After four rounds of domestic competition we turn our focus to Europe and the forthcoming Challenge and Champions Cups. As always Out On The Full will cover the campaigns of our Aviva Premiership sides performing in the top tier and with the pools drawn as they are, we are in for some cracking matches from the word go.
Pool 1
Mark McCall’s Saracens have Oyonnax, Toulouse and Ulster for company in Pool 1. Saracens have made the final four for the last three European seasons and will be striving to go one better this time around. Captain Al Hargreaves believes that those European experiences will be of great benefit this year and combined with their early season form the signs are positive for Saracens. For the side at the top of the Aviva Premiership table there’s no room to feel their way into the competition as this weekend they are hosting Toulouse. The French side have a been flying in the Top 14 delivering 6 out of 8 victories and showing everyone that they have more than one dimension as their backs have been flying.
2014/15 European Champions Cup Form - Semi-Finalist
Key European Men - Billy Vunipola, Petrus Du Plessis & Owen Farrell
European Opta Fact - Saracens have won 18 of their last 24 pool matches, but only one of their last pool games against French opposition.
Pool 2
Pool 2 houses the Exeter Chiefs as they return to the top flight of Europe after a short break. The Chiefs line up alongside Ospreys, ASM Clermont Auvergne and Bordeaux-Bègles and are starting off with a trip to the Liberty Stadium. At the recent tournament launch Rob Baxter was open about his approach to the competition;
“It is a bit more of an opportunity to showcase your talents of how well you can play and what a good team that you can be - without that pressure at the end of it all you are going to get relegated or kicked out because it is not quite like that. I want us to use that excitement and freedom to show what a really good side we can be, to show the best of ourselves and to really challenge the other top quality teams in our pool.”
Exeter aren’t short of form and if they continue in the manner in which they’ve started the Aviva Premiership then I expect them to turn heads throughout their European journey.
2014/15 European Champions Cup Form - Not Present !!
Key European Men - Jack Nowell, Henry Slade & Gareth Steenson
European Opta Fact - Exeter have won 4 of their 12 games in the competition and all four wins have been over Welsh opposition
Pool 3
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| (C) Red Hat Photography |
Pool 3 contains a side that have had a tricky start to their domestic season, the Northampton Saints. Jim Mallinder’s men will be looking to their fixture against the Scarlets to kick start their season and need to finally find their spark in attack. The Saints’ Round 2 clash against the Glasgow Warriors will be hugely interesting as the Warriors now have their 21 players back from RWC duties and all will be firing after Scotland’s strong campaign. The Scarlets are currently third in the Pro 12 and of course we all know the talent that Racing 92 have at their disposable, both now, and in the not too distance future!! Pool 3 is certainly one that could throw up some surprises!
2014/15 European Champions Cup Form - Quarter Finalist
Key European Men - Ben Foden, Stephen Myler and Dylan Hartley
European Opta Fact - George North was the leading try scorer in last season's Champions Cup with 7 tries in 5 matches
European Opta Fact - George North was the leading try scorer in last season's Champions Cup with 7 tries in 5 matches
Pool 4
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| (C) @LeicesterTigers |
Pool 4 houses three sides that are desperate to remind us all of their European pedigree; Stade Francais Paris, Munster and the Leicester Tigers as well as Treviso. Richard Cockerill has already laid his cards on that table and put a spot of pressure on his side saying; ‘it is a group that you can get out of, with respect to all of those sides, I think that they will be saying exactly the same.’ Leicester will open the tournament against Stade Francis and although the Tigers have lost just one of their last 28 home European games the French side will pose a huge challenge underneath the Friday night lights.
2014/15 European Champions Cup Form - Group Stages Only
Key European Men - Ben Youngs, Dan Cole & Tom Youngs
European Opta Fact - Leicester have lost just one of their last 28 home games in the competition
Pool 5
The final Pool is the one that we have all been talking about since the draw, Pool 5. Bath Rugby, Leinster, RC Toulon and Wasps have won 9 European Cups between them, just one less than all of the other pools combined, and seeing them go head to head will be sensational. At the competition launch Dai Young clearly stated that his side will be a ‘better team for this experience’ and there’s no question that Wasps will need to be on their game to take anything away from this Pool. It goes without saying that they have the backline to cause their opponents all manner of issues but we need to see them gel and deliver immediately.
Bath Rugby’s Mike Ford admits that their quarter-final trip to Dublin ‘still gets him’ and that he will be urging his side to ‘play with confidence’ in Europe regardless of their opponents. When it came to the big moments last season Bath didn't 100% back themselves and that was ultimately their downfall. There is absolutely no room for that this season as their European competition starts with a nice simple one at the home of the Champions!
Wasps
2014/15 European Champions Cup Form - Quarter Finalist
Key European Men - Elliot Daly, Joe Launchbury & George Smith
European Opta Fact - Wasps are aiming to win three consecutive away games in the competition for their first time since 2007
Bath Rugby
2014/15 European Champions Cup Form - Quarter Finalist
Key European Men - George Ford, Francois Louw & Kyle Eastmond
European Opta Fact - Bath have won their last 4 pool matches in the competition including 3 against French opposition.
Fri 13th Nov - 7.45pm - Leicester Tigers vs. Stade Francais Paris - BT Sport
Bath Rugby
2014/15 European Champions Cup Form - Quarter Finalist
Key European Men - George Ford, Francois Louw & Kyle Eastmond
European Opta Fact - Bath have won their last 4 pool matches in the competition including 3 against French opposition.
Fri 13th Nov - 7.45pm - Leicester Tigers vs. Stade Francais Paris - BT Sport
Sat 14th Nov - 2pm - Oyonnax vs. Ulster Rugby - Sky
Sat 14th Nov - 4.15pm - Racing 92 vs. Glasgow Warriors - Sky
Sat 14th Nov - 5.15pm Munster Rugby vs. Benetton Treviso - Sky
Sat 14th Nov - 5.30pm Saracens vs. Toulouse - Sky
Sun 15th Nov - 1pm - Leinster Rugby vs. Wasps - BT Sport
Sun 15th Nov - 2pm - Bordeaux Begles vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne - Sky
Sun 15th Nov - 4.15pm - RC Toulon vs. Bath Rugby - BT Sport
Sun 15th Nov - 5.30pm - Ospreys vs. Exeter Chiefs - Sky
