6 Bold Predictions for the 2014/15 European Rugby Champions Cup

European rugby is back—in new clothes. The Heineken Cup is dead, long live the Rugby Champions Cup.

Twenty teams will do battle for the new trophy, with five pool winners and three runners–up qualifying for the knockout stages, which is a format that means we will see some titanic battles from the get-go.

The first weekend alone sees Saracens face Clermont Auvergne, Northampton travel to Racing Metro, Ulster resume hostilities with Leicester and an Anglo–Scots collision between Bath and Glasgow.

This is club rugby at its full-blooded best, and it is a pleasure to have it back.

1. Northampton Will Win It

An English team has not lifted Europe’s biggest prize since Wasps beat Leicester in 2007.

Northampton came agonisingly close when they ran Leinster ragged for the first 40 minutes of the 2011 showpiece, leading 22-6 at the break, before being turned over after half time with the greatest comeback the final has ever seen.

The Saints have not enjoyed Europe since then, but they at least dominated the second-tier tournament last season.

Jim Mallinder’s men have started this campaign in fine fettle, a narrow defeat away to Wasps the only blemish thus far.

Their pool this year could have been a lot worse, but fixtures with the in-form Ospreys and the dangerous Racing Metro should sufficiently extend them ahead of the knockout stages.

Reigning champions Toulon have shown fallibility this season with defeats to Racing Metro, Stade Francais and Toulouse, while the big Irish contenders have not looked particularly impressive so far, either.

Saracens will pose a major challenge if they can escape a group housing Munster and Clermont Auvergne.

One looming threat to Saints’ campaign will be the toll taken by international call-ups, with Dylan Hartley, Courtney Lawes, Tom Wood, Lee Dickson, Stephen Myler, Luther Burrell, Ben Foden and George North all virtually guaranteed to be on national duty in November and the spring and subsequently exposed to the heightened risk of injury that workload presents.

Alex Corbisiero, the England prop, has also suffered another injury setback.

However, such is the depth of Mallinder’s squad, they should cope with those call-ups. Players such Phil Dowson, Christian Day, Kahn Fotuali’i, the Pisi brothers and more provide quality throughout.

The Saints can mount a serious challenge in Europe this season, and they can win the European Rugby Champions Cup.

2. Munster out Early

Richard Heathcote/Getty Images

The Heineken Cup—as it used to be known—turns Munster fans misty–eyed, such is the heartbreak and romance they have shared with the old tournament.

Losing finalists twice, champions twice, and victors of the most jaw–dropping pool match the competition has ever staged, Munster and European competition provide enough material for a scriptwriter to pen a Hollywood blockbuster.

The men in red go into this new era of continental competition in patchy form, however.

A ropey start in the PRO12 has seen them lose twice at home already, but they have recovered to down Irish rivals Leinster and currently sit fourth in the league. It is hard to predict what sort of mood they will turn up in at present.

They should have enough quality to travel to Sale in Round 1 and record an away win, but with 2014 semi-finalists Saracens and Clermont Auvergne in their pool, it is hard to see another win on the road coming for Anthony Foley’s side. How far they go is going to depend on their home results against those big sides.

You would take them to squeak a win against Clermont, who travel about as well as a block of Stilton on a long-haul flight, but Saracens have too much obduracy and street smarts to go down at Thomond these days, which is far from the fortress of old.

Maybe the Red Army—notable by their poor numbers in domestic competition so far this season—will turn up and transform the stadium into the cauldron of old that would chew up opponents and spit them out.

Somehow, that effect seems unlikely to impact a side who have been to a major final recently.

A home defeat to Sarries and losses to the Fez Heads and Clermont on the road are going to make it virtually impossible to top the group, in which case they will be left hoping for one of the three runners-up spots to qualify for the knockout stage.

In a group in which there are no gimmes, that is a long shot. Munster to exit early.

