How big will the World Cup hangover be, and which of this season's European Champions Cup contenders will be hit hardest? The answer to those questions will play a huge part in determining which of Toulon's rivals stand the best chance of prising their hands off the Champions Cup trophy which they won for a record three times in succession after beating Clermont in the all-French final at Twickenham three months ago.
With Saracens having supplanted former European champions like Leicester, Wasps, Bath and Northampton as the Premiership's leading lights after reaching a final and two semi-finals over the last three years, they merit the first word on Friday's draw – especially as it pitches them against Toulouse at Allianz Park in the first round.
The World Cup factor was uppermost in the mind of their rugby director Mark McCall as he reflected on their rendezvous with France's biggest club. “It's a heck of a start to have one of the French powerhouses coming to our place first up,” he said.
McCall added: “The different slant to this season is that the World Cup final will be played two weeks before the first game, and we don't know who will be in the final – but if England were to get into the final we don't know how our players will be coming back into the club with Toulouse just two weeks away.
“It might provide a slightly different dynamic if France are in the final, or if Ireland are in the final.”
The reality is that if England, France, Ireland – or Wales and Scotland – reach the World Cup last four, or even the quarter-finals, the sizeable international contingents of clubs like Saracens, Bath, Toulouse and Leinster could be compromised. Injuries, fatigue, and factors like loss of form and confidence all come into the post-World Cup equation.
It suggests that clubs with strong squads which are not heavily hit by international calls could thrive in the coming campaign, because the streamlined format introduced a year ago means any side that does not hit the ground running puts its quarter-final prospects in jeopardy.
Pool 1- Saracens
Nov 14: Oyonnax v Ulster (Stade Charles Mathon, 2pm), Saracens v Toulouse (Allianz Park, 5.15pm)
Nov 20: Ulster v Saracens (Kingspan Stadium, 7.45pm)
Nov 21: Toulouse v Oyonnax (Stade Ernest Wallon, 4.15pm)
Dec 11: Ulster v Toulouse (Kingspan Stadium, 7.45pm)
Dec 13: Oyonnax v Saracens (Stade Charles Mathon, 2pm)
Dec 19: Saracens v Oyonnax (Allianz Park, 1pm)
Dec 20: Toulouse v Ulster (Stade Ernest Wallon, 2pm)
Jan 15/16/17: Oyonnax v Toulouse (Stade Charles Mathon, tbc)
Jan 15/16/17: Saracens v Ulster (Allianz Park, tbc)
Jan 22/23/24: Toulouse v Saracens (Le Stadium, tbc), Ulster v Oyonnax (Kingspan Stadium, tbc)
At least Saracens get Toulouse at home in the opening round rather than travelling to south-west France, but McCall acknowledges that any team which loses two games in succession has had it. Things do not get any easier with a trip to meet Ulster at the Kingspan Stadium six days later.
However, the Saracens boss, who was formerly with Ulster, says it is familiar territory for his players. “It's very much like the draw we had last season. Last year we started with Clermont at home then had Munster away in round two.”
Sarries will be grateful that Maro Itoje and Chris Ashton are surplus to England's World Cup requirements (so far), but the team which will suffer the least disruption from international calls are tournament newcomers Oyonnax.
The tight-knit side from the Jura mountains are the Top 14's answer to Exeter, cementing themselves in the top half of the table after winning promotion. Saracens play them back-to-back in December, and how the big clubs perform at their Stade Charles Mathon citadel could be key.
Pool 2 – Exeter
Nov 15: Bordeaux-Begles v Clermont (Stade Chaban Delmas, 2pm), Ospreys v Exeter (Liberty Stadium, 5.15pm)
Nov 21: Exeter v Bordeaux-Begles (Sandy Park, 7.45pm)
Nov 22: Clermont v Ospreys (Stade Marcel Michelin, 2pm)
Dec 12: Exeter v Clermont (Sandy Park, 5.15pm), Ospreys v Bordeaux-Begles (Liberty Stadium, 5.15pm)
Dec 19: Bordeaux-Begles v Ospreys (Stade Chaban Delmas, 6.15pm)
Dec 20: Clermont v Exeter (Stade Marcel Michelin, 4.15pm)
Jan 15/16/17: Bordeaux-Begles v Exeter (Stade Chaban Delmas, tbc), Ospreys v Clermont (Liberty Stadium, tbc)
Jan 22/23/24: Clermont v Bordeaux-Begles (Stade Marcel Michelin, tbc), Exeter v Ospreys (Sandy Park, tbc)
The international contingent at Sandy Park keeps on growing with England lock Geoff Parling arriving from Leicester, Tomas Francis establishing himself as the likely Wales World Cup tighthead, and exciting Italian centre Michele Campagnaro on his way to the South-west.
Given that Parling will be linking with two other seasoned veterans from his days with the Tigers – No.8 Thomas Waldrom and flanker Julian Salvi – and that the Devon club already boast homegrown England talent like Henry Slade, Jack Nowell and Luke Cowan-Dickie, and it looks like a potent mix.
However, the Chiefs have an exacting start with a trip to the Ospreys – whose large Welsh international presence headed by the formidable Alun Wyn Jones – and then a visit from a star-studded Bordeaux-Begles, with Wallaby try-ace Adam Ashley-Cooper among their new signings.
One French challenge then gives way to another with Exeter facing a double-header against last season's runners-up, Clermont. Come out in credit from their tussles with Wesley Fofana and Co and the sky's the limit.
Pool 3 – Northampton
Nov 14: Racing 92 v Glasgow (Stade Yves-du-Manoir, 4.15pm), Northampton v Scarlets (Franklin's Gardens, 7.45pm)
Nov 21: Glasgow v Northampton (Scotstoun Stadium, 5.15pm), Scarlets v Racing 92 (Parc y Scarlets, 7.45pm)
Dec 12: Glasgow v Scarlets (Scotstoun Stadium, 1pm), Racing 92 v Northampton (Stade Yves-du-Manoir, 4.15pm)
Dec 18: Northampton v Racing 92 (Franklin's Gardens, 7.45pm)
Dec 19: Scarlets v Glasgow (Parc y Scarlets, 7.45pm)
Jan 15/16/17: Northampton v Glasgow (Franklin's Gardens, tbc), Racing 92 v Scarlets (Stade Yves-du-Manoir, tbc)
Jan 22/23/24: Glasgow v Racing 92 (Scotstoun Stadium, tbc), Scarlets v Northampton (Parc y Scarlets, tbc)
There are no easy pools, and Northampton's is no exception with All Black fly-half Dan Carter heading in their direction as the star signing at Top 14 big-spenders Racing 92. The Saints will hope to get off to a flying start against George North's old outfit, the Scarlets, whom they host at Franklin's Gardens in the opening round, before travelling north of the border to face the reigning Pro12 champions, Glasgow Warriors.
Josh Strauss