European Champions Cup Pool by Pool guide

POOL ONE

OYONNAX

Coach: Vacant after the sacking of Olivier Azam
Captain: Florian Denos
Last Year: Challenge Cup (pool stages)
Main Ins: N Robinson (Bristol), G Robson (Harlequins), P Weepu (London Welsh), E Sheridan (London Irish), P Gunther (Lyon), F Vainikolo (Exeter Chiefs), F Metz (Racing 92), J Tuineau (Lyon), S Wright (Narbonne)
Main Outs: B Urdapilleta (Castres), A Guillamon (Toulouse), A Figuerola (Lyon), Damian Browne retired.
Betting: 500/1

Verdict: The debutants have been thrown into disarray after news emerged on Thursday night that they have sacked their coach Olivier Azam, just hours before their showdown with Ulster. They have beaten Pau and Castres domestically, but a 38-3 defeat away to La Rochelle last weekend left them one point off last placed Agen in the Top 14. They have a couple of well known faces to Irish rugby fans in Eamonn Sheridan and the Cook Islands' finest Stan Wright who arrived as a medical joker.

SARACENS

Coach: Mark McCall
Captain: Alistair Hargreaves
Last Year: Beaten semi-finalists.
Main Ins: S Vunisa (Zebre), M Rhodes (Stormers), J Conlon (Exeter Chiefs).
Main Outs: E Sheriff (London Irish), D Strettle (Clermont Auvergne), J Johnston (Wasps), N de Jaegar (Bulls)
Betting: 8/1

Verdict: Their performances over the last three years in Europe mark them as one of the pre-tournament favourites. A very difficult side to beat at home they have won previously in Belfast. Big and aggressive pack with a cutting edge out wide and in Owen Farrell a reliable goal-kicker: the team to topple in the pool.

TOULOUSE

Coach: Ugo Mola
Captain: Thierry Dusautoir
Last Year: Pool stages.
Main Ins: S Kunatani (Fiji Sevens), G Muller (Bayonne), D Mele (Leicester), T Gray (Waratahs)
Main Outs: Y Nyanga (Racing 92), J Vermaak (Stormers), S Ferreira (Eastern Province Kings), C Ralepelle
Betting: 14/1

Verdict: Ugo Mola has taken over from Guy Noves as head coach and takes his team into the tournament on the back of some decent domestic form as they have won six from eight matches to lie second in the Top 14, warming up with a big 52-12 win over Bernard Jackman's Grenoble last weekend. Modest recruitment suggests they're reasonably happy with the squad and that will be worrying for their pool rivals as Toulouse try and put last year's European nightmare behind them.

ULSTER

Coach: Les Kiss
Captain: Rory Best
Last Year: Pool stages
Main Ins: W Faloon (Connacht), S Windsor (Worcester), P Rowley (London Welsh), P Browne (London Welsh)
Main Outs: M Allen (Edinburgh), R Andrew (Nottingham), C Butterworth (Jersey), R Adair (Jersey), M Heaney (Doncaster), D Ryan (Agen), D McComb (Belfast Harlequins), D Fitzpatrick retired.
Betting: 33/1

Verdict: The key for Ulster is likely to lie with the pack. John Afoa and Johann Muller brought so much to the team as players but also in other areas and Les Kiss will need others to pick up the challenge. Stuart McCloskey is an Irish international in waiting. Losing Iain Henderson, Tommy Bowe and Jared Payne to injury is a cruel blow.

POOL TWO

ASM CLERMONT AUVERGNE

Coach: Franck Azema
Captain: Damien Chouly
Last Year: Beaten finalists.
Main Ins: P Fernandez (Jockey Club), S Spedding (Castres), F van der Merwe (Bulls), A Vuilvuli (Montpellier), D Strettle (Saracens), A Plante (Racing 92), H Gear (Waikato Chiefs), I Natriasvili (Georgia)
Main Outs: JM Buttin (Bordeaux Begles), J Malzieu (Montpellier), M Delany (Newcastle), T Lacrampe (Pau), J Pierre (Pau), J Bonnaire (Lyon), Z Guilford (Waratahs), N Nalaga (Lyon), T Paulo (Lyon), G Sharashidze (Aurillac)
Betting: 11/4

Verdict: Leaders in the French Top 14 despite losing last Sunday away to Stade Francais. A number of the old guard up front have moved on but they have recruited well, in terms of backs. Pre-tournament favourites based on the pool draw; the perennial European quest should take them into the depths of the tournament once again.

