Timisoara Saracens v Dragons

It’s not been the start that Dragons would have wanted this season, especially after the arrival of their big-name signings. Their fortunes were summarised in last weekend’s derby match against the Cardiff Blues, an initial period of hope followed by a lapse in discipline and another disappointing loss. All is not lost, however, for the European Challenge Cup is where Dragons have performed best in recent seasons and summer’s influx of experience should only help them in their quest for tangible success.

The Gwent side will travel to Romania for round 1 to face a side that includes veteran Romania international Cătălin Fercu. They will be giving everything for a win here, the alternative would mean disaster for the coaching team who are already under a lot of pressure. Considering their next game is home against Northampton Saints, this is possibly their best chance to record a win in these opening two rounds of the Challenge Cup.

Ospreys v Pau

Ospreys are having their best start to a season for a while, despite derby day loss to Scarlets. New signings George North and Scott Williams have been instrumental and Aled Davies is filling the boots of Rhys Webb as well as he can. Pau are not to be underestimated, reaching the semi-final of last year’s competition and boasting a backline with former all blacks Colin Slade and Frank Halai.

The Ospreys find themselves in a tough pool, with Worcester and Stade Francais being their other opponents, so to start with a home game, and a home win could prove very helpful. A few years ago Ospreys managed to get the maximum 30/30 points in the Challenge Cup pool stage but couldn’t progress past the quarterfinals. I’m betting they’d exchange dropping a bonus point or two for that European silverware they’ve been so desperate for.

Scarlets v Racing 92

Moving up to the top table of European Rugby, last season’s semi-finalists clash with the French side that made it one step further. The visitors are currently sitting in the middle of the Top14 leaderboard but have new signings Finn Russell and Simon Zebo to help in their European campaign. With the Scarlets having copped a hammering last time the two sides played, they’ll be out looking for revenge.

Without having had their most comfortable start to the season they still sit second in conference B and still manage to show flashes of their trademark style even with a boatload of injuries. It’s the sort of matchup that will have supporters of both sides crossing their fingers for good weather, it would be the biggest shame to see two of the most entertaining sides in Europe have to slog it out in the mud. Scarlets won’t be too concerned about the results of this one, however, with two struggling teams in Leicester and Ulster making up the remainder of their opponents, they’ll take solace in the fact that they reached the semi-finals last season after losing the first two pool games.

Lyon v Cardiff Blues

It’s been a while, hasn’t it? Cardiff Blues have finally returned to the Heineken Champions Cup after the format changed to become entirely merit-based and it couldn’t have been timed more perfectly. After struggling in the Challenge Cup since being demoted, they stormed through a tough pool and battled through a difficult knockout stage to win a thrilling final in the last minutes of the game.

They start this season’s campaign against a team they did the double on last year, although they shouldn’t expect as easy a time of it this time around. If French teams like to perform in any competition, it’s the Champions Cup. Cardiff Blues haven’t had the most stable start to the season either, losing the first three games in agonisingly close results and then winning the next three including a shock hammering of Munster. With Gareth Anscombe and Jarrod Evans expertly controlling the attack, they’ll feel more confident than perhaps a team in their position should. The most important thing the whole team has learned recently is how to close out a game, and that’s what’s going to be most important in a very difficult pool.