Pool 1

A pool featuring four former winners and 11 titles but it is hard to see anything other than Leinster topping it with ease. Indeed, few would bet against them claiming a fifth title in May and becoming Europe’s most successful side, having pulled level with Toulouse last season. Back-to-back fixtures against Bath will be intriguing now the club stalwart Girvan Dempsey looks after the West Country side’s attack but they, along with Wasps and Toulouse, appear to be scrapping for second place. Todd Blackadder has cited the Champions Cup as the reason his squad took such a hit last season so it may be that Bath do not prioritise the latter rounds if unlikely to qualify, whereas Toulouse have started the season brightly, with something of a return to their commitment to free-flowing rugby. Wasps have been hit by injuries in key positions at just the wrong time.

Key player Tadhg Furlong (Leinster). Probably the best tighthead in the world. Mixes brute force with telling contributions in the loose and is a fine scrummager.

Predicted finish 1. Leinster 2. Wasps 3. Toulouse 4. Bath

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Pool 2

Exeter, another year older and wiser, have the capacity to go deep in the competition. Rob Baxter has been thinking about the Chiefs’ opening fixture, at home to Munster, for a while and created the depth that has allowed him to rotate in the Premiership while still winning six from six. Their pack is monstrous and so clashes with Castres will not be for the faint-hearted. The Top 14 champions are likely to fare better than normal, mainly because they have previously shown little regard for the competition, but they are considerably hamstrung by Benjamín Urdapilleta’s absence. Munster have the knowhow to pip them to second place with Joey Carbery pulling the strings while Gloucester are unlikely to advance but will be better for the experience next season.

Key player Conor Murray (Munster). Mystery continues to surround his neck injury – we do not even know how much of the competition he will play in – but he brings such a composure to Munster when available.

Predicted finish 1. Exeter 2. Munster 3. Castres 4. Gloucester

Pool 3

Saracens appear to be the side best placed to challenge Leinster and should prove far too strong for their pool rivals. Glasgow can dazzle on their day – particularly if Adam Hastings can continue his fine form – but Saracens’ start to the season has been ominous. You worry for Cardiff Blues in their double-header against the English champions and Lyon have a scrum-half crisis. Carl Fearns and Liam Gill are back-rowers of considerable repute and you would not bet against the former producing his best against Saracens but, as debutants, it is hard to see the French side advancing. Perhaps Glasgow will, having got things badly wrong in Dave Rennie’s first season in charge – he is too good a coach to make the same mistakes. There will be plenty of tries in this pool, too, with three of the four sides playing their home matches on artificial pitches.

Key player Billy Vunipola (Saracens). He made 28 carries in his first 80 minutes of the season last week to suggest he is slowly but surely finding his form of old. He is a way off yet but it would not be surprising if European action brings it out of him.

Predicted finish 1. Saracens 2. Glasgow 3. Lyon 4. Cardiff Blues

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Sarries’ Billy Vunipola. Photograph: Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Pool 4

Racing 92 are comfortably France’s best hope of success, having lost a nail-biting final to Leinster in May. They have the depth to go that far again and the new arrivals Finn Russell and Simon Zebo (dubbed facteur X et facteur Z by one French newspaper) have both made fine starts to life in Paris. Their opening fixture away to the Scarlets feels decisive as to whether they will top their pool and will be instructive as to whether the Welsh side have changed their approach, having been such a joy to watch last season until Leinster squeezed the life out of them. They have back-row problems with John Barclay departed and James Davies injured, while Tadhg Beirne, a revelation in this competition last season, has left for Munster. It is hard to see Leicester and Ulster advancing – both are former winners but are under new management and have fundamental issues to resolve.

Key player Jonathan Davies (Scarlets). Hopefully his injury problems are behind him because he has the class to ensure the Scarlets’ success story of last season repeats itself.

Predicted finish 1. Racing 92 2. Scarlets 3. Ulster 4. Leicester

Pool 5

Perhaps the hardest pool to call. Newcastle did so well to qualify but after their difficult start to the season you wonder if they can afford not to prioritise the Premiership. Edinburgh are in a similar overachieving boat but Richard Cockerill’s teams are not known for rolling over. Toulon have started their season disastrously despite the arrivals of their illustrious signings Julian Savea and Liam Messam, with the owner, Mourad Boudjellal, seeking five new names to resolve his side’s problems. They do have a rich European history and perhaps the Champions Cup will bring the best out of the them but Montpellier will fancy their chances of advancing having been outgunned by Leinster and Exeter last season. Vern Cotter has considerable fly-half problems, though, with Aaron Cruden, Frans Steyn and Johan Goosen all injured.

Key player Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh). He may not end up making it to the knockout stage but the hulking South African winger is one to keep an eye on. He struggled to make an impact at Montpellier but is shining in Scotland.

Predicted finish 1. Toulon 2. Montpellier 3. Edinburgh 4. Newcastle