Bath face pool of death
Comments
0
With the announcement of the pool draws for the Champions Cup appetites have been wet for next season's European showdown.
Although all the pools are incredibly tightly contested, the 'pool of death' certainly is shaping up to be Pool Five – with Toulon, Bath, Leinster and Wasps all fighting for play-off spots.
Bath have been drawn against three former European champions in triple-time winners Toulon, three-time champions Leinster and Wasps making it a challenging group for all teams involved.
Bath head coach Mike Ford said he was excited about the challenge that lies ahead next season.
"European competition is the pinnacle of rugby, and we're really excited to have been drawn against three former champions of the competition," said Ford.
"Each team presents their own challenges, and whilst we may be more familiar with
Wasps, it means we know just how competitive they can be.
Wasps, it means we know just how competitive they can be. "We want to test ourselves against the best, and can't wait for the challenge that awaits."
Wasps' Director of Rugby Dai Young sarcastically analyzed his three tough opponents in the challenging pool.
"We're pretty lucky really, because we could've got a tough pool! Instead, we only drew the defending European Champions for the past three years, Toulon, three time European Champions Leinster and last season's Premiership finalists, Bath!
"To be serious, I imagine in many people's eyes we're up against it, but with the journey we're on, the only way to get better is to challenge ourselves against the best teams and you can't get much better can you?
"We already know these will be brilliant European occasions for our fans to enjoy as well, which is really important."
Leinster skipper Jamie Heaslip believes that starring down the barrel of Pool Five will get his troops focused and ready for the season.
"We are due back for pre-season two weeks today and the thoughts of Toulon, Bath and Wasps will focus the minds on the work ahead for all of the lads and the schedule that the coaches have set out for us," said Heaslip.
"There will obviously be hype around Paulie [Paul O'Connell] and his return to these shores to take on an Irish side but leaving him aside, Toulon are a formidable outfit and have recruited really well once again."
Saracens will face two French Top 14 sides in the Pool stages of the European Champions Cup for the first time next season after they were drawn with Ulster, Toulouse and Oyonnax in Pool One at the draw in.
The English champions were beaten twice by Toulouse in their 2013/14 European campaign, with the French side winning 17-16 at Wembley Stadium in front of a crowd of 61,248 in Round Two.
This season, though, the four-time European Cup winners will be without their long-serving coach, Guy Noves, who is taking over as the national coach in France after the World Cup.
"It's going to be an interesting competition this season with the World Cup, but it's a very exciting draw. I've been back to Ulster twice in the knockout stages and we've won both games and I know it is going to be an incredible atmosphere at the Kingspan Stadium with the developments they've made there," said Saracens' Director of Rugby Mark McCall.
"Toulouse have a very settled side, but will have a new coaching team. It will be interesting to see how they go without Guy Noves at the helm. We have learned you have to fight for every point in this competition, so we'll have to roll up our sleeves," added McCall.
Exeter Chiefs' return to the top tournament sees them paired with Clermont Auvergne once again, while Northampton Saints will have to tackle the Pro12 winners Glasgow Warriors in Pool Three.
"We were seeded in the top tier last year and so we knew what to expect – another very tough draw. We are up against some of the biggest teams in Europe with some of the biggest budgets," said Glasgow Warriors' coach Gregor Townsend after the draw.
"It was fantastic winning the Pro12 title last season, but now the challenge is to move on from there. The first target has got to be to reach the quarterfinals in Europe for the first time.
"Realistically, only one team is likely to get out of our pool and so we are going to have to go all out to win it.
"We know the Scarlets very well, and they will have a few of our old players in their ranks in John Barclay and DTH van der Merwe, and we had a great win over Northampton Saints a few seasons ago.
"Racing 92 have just spent millions strengthening their squad and I know our fans are going to enjoy coming to watch the likes of Dan Carter, Chris Masoe and Martin Castrogiovanni."
Leicester Tigers will renew acquaintances with two teams they beat in European Cup finals in the past, newly crowned French champions Stade Francais Paris and Munster in Pool Four.
"It's not an easy draw, but they are all tough pools which is what you want to see in Europe's major knockout tournament," said Richard Cockerill, Director of Rugby at Leicester Tigers.
"We'll look forward to entertaining big clubs like Munster and Stade Francais on big European days at Welford Road and, of course, we have played Treviso many times in recent seasons.
"Treviso have been recruiting well and they will be even stronger next season. We've found them difficult opponents, especially away from home.
Munster head coach Anthony Fole
y is not going to take French Top 14 sides lightly having drawn two of them this season and lost to Clermont twice last season.
y is not going to take French Top 14 sides lightly having drawn two of them this season and lost to Clermont twice last season."We now have to prepare for the reigning Top 14 champions, Stade Francais, who we haven't met since 2004. Clermont taught us a lesson on just how formidable the Top 14 sides are in Europe both home and away last season," said Foley.
"Leicester Tigers are a team that we know well and with who we've shared some big occasions. They'll travel to us knowing that the last time they played here they became the first visiting team to beat us at Thomond Park in European competition. It's up to us to rise to the occasion both home and away.
"Last season, Thomond Park wasn't quite the fortress our fans had become accustomed to, so that will serve as a good motivation for us to put that right. Not getting out of our pool was tough to take and we don't want to be in that position again. Getting home wins is essential because every team tends to raise their game when it comes to Europe."
ADVERTISEMENT
