Nick Cain column: European scales look finely balanced at last 

Where's the ‘pool of death'? That's the first thought that struck me when looking at the European Cup draw announced this week in that great rugby hub, Neuchatel, Switzerland, home of European Professional Club Rugby (EPCR).
What was clear, however, was that while most people in Neuchatel wouldn't know one end of a rugby ball from the other, the draw for the pool stage reflected the Swiss model of neutrality, because it was the most evenly balanced in recent memory.
That is not to be sniffed at given the strangely lopsided pools that sometimes emerged from Dublin under the old ERC Heineken Cup format. In the interests of balanced perspective, nor did the new organisation cover itself in glory by putting Toulon, Wasps, Leinster and Bath in the same pool last season.
To start with the reigning European champions, Saracens have only one other heavyweight to contend with in Pool 3, with Toulon joining the Scarlets and Sale Sharks in trying to topple the holders.
There is a similar balance to Pool 1, with newly crowned French champions, Racing 92, facing the slightly faded forces of Leicester and Munster, as well as a Glasgow side looking for the big breakthrough. The same applies to Pool 4, where Northampton face a two-pronged French assault from Montpellier and Castres, as well as beaten Pro12 finalists, Leinster.
The symmetry is also there in Pool 5 where Exeter will look to improve on last year's epic quarter-final exit, after taking Wasps to the brink. However, it will be a stern test with Ulster, Clermont and Bordeaux-Begles also in the mix.
Only Pool 2 offers a clear advantage to three of the participants, because it features the eternal Italian whipping boys, Zebre. It is now up to Wasps, Toulouse and Pro12 champions Connacht to either win it, or secure one of the best runners-up slots guaranteed by having and also-ran in your pool.
This is a jarring note, because while all the other teams in the competition are there on merit, the Italian side have been given a sinecure at the top table, purportedly aimed at giving that country encouragement. The best encouragement they can be given is a directive to appoint coaches who drive up standards, so that Italian rugby qualifies for the elite tier on its merits, rather than as a special favour.
The other big issue is whether Saracens can establish the sort of three-titles-in-succession dynasty that Toulon managed before them. Mark McCall's astute leadership saw Saracens claim a rare European and domestic double last season, and he acknowledged that his team have a bull's-eye on the back of their shirts this season, with everyone looking to shoot them down.
However, while the Saracens rugby director described all three pool opponents as “extremely tough sides”, it is the French clubs who are likely to mount the biggest push to end the Saracens reign – starting with Toulon.
McCall said of a Toulon side beaten to the Top 14 title by Racing just over a week ago in Barcelona: “Toulon have a star-studded squad who will have the extra hunger of not winning a trophy last season. We have faced them in the final stages of the tournament in recent seasons, and we know how much of a challenge they pose.”
What McCall did not say is that Saracens ability to outmuscle Racing in the European Cup final in Lyon two months ago dented the pride of a Top 14 which is brimful of clubs with monstrous, if slow-moving, packs.
Should they get past Toulon, McCall can rest assured that the other French heavies will be lining up for their title shot – with Toulouse, Jake White's Montpellier, and Clermont at the head of the queue.
Whatever the outcome of this year's tournament, the challenge to EPCR to ensure that the European Cup remains the most prestigious title in town as already been laid down. The Top 14 final attracted a club world record crowd of 99,124 to the Nou Camp stadium to see Racing beat Toulon 29-21.
This dwarfed the official attendance of 58,000 announced after Saracens won their first European Cup title in Lyon – added to which the fans pouring into the Nou Camp did not have to contend with the slow motion tram system to the Grande Stade that blighted the European Cup final weekend in Lyon.
If Saracens have to raise their game to keep their title, it is plain that EPCR are going to have to do the same.