form Chiefs.

Unit to Watch – Ian Keatley, Francis Saili and Keith Earls

A lot has changed since Munster struggled to an 18-13 victory over Treviso in the opening round of the Pro12 this season and the two-time European cup winners will be looking to take a full five points when the Italians visit Thomond Park this weekend.

Neither Saili nor Earls were available for their Pro12 clash in September and there’s no doubt that the pair make the Munster back line a far more dangerous proposition. In front of a roaring home crowd, it’s hard to imagine the Munster pack not establishing a significant advantage over their Italian counterparts and from that foundation, Saili and Earls could feast.

If Conor Murray and Keatley can give the centre pairing quick, clean ball, they should have more than enough about them to find holes in the Treviso defensive line, particularly if Simon Zebo comes off of his wing in search of the ball.

Predictions

Leicester Tigers vs Stade Français

Tigers have yet to fully click this season, but with a packed out Welford Road cheering them on and Stade struggling in the Top 14, not to mention rotating their squad, Leicester should be able to open up their Champions Cup campaign with a win. Leicester by 5.

Oyonnax vs Ulster

Wins away in France are to be savoured and Ulster may be in the position to do just that come Saturday evening. They have the quality to beat Oyonnax, but will need to play smart, efficient rugby at Stade Charles Mathon, as it would be terribly Gallic of Oyonnax to respond to their coach being fired with a strong showing against the province. Ulster by 7.

Racing 92 vs Glasgow Warriors

Glasgow flattered to deceive in Europe last season and though they are much better equipped for a more successful campaign this season, they face an unenviable opener. Racing are performing well in the Top 14 and have a pack capable of nullifying Glasgow. Racing by 10.

Munster vs Bennetton Treviso

The easiest match of the round to call and anything less than a bonus point win will be seen as a huge disappointment by Munster. Munster by 28.

Saracens vs Toulouse

Both teams are in good form and have history, making this one of the more salivating clashes of the opening round. Saracens’ watertight defence, effective pack and home advantage should be enough to see them sneak it. Saracens by 5.

Northampton Saints vs Scarlets

This week’s upset alert, Scarlets will rarely have an opportunity as good as this to go to one of England’s powerhouse clubs and take a win back to west Wales. Northampton have it in them to beat anyone on their day, but we are yet to see them even approach that kind of performance this season. Scarlets by 3.

Leinster vs Wasps

If Leinster can keep the game relatively structured they should have the muscle and discipline to see out a home win, but if the game gets loose, Wasps have the more dangerous runners. Given the difficulty of their pool, try and/or losing bonus points may be critical in this one. Leinster by 5.

Bordeaux-Bègles vs ASM Clermont Auvergne

Bordeaux-Bègles already have bragging rights over Clermont having gone to Parc del Sports Marcel Michelin earlier this season and stolen a draw. Home advantage means so much in France and Raphaël Ibañez’s men can compound Clermont’s perennial European dismay with an opening victory. Bordeaux-Bègles by 3.

RC Toulon vs Bath

Bath are a formidable side but with Jonathan Joseph injured and Francois Louw only just returning to the club from RWC duties, ransacking the Stade Mayol just seems like a bridge too far for the Premiership club. Toulon by 10.

Ospreys vs Exeter Chiefs

The Scarlets may very well hurt English pride this weekend, but the Chiefs are more than capable of bolstering it again with a victory over the Ospreys in Swansea. Exeter have hit the ground running this season unlike the Ospreys, who sit a lowly eighth in the Pro12 table. Exeter by 7.