BORDEAUX BEGLES

Coach: Raphael Ibanez, Emile Ntamack
Captain: Matthew Clarkin
Last Year: Challenge Cup (pool stages)
Main Ins: L Braid (Auckland Blues), A Ashley Cooper (Waratahs), JM Buttin (Clermont Auvergne), S Kepu (Waratahs), S Kitshoff (Stormers), P Saili (Auckland Blues)
Main Outs: B Venter (Montauban), Z Navrosashvili (Lyon), T Tuifu'a (Lyon), B Sa retired.
Betting: 200/1

Verdict: They have won four of eight games in the French Top 14 but arguably their best result earlier in the season was a 26-26 draw with Champions Cup pool rivals Clermont at the Stade Marcel Michelin. Wallabies duo Adam Ashley Copper and Sekope Kepu will strengthen their hand when they arrive: dark horses in the pool.

EXETER CHIEFS

Coach: Rob Baxter
Captain: Jack Yeandle
Last Year: Challenge Cup (semi-finalists)
Main Ins: G Parling (Leicester), J Salvi (Leicester), O Woodburn (Bath), M Campagnaro (Treviso), W Hooley (Northampton), J Jones (St Helen's), J Short (London Irish)
Main Outs: T James (Cardiff), D Mumm (Waratahs), F Vainikolo (Oyonnax), J Conlon (Saracens)
Betting: 150/1

Verdict: A well-coached side that plays an attractive brand of rugby. They have recruited shrewdly and in Henry Slade and Jack Nowell have two of England's best young backs. They should be very competitive in the pool; how they fare in France will have a major bearing on their prospects.

OSPREYS

Coach: Steve Tandy
Captain: Alun Wyn-Jones
Last Year: Pool stages
Main Ins: D Lydiate (Racing 92), P James (Bath), B Leonard (Zebre), G Delve (NEC Green Rockets), K Phillips (Scarlets), O Tomaszcyzk (Newcastle), Ma'afu Fia (Highlanders)
Main Outs: A Natoga (Carcassonne), T Cavubati (Worcester), S Lewis (Worcester), De Kock Steenkamp (South Africa), D Jones, A Bishop and T Smith retired.
Betting: 150/1

Verdict: In some respects the Ospreys need to rediscover the qualities and character that led to previous success in the Pro12, particularly their ability on the road, to mount a meaningful challenge in Europe. Their capacity to do so remains in question but they do have the resources for the most part.

POOL THREE

GLASGOW WARRIORS

Coach: Gregor Townsend
Captain: Jonny Gray
Last Year: Pool stages
Main Ins: S Favaro (Treviso), K Low (London Irish), M Blair (Newcastle), S Johnson (Reds), T Naiyaravoro (Waratahs), R Clegg (Newcastle), S Puafisi (Gloucester)
Main Outs: N Matawalu (Bath), S Maitland (London Irish), DTH van der Merwe (Scarlets), J Downey (Wasps), E Murray (Pau), R de Klerk (Grenoble), A Kellock and D Hall retired.
Betting: 50/1

Verdict: The Pro 12 champions would appear to be in a good place to try and end Scotland's miserable record in European club rugby's premier tournament by producing a well-structured challenge to make the knock-out stages. They key to their prospects will be to improve their form away from Glasgow.

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

Coach: Jim Mallinder
Captain: Lee Dickson
Last Year: Beaten quarter-finalists
Main Ins: JJ Hanrahan (Munster), K Brookes (Newcastle), J Gibson (Leicester), M Paterson (Sale), P Howard (Stormers), V Matfield (Bulls)
Main Outs: S Ma'afu (Toulon), S Manoa (Toulon), P Dowson (Worcester), D Waldouck (London Irish), W Hooley (Exeter Chiefs)
Betting: 9/1

Verdict: The English Premiership champions deserve an A+ for recruitment from Munster's JJ Hanrahan, who has already impressed at inside centre, to the experience and organisation that Springboks icon Victor Matfield will bring. Samu Manoa is a loss but the Saints will fancy topping their pool.

