Blink and a week flies by! Already it’s time to look towards the second acts of the European Champions Cup back-to-back fixtures and after an eventful start last weekend there’s plenty to talk about.
From a Premiership point of view Round 3 didn’t deliver a full set of positive results instead some tough times were had by a few sides. Bouncing back will be the order of the day for Exeter, Leicester, Sale and Northampton but the question is will they be allowed to, or be able to, given the strength of their respective opponents?
Looking at the Exeter Chiefs first and Rob Baxter had decided going into these back-to-back fixtures that he wouldn’t run with the same 23 in both games and as a result has mixed up his side. Returning to the line-up are Luke Cowan-Dickie and Phill Dollman, both back from injuries, and we will also see the likes of Mitch Lees, Thomas Waldrom and Olly Woodburn running out in France. Realistically Exeter’s chances of Champions Cup progression are limited but they will still want to improve on last weekend’s performance in order to provide a platform heading back into the Premiership. The Chiefs didn’t take their opportunities at Sandy Park and must do so from the offset in France. Rob Baxter wants them to “show the qualities I expect of them” and it’s clear that performance is king over in France. Match Fact: Bordeaux-Begles haven’t been beaten at the Stade Chaban-Delmas by a non-French side in the competition.
At Welford Road Leicester Tigers’ task is a sizeable one as they face exactly the same Munster starting XV that did a job on them at Thomond Park. Rightly so Rassie Erasmus has stuck to his guns and makes just one change on their bench as loose-head prop James Cronin returns to take the place of Thomas du Toit. Leicester welcome back Mike Williams onto their bench and notably in their backs Richard Cockerill has shifted Owen Williams to fly-half after injury to Freddie Burns. Leicester’s record at home in the European Cup is impressive, in their last 33 matches they’ve won 30 and drawn 2 yet it will be a tough, tough ask to maintain that this weekend. We all know how Leicester can respond at Welford Road, we saw that in Round 2, but Munster are a quality outfit brimming with confidence. As much as I think we will see a marked improvement from Leicester I expect Munster to take the spoils and topple the Tigers on Saturday afternoon. Match Fact: Munster the only club in the competition with a tackle success rate above 90%, they’re at 92%. 
Another side that found Round 3 tough going was Northampton Saints and an inexperienced squad will be making the trip to Dublin in order to try and put that right. Can they? Well like Leicester I believe that the effort and performance levels will improve but in terms of pulling a result out of the bag I think that could be a challenge too far. Leinster, at the Aviva, will be acutely aware that this is their chance to make another big European statement and they’ll be focused on ensuring that a repeat of 2013 (when they lost heavily after a handsome win the week before) doesn’t happen. For Jim Mallinder’s team it will be about showing the physical effort and intensity that they believed was lacking at Franklin’s Gardens and trying to ensure that they are pushed around up front. Personally I’m surprised that there aren’t a few more experienced faces in Saints’ XV, I understand their focus on the Aviva Premiership but will those wiser heads be missed in Dublin? You bet they will. Match Fact: Leinster are one of four clubs yet to lose a scrum on their own feed. 
Wasps’ trip to The Sportsground in Galway should be another belter give both side’s intent to play but Connacht’s lack of fit backs must be a slight concern for Pat Lam. Stacey Ili and Cian Kelleher suffered injuries during Round 3 and in total the hosts’ injury count currently stands at 19 players. On the other hand Wasps are fairly well settled and that could pay dividends. The atmosphere in Galway is always a sensational one and Wasps know that they are in for a challenge. I expect the same individuals to step up to the mark that did at the Ricoh Arena with Joe Launchbury leading the charge. I don’t know about you but I’m looking forward to watching Kurtley Beale continue to get his feet under the table because he looked sharp last weekend and you just know that there's more to come. Match Fact: Wasps hold the highest goal kicking accuracy of any side in the Champions Cup at 91%.
Finally Saracens and Sale Sharks will duel at the AJ Bell Stadium in Pool 3. Last weekend there was only one team in it and just because this match is back in Manchester doesn’t mean that it will automatically be a different story. Saracens are primed and ready repeat the same feat on the road and if they do then they will equal Munster’s record for consecutive wins in the competition (13). Sale are welcoming their new signing Denny Solomona straight into their starting XV and with Josh Charnley on the other wing that means that their back three doesn’t have a whole host of experience. While both are proven finishers Saracens’ experienced half-backs will look to expose them. Needless to say Sale need to go for broke while Saracens will just calmly approach the match like any other and I expect deliver the result with ease. Match Fact: Saracens boast an average winning margin of 21 points against Sale in Europe.
Elsewhere we have part two in the classic that is Ulster facing ASM Clermont Auvergne and an equally intriguing watch should be Glasgow Warriors hosting Racing 92. Ulster must embrace the intensity of the Stade Marcel-Michelin while Glasgow need another huge performance to make a real statement in Pool 1.
Round 3 provided us with a little bit of everything and I hope that Round 4 will do the same. If you’re heading on an away trip then have a superb time because European weekends are always special trips away. If you're staying in one place then don't be derailed by the need to buy Christmas presents, instead do it online and devote the weekend to the rugby!!