3. The Pool Winners Will Be

Andrew Redington/Getty Images

Pool 1, Saracens: Saracens are experienced campaigners at this level now, and it is hard to see them being topped in this section.

Pool 2, Leinster: A shaky start in the PRO12 won’t stop the three-time winners prevailing in a group containing French strugglers Castres, an inconsistent Wasps side and even more patchy Harlequins.

Pool 3, Toulon: The champions will have too much at home for Ulster and Leicester and will be able to pick up at least one win on the road against these two.

Pool 4, Bath: This is a tough pool to call, with the presence of the impressive Montpellier and four-time winners Toulouse, not to mention Glasgow, who have started so well this season. Toulouse have awoken from a five-game losing streak just in time for the tournament, but Bath have the ability to beat anyone on their day.

Pool 5, Northampton: For all the reasons listed in Slide 1, the Saints will march on to the last eight.

4. Runners-Up to Qualify

David Rogers/Getty Images

Montpellier: Fabien Galthie’s men will need to make sure they beat Toulouse at home and do a double over Glasgow.

Clermont Auvergne: The Top 14 pace-setters can beat everyone at home, but they won’t. Saracens will turn them over home and away, but a bonus point against Munster will ensure their safe passage to the knockout stage.

Ulster: Neil Doak’s men will still feel aggrieved at their 14-man exit from the quarter-final at home to Saracens last season, per BBC Sport. That fire will be enough to beat Leicester home and away again. A home win against Toulon is not out of the question—Cardiff managed it last season.

5. What You Will Hear

Philipp Schmidli/Getty Images

Get your commentary bingo card out and cross off these five topics as you hear them. They are as sure to be mentioned as night follows day.

1. Bloodgate (when Leinster travel to Harlequins)
2. Jonny Wilkinson’s absence (whenever Toulon miss a kick at goal)
3. Heineken Cup (whenever a player or pundit slips up and refers to the tournament by its old name)
4. Wasps’ controversial move to Coventry (whenever they run out at the Ricoh Arena)
5. Saracens' massive semi-final win over Clermont last season (the two meet again in the first round)

6. The Team of the Tournament Will Be

Harry Engels/Getty Images

15. Delon Armitage: No England recall but another fine campaign from the exiled full-back.

14. Napolioni Nalaga: The big Fijian will once again revel at the highest level of club rugby.

13. George Pisi: Northampton’s fast, powerful centre will prove a valuable asset to the Saint’s campaign.

12. Matt Giteau: Will once again show why the Wallabies need to start picking players plying their trade overseas. The best Aussie back on the planet.

11. George North: North will do what North does best: bludgeon opponents and bag a hat–full of tries.

10. Stephen Myler: A maestro with the boot, Myler’s composure and accuracy will keep the Saints moving forward.

9. Morgan Parra: A highly consistent performer who also kicks a lot of points, Clermont’s Mr Fix It.

8. Billy Vunipola: Ran out of steam in last year’s final and will be better for the experience. Can go forward from a standstill no matter who is in his way.

7. Steffon Armitage: Last season’s European Player of the Year will again make England fans yearn for his return to their shores in time for the 2015 World Cup.

6. Ben Mowen: Montpellier’s new Australian recruit has started well in France and will shine on this stage.

5. Alastair Hargreaves: Saracens’ captain is hitting form right now and will lead his team with distinction. A seamless transition from the Steve Borthwick era.

4. Courtney Lawes: Saints’ all-action second row is ready to stand alongside the pantheon of great locks in this tournament. Good enough to join the likes of Paul O’Connell, Fabien Pelous and Martin Johnson as a totemic second-rower who ruled Europe.

3. Carl Hayman: Toulon’s captain and the immovable object on the tight-head side of their monstrous scrum

2. Rory Best: Best is finding some impressive form in the PRO12 and would like nothing more than this tournament to galvanise Mr Ulster further.

1. Thomas Domingo: Jettisoned by France, Clermont’s loose-head has a point to prove in this tournament.