RACING 92

Coach: Laurent Labit, Laurent Travers
Captain: Dimitri Szarzewski
Last Year: Beaten quarter-finalists
Main Ins: D Carter (Crusaders), Y Nyanga (Toulouse), R Tales (Castres), C Masoe (Toulon), M Carriza (Stormers), B Tameifuna (Waikato Chiefs), M Castrogiovanni (Toulon), A van der Merwe (Lions), J Rococoko (Bayonne)
Main Outs: J Sexton (Leinster), W Damaison (Grenoble), T Lavanini (Argentina), J Roberts (Harlequins), B Lapeyre (La Rochelle), A Plante (Clermont), S Taumalolo (Grenoble), B Mujati (Sale), D Lydiate (Ospreys)
Betting: 9/1

Verdict: The world player of the year Dan Carter replaces Johnny Sexton as the playmaker as Jacky Lorenzetti once again loosens the purse strings. Jamie Roberts has left for Harlequins. Despite just losing one match so far in the Top 14 (Agen) that included on opening day win away to Toulon they're up against the English Premiership and Pro12 champions.

SCARLETS

Coach: Wayne Pivac
Captain: Ken Owens
Last Year: Pool stages
Main Ins: DTH van der Merwe (Glasgow), A Thomas (Gloucester), W Taylor (Wasps), T Price (Leicester), D Evans (NSW County), M Allen (Ospreys).
Main Outs: R Priestland (Bath), J Adriaanse (Montpellier), J Synman (Brive), K Phillips (Ospreys), R McCusker (London Irish).
Betting: 200/1

Verdict: They have started the season well in the Pro 12 and while coach Wayne Pivac might cavil slightly at the nature of performances there is no arguing with the results. If they can get to the back end of the pool stages in contention they have a couple of marquee names to return from injury.

POOL FOUR

BENETTON TREVISO

Coach: Umberto Castellato
Captain: Alessandro Zanni
Last Year: Pool stage
Main Ins: F Paulo (Cardiff), R Barbieri (Leicester), Alberto di Marchi (Sale), L McLean (Sale), T Palmer (Gloucester), B Steyn (Calvisano), T Iannone (Zebre), C Smylie (Hurricanes)
Main Outs: S Favaro (Glasgow), M Campagnaro (Exeter Chiefs), P Derbyshire (Zebre), A Anae (Brumbies), T Vallejos (Stade Francais), C van Zyl retired.
Betting: 500/1

Verdict: It is difficult to see them being anything other than the whipping boys of the pool based on their current form. They have lost their last 14 Pro12 matches and are struggling in the creativity department. A number of key players have left. They'll be tougher to beat at home but that's relatively speaking.

LEICESTER TIGERS

Coach: Aaron Mauger
Captain: Ed Slater
Last Year: Pool stages
Main Ins: O Fonua (London Welsh), B O'Connor (Auckland Blues), P Betham (Waratahs), M Fitzgerald (Waikato Chiefs), J Kitto (Waikato Chiefs), T Veainu (Rebels).
Main Outs: G Parling (Exeter Chiefs), P Matera (Pampas XV), B Scully (Cardiff), S Hamilton (Coventry), R Barbieri (Treviso), J Gibson (Northampton), J Salvi (Exter Chiefs), D Mele (Toulouse), T Hepetema (Bay of Plenty), B Thorn, L Deacon and A Allen all retired.
Betting: 40/1

Verdict: The introduction of Aaron Mauger as coach should give the Tigers a more rounded attacking game to complement the obvious ballast of a massive pack. They might not be as hard-nosed on their travels as days or yore but they have the personnel to challenge for pool honours.

MUNSTER

Coach: Anthony Foley
Captain: Peter O'Mahony
Last Year: Pool stages
Main Ins: F Saili (Auckland Blues), T O'Leary (London Irish), J Coghlan (Leinster), M D'Arcy (Clontarf), M Chisholm (Bayonne), S Monahan (Gloucester short-term contract), M Sagario (Massy, short-term contract), L Gonzalez Amorosino (Cardiff, short-term contract), S Doyle (Brumbies, short-term contract).
Main Outs: JJ Hanrahan (Northampton), A Smith (Brumbies), S Dougall (Pau), P Butler (Pau), A Cotter (Aix-en-Province), P O'Connell (Toulon), L O'Dea (Lille), D O'Callaghan (Worcester), J Murphy, D Varley, F Jones, B O'Mahony retired.
Betting: 14/1

Verdict: The presence of Treviso in the pool and Stade Francais' lacklustre start to the domestic season along with Munster's form in the Pro 12 augurs well for the Irish province. They have most of the component parts required to push for the knock-out stages. Selection decisions at 10, 12 and 15 and subsequent performances will be interesting to watch.

