Skip to content

European Rugby Champions Cup preview: Pool 1

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Will Greenwood previews Pool 1 of the Champions Cup

Sarries, Ulster and Toulouse boast strong home records while Champions Cup debutants Oyonnax will make life uncomfortable for teams at the Stade Charles-Mathon, provided they don't lose interest in the competition. Losing bonus points on the road could prove crucial.

Teams: Saracens, Ulster, Toulouse, Oyonnax

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Classic Match: The European Cup quarter-final between Ulster and Saracens in 2014

Saracens

Billy Vunipola of Saracens takes on Kieran Brookes during the Aviva Premiership match between Northampton
Image: Billy Vunipola will look to be at his rampaging best for Sarries

Champions Cup record: P64 W40 D0 L24

Best finish: Runners-up (2014)

Also See:

What's hot: Sarries' powerful pack will provide front foot ball and the artificial pitch at Allianz Park works in their favour. Owen Farrell will also keep the scoreboard ticking over from the tee.

Live European Rugby Champions Cup

What's not: The north Londoners scored just 12 tries in eight Champions Cup games last season and failed to cross the whitewash in the knockout stages.

What's changed: Not much. Saracens have a stable squad and sit top of the Premiership after winning their opening four games.

Key player: Billy Vunipola

Ulster

Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey fends off Gareth Owen
Image: Stuart McCloskey in full flight for Ulster

Champions Cup record: P123 W60 D3 L60

Best finish: Winners (1999)

What's hot: Ulster are in free-scoring form, crossing for 23 tries in seven PRO12 fixtures and averaging over four per game in Belfast.

Live European Rugby Champions Cup

What's not: Ulster's squad depth will be tested after three Ireland players returned injured from the World Cup. Tommy Bowe may not play again this season, Iain Henderson is likely to miss the first two rounds of the competition, while there is no timescale for Jared Payne's return after foot surgery.

What's changed: Les Kiss has come on board as director of rugby and will know plenty about the squad from his time with Ireland.

Key player: Stuart McCloskey

Toulouse

Toulouse's French number eight Louis Picamoles (C) runs with the ball during the French Top 14 rugby union match against  Montpellier
Image: Northampton-bound Louis Picamoles is a key ball carrier for Toulouse

Champions Cup record: P144 W101 D4 L39

Best finish: Winners (1996, 2003, 2005, 2010)

What's hot: Toulouse have made an impressive start to the Top 14 season, winning six of their first eight games and scoring 25 tries. They are playing a more expansive game under new coach Ugo Mola.

What's not: Le Rouge et Noir possess plenty of star names but question marks remain over their consistency. They crashed out in the pool stages of last year's tournament after a final round loss to already-eliminated Montpellier.

What's changed: Guy Noves has stepped down after 22 years in charge, with Mola taking over at the Stade Ernest Wallon. So far, so good.

Key player: Louis Picamoles

Oyonnax

Oyonnax' New Zealand scrumhalf Piri Weepu (C) kicks the ball during the French Top 14 rugby union match La Rochelle
Image: Piri Weepu in action for Oyonnax

Champions Cup record: N/A

Best finish: N/A

What's hot: World Cup winner Piri Weepu, George Robson and Nicky Robinson bring bags of experience and visiting teams could be unsettled by the plastic pitch at the Stade Charles-Mathon, apart from Saracens of course.

What's not: Oyonnax find themselves in the relegation mire in the Top 14 after a host of summer departures and European ambitions could be shelved. They were thumped 38-3 at La Rochelle last weekend, their sixth loss in eight games.

What's changed: The coaches. There were a lot of comings and goings over the summer with coach Christophe Urios and fly-half Benjamin Urdapilleta, who was the second-highest points-scorer in last season's Top 14, both joining Castres. Olivier Azam was then brought in to replace Urios, but was fired mid-season following his side's embarrassing La Rochelle defeat.

Key player: Piri Weepu

Around Sky