Pool Guide

Pool One

Calvisano, Leicester, Llanelli, Perpignon

After an opening day late blip at Newcastle, Leicester have had three big wins on the spin, and this without their pride of Lions - Healey, Back, Johnson and Corry. Injuries, such as Geordan Murphy's, can be absorbed by a bigger squad better than most; the back-up is epitomised by Lewis Moody's burgeoning form and Graham Rowntree's renaissance, while Phil Larder will keep the defence mean and Tim Stimpson will kick the goals. Imperious and imposing.

Llanelli have been patchy, successive losses to Swansea and Glasgow offset slightly by last weekend's late win in Neath. The loss of Scott Quinnell for the opening couple of games at least cannot be underestimated, but bearing in mind the potentially decisive head-to-head with Perpignan, Llanelli do have the encouragement of winning in Bourgoin and Colomiers in the past two seasons.

Perpignan's promising early season form was undermined last Saturday when Agen destroyed them. Thierry Lacroix joined a fairly homogenous group last season, including the Ulster-born Canadian number eight Phil Murphy. Their passionate French Catalonian support makes them akin to Munster, and they could conceivably upset Leicester at home.

Italian runners-up Calvisano have strengthened their squad with the summer capture of useful Kiwi full back Kelly Rolleston, the Australian lock Justin Purll, Azzurri prop Giampiero de Carli from Roma and Andrea Moretti from Worcester. Last season's pointless Shield campaign defeat away to Rovigo suggests they won't offer much away and their lack of European experience could make them easy prey.

Pool odds: 1/4 Leicester, 5/1 Llanelli, 11/2 Perpignan, 200/1 Calvisano.

Pool Four

Bridgend, Castres, Harlequins, Munster

Munster cannot keep turning it on like a tap, and doubts about their ability to withstand a juggernaut pack or having the finishing class to put teams away persist, making the Irish bookies' odds understandably bad value. Like Leinster especially, the heavier international load won't help, but they have a resilience and resourcefulness that is second to none.

Sure to benefit from last year's campaign when they were unlucky, Castres, at these odds, look better value and a bigger threat than Harlequins or Bridgend, even if a home defeat to Bourgoin last week didn't augur well. They have a tough scrum and a quick, athletic back-line with plenty of midfield power in Norm Berryman and Shaun Longstaff, as well as a metronomic goalkicker in outhalf Romain Teulet.

Unpredictable 'Quins will become better organised defensively and tougher to beat under John Kingston, and did beat Wasps last week after uninspiring losses to London Irish and Bristol, as well as a 6-6 draw with Newcastle. Dan Luger and Tony Diprose were big summer signings from Saracens but ex-Wallaby spoiler supreme David Wilson (knee ligaments) will be a big loss.

Backed by the millions of picture framing benefactor Leighton Samuel, Bridgend were the big spenders in the Welsh close-season. They signed Gareth Thomas, Daffyd James, Nathan Budgett, Cerith Rees and Canadian lock John Teale amongst others, but the front five's fragility seemingly remains and their only success in their last five games was a one-point win over Ebbw Vale.

Pool odds: 8/15 Munster, 4/1 Harlequins, 5/1 Castres, 7/1 Bridgend.

Pool Two

Stade Francais, Wasps, Ulster, Treviso

Though littered with internationals again, Stade Francais still seem mentally scarred and undercooked (John Connolly is endeavouring to pace them better this season) - witness losses to Biarritz and Mont de Marsan domestically. But the departure of Christophe Laussucq, Laurent Pedrosa, Patricio Noriega and Darren George has been offset by the capture of Fabien Galthie (a major coup), Queensland full back Nathan Williams, David Venditti and the Dax/French "A" hooker Benoit August. They are fortunate that Wasps look in even poorer shape.

The Londoners have suffered three heavy defeats in a row before tomorrow's meeting, have a smallish squad and look rudderless without the injured Lawrence Dallaglio and Alex King, even though Ian Jones will soon come out of retirement. Ulster, unlucky to lose Robbie Brink, have moved to strengthen their front row after capturing Puma tighthead Leopoldo de Chazal and Waratahs hooker Mark Crick (though neither play today), while Paddy Wallace looks like being one of the finds of the season. They've a chance of second place and pushing Stade (whom they beat in Ravenhill three seasons ago) if their talisman David Humphreys can stay fit, and provided they don't slip up on an opening day banana skin in Treviso.

Traditonally slow starters, the Italian champions have already lost to Viadana before beating lightweight L'Aquila and Bologna sides. The Venetians do, however, have a strong smattering of Italian forwards such as Mauro Bergamasco, Carlo Checchinato and Alessandro Moscardi amongst the 18 Azzurri listed in their squad, as well as plenty of Euro experience. After the double over Harelquins two seasons ago, they won five out of six pool matches in the shield last season when missing out on the quarter-finals by one try, and could spring a surprise.

Pool odds: 1/2 Stade Francais, 100/30 Wasps, 4/1 Ulster, 80/1 Benetton Treviso.

Pool Five

Cardiff, Glasgow, Montferrand Northampton

A hard pool to call, which is liable to feature a high ratio of home wins. Despite their form, Cardiff's pedigree and squad make them favourites, for they have been decimated by injuries. Pieter Muller joins a casualty list which includes Iestyn Harris, and the entire back row of Dan Baugh, Emyr Lewis and Martyn Williams, while like Baugh the ginger monster Neil Jenkins hasn't even been named in their squad due to his ongoing knee problem.

One of the Wallabies' World Cup-winning brains trust, Tim Lane, transformed homely Montferrand into a professional outfit last season, prompting manager Christophe Mombet to declare that the club had "succeeded in our cultural revolution" after reaching the French championship final. Lane's assistant and fitness coach Steve Nance has taken over a squad including the likes of Olivier Magne, Alessandro Troncon, Gerald Merceron and newly domesticised ex-Canterbury centre Tony Marsh, since strengthened by ex-ACT lock Troy Jaques from Brive and emerging French number eight Elvis Vermeulen amongst others. But away defeats to Bourgoin and Pau already point to traditional French travel sickness.

The 1999 champions Northampton have been in and out, defeats to Gloucester and Saracens sandwiching wins over out-of-sorts Bath and Leeds. Shorn of Garry Pagel, Tim Rodber, Allan Bateman, Martin Scelzo and Pat Lam over the close-season, in addition to Andrew Blowers. John Leslie and Tom Smith have arrived to bolster a sizeable Scottish contingent.

Boosted by arrival of ex-Wallaby prop Cameron Blades and second row compatriot Nathan Ross, Glasgow (who had nine of last Saturday's Murayfield 22) have won four in a row and will be a particularly tough nut to crack in Hughendon, where they've lost only once in over a year.

Pool odds: 7/4 Cardiff, 9/4 Montferrand, 5/2 Northampton, 9/2 Glasgow.

Pool Three

Bath, Biarritz, Edinburgh, Swansea

Biarritz, after last year's experience of reaching the quarter-finals, and buoyed by the arrival of Joe Roff, look well equipped to win a weakish pool. Reckoned to be better balanced this year, they've a host of gnarled veterans up front such as the Lievrement brothers, 35-year-old Olivier Roumat, Serge Betsen and Christophe Milheres. Biarritz have already won away in Toulouse and thumped Stade Francais, and have strengthened the squad's depth, with the O'Gara-like Julien Peyrelongue replacing the departed Frano Botica.

They should beat a transitional Bath for openers, given the fallen giants have lost all four games so far to Leeds, Northampton, Saracens and Leicester, and are seemingly bereft of confidence, normally not a problem for them. On top of Jeremy Guscott's and Victor Ubogu's retirement, the summer losses of Martin Haag, Ben Clarke, Phil de Glanville, Jon Preston, Adedayo Adebayo and Angus Gardner haven't been offset by the arrival of Danny Grewcock, while Mike Catt's swift recall this Saturday smacks of desperation.

The Welsh champions, Swansea, are just as shaken after five defeats in eight games, and are missing Mark Taylor and Darren Morris. The imminent return of Scott Gibbs and debut of Samoan winger Brian Lima might help but for all their forward power they lack subtlety and finishing, while discipline could be a problem.

Beating Edinburgh at home today already looks a must. Edinburgh are the weaker of the Scots (containing only four of the 22 on duty against Ireland) and have been hit hard by injuries to Martin Leslie, Richard Metcalfe and Cammie Murray, while ex-All Black skipper Todd Blackadder arrives too late for Euro action. Bath and Swansea have to improve, you'd think, but Biarritz look warm favourites.

Pool odds: 1/1 Biarritz, 11/4 Bath, 3/1 Swansea, 7/1 Edinburgh.

Pool Six

Leinster, Newcastle, Newport, Toulouse

Toulouse The standard bearers of French rugby, regained their domestic title last season (their sixth in eight years) but it is Euro success which the best-supported rugby club in France craves. Their all-star cast has been hit hard by injuries and a sluggish start to the season, but they have three of their last four at the imposing Stade des Sept Deniers, so peaking later could suit them.

Irish sides have become a bugbearer for Toulouse and Leinster are the form Irish province after the Celtic preamble, when Matt Williams looked to have judiciously strengthened his squad with some ultra-professional acquisitions from his native land. If, finally, they can hold their nerve Leinster have the class to reach the knock-out stages for the first time in six years, but this pool is main contender for the title Group of Death.

Few visitors emerge victorious from Newcastle's Kingston Park outpost, even Leicester have faltered there this season, while Jonny Wilkinson is a born match-winner with a host of exciting backs outside him - Jamie Noon, Tim May, Dave Warder and Michael Stephenson. They lack cup experience though and with the influential Ross Nesdale now retired they look relatively lightweight up front despite the return of Pat Lam.

Newport needed their recent wins at Neath and Bridgend after the retirement of influential Gary Teichmann, stuttering early form, injury to primary ball-winner Ian Gough (out for another two to three weeks) and the non-arrival of Joost van der Westhuizen. Ex-Auckland and London Irish scrumhalf Ofisa Tonu'u has arrived though, they have a strong scrum, impressive continuity and should benefit from last year's experience.

Pool odds: 7/4 Toulouse, 7/4 Leinster, 3/1 Newcastle, 11/2 Newport.