STADE FRANCAIS

Coach: Gonzalo Quesada
Captain: Sergio Parisse
Last Year: Challenge Cup (pool stages)
Main Ins: P Alo-Emile (Rebels), P Sio (Eastwood), T Vallejos (Treviso), W Genia (Reds), S Macalou (Massy), W Alberts (Sharks)
Main Outs: D Ioane (Honda Heat), S Garcia Botta (Argentina), S LaValla, P Rabadan, J Fillol, R Kingi and D Lyons all retired.
Betting: 16/1

Verdict: Languishing in 11th place in the Top 14, although a 14-9 home win over top of the table Clermont will have helped morale. They will be keeping their fingers crossed that Will Genia and Willem Alberts can provide some impetus. They signed the best young French player in under-20 international Sekou Macalou; the flanker will be well worth watching.

POOL FIVE

BATH

Coach: Mike Ford
Captain: Stuart Hooper
Last year: Beaten quarter-finalists
Main Ins: N Matawalu (Glasgow), R Priestland (Scarlets), T Homer (London Irish), J Evans (Dragons)
Main Outs: P James (Ospreys), G Henson (Bristol), O Woodburn (Exeter Chiefs), M Young (Newcastle), D Sisi (London Irish, season-loan), P Stringer (Sale), C Fearns (Lyon).
Betting: 20/1

Verdict: The Sam Burgess saga doesn't seem to have been too much of a distraction down at The Rec and whether he stays or goes won't be pivotal to how they fare this season. Under the baton of Mike Ford they play a gorgeous brand of rugby but there is substance to their style despite a poor start to Premiership. They won't perish wondering.

LEINSTER

Coach: Leo Cullen
Captain: Isa Nacewa
Last Year: Beaten semi-finalists
Main Ins: J Sexton (Racing 92), I Nacewa (Auckland Blues), M Kearney (Connacht), H Triggs (Auckland Blues, short-term contract), R Burke-Flynn (Clontarf), I Hirst (Clontarf).
Main Outs: K Douglas (Reds), J Gopperth (Wasps), J Cooney (Connacht), Q Roux (Connacht), B Macken (Wasps), J Coghlan (Munster), B Marshall (Connacht), S Coghlan-Murray (Nottingham), T Moran (London Scottish), G D'Arcy, S Jennings and K McLaughlin retired.

Betting: 20/1

Verdict: The change is playing style is already obvious at this stage of the season and coach Leo Cullen has given his full playing roster, including academy prospects, an opportunity to stake a claim. They can't afford an injury in the secondrow while getting the right balance in the backline will be crucial.

TOULON

Coach: Bernard Laporte

Captain: Juan Smith

Last Year: Champions

Main Ins: M Nonu (Hurricanes), J Pelissie (Montpellier), T Lassalle (Oyonnax), S Ma'afu (Northampton), S Manoa (Northampton), J Caminati (Grenoble), Q Cooper (Reds), J O'Connor (Reds), P O'Connell (Munster), D Vermeulen (Stormers), M Stevens (Natal Sharks), T Taylor (Crusaders), M Inman (Rebels), S Bobo (La Rochelle), L Turner (Reds).

Main Outs: M Claassens (Natal Sharks), N Durand (Lyon), C Masoe (Racing 92), N Sanchez (Argentina), JM Hernandez (Argentina), R Wulf (Castres), D Smith (Castres), B Botha, C Hayman and A Williams all retired.

Betting: 7/2

Verdict: Quade Cooper is desperately trying to get out of his Touon contract but apart from that uncertainty and the injury to Paul O'Connell, the three-time and defending European champions have replenished a stellar roster with some of the best players in the world: a tough pool but the team to beat once again.

WASPS

Coach: Dai Young

Captain: James Haskell

Last Year: Beaten quarter-finalists.

Main Ins: J Gopperth (Leinster), B Macken (Leinster), J Downey (Glasgow), D Robson (Gloucester), F Halai (Auckland Blues), C Piatau (Auckland Blues), G Smith (Lyon), J Johnston (Saracens).

Main Outs: T Varndell (Bristol), E Jackson (Dragons), C Davies (Dragons), T Lindsay (Gloucester), J Yapp, C Bell and A Goode all retired.

Betting: 100/1

Verdict: They would be a much shorter price in any other pool but won't feel cowed by the challenge that awaits them. They have a pack that can match anyone on a given day and real pace out wide with the excellent Elliot Daly a potential star in the centre. The first game away to Leinster will set the tone for their campaign.