Welcome to 2014 European Rugby
Champions Cup, or in old money the 2014 Heineken Cup. After a scintillating opening
set of domestic fixtures that have captivated us all for 6 rounds it is now time to
cross the borders and test our Aviva Premiership sides on the European stage. This year the
competition has a new trophy, logo and name however you can guarantee that the
intensity of the rugby will be the same as ever; brutal and eye-watering.
It is eight seasons
since a Premiership Club won the competition, the last winners were Wasps who lifted
the trophy on 20th May 2007 at Twickenham Stadium. This year Saracens, the Northampton Saints, the Leicester Tigers, Bath Rugby, Harlequins, Sale Sharks and Wasps
are the 7 English sides that are ready to try and emulate that victory.
Saracens’ Pool 1 has been coined
the ‘Group of Death’, as Mark McCall’s side are joined by ASM Clermont
Auvergne, Sale Sharks and Munster Rugby. As we know Saracens
have delivered five out of six wins so far this season and by their own
admission they haven’t even reached top gear yet. On the other hand ASM Clermont Auvergne have
put their best foot forward and are currently sitting top of the Top 14. The
Sale Sharks must be wondering what they have done to deserve such a draw for
based on current form they are likely to find life extremely difficult. Finally we have Munster Rugby, they are the only side in this pool that
have ever won the competition and their ability to step up when it comes
to Europe is second to none. Which side will top this group!? In all honesty I’m
not quite sure, though with my slightly biased domestic hat on I’d love to see
Saracens do a job!
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Harlequins and Wasps compete
together in Pool 2 alongside Castres and Leinster. Castres’ last rugby run out didn’t
go so well as they lost 59-7 away to Bordeaux-Begles and that won’t be a confidence
booster. As we have all witnessed over the past 6 weeks Harlequins’ season hasn’t
been plain sailing and indeed Leinster’s form has also been patchy, certainly in
comparison to their usual high standards. Wasps, somewhat surprisingly
for some, are the form team in this group. In years gone by Leinster would have walked this pool however now it is
slightly more of an open book...
Bath Rugby will compete in Pool 4 with
the Glasgow Warriors, Montpellier and Toulouse. Throughout the summer the focus
was on Toulouse as with their new signing Toby Flood they were tipped to take
the Top 14 by storm however over the past few weeks quite the opposite has
happened and they have stuttered. In stark contrast Gregor Townsend’s Glasgow side
have flourished and showed the most consistent form in the Pro12. Montpellier are
fourth in the Top 14 although some say that their focus is solely on the Top 14
and Bath, well we all know just how well they have been playing this season.
All in all this will be an interesting group however I have absolutely no
hesitation in saying that Bath should do very well if they continue their
stunning domestic form.
The final group is Pool 5 with the Northampton
Saints, Racing Metro, Ospreys and Treviso. It is with respect that I will
discount the Italians, whose strength just isn’t on the same level as the other
three sides. After that things get interesting for the Saints, Racing and
Ospreys all play with brutal physicality and can certainly hold their own when
it comes to attacking with intent. This pool starts with a bang as Northampton travel
to Paris and that is a fixture that I cannot wait to see.
Conor O’Shea summed up the
intensity of the competition perfectly at the recent Champions Cup launch
event when he said; “I looked at our pool when it was drawn and I thought:
'That's horrific.' But when I looked at all the others I thought 'well they're
horrific as well'.” So really all that is left for me to say is let the ‘horror’
begin....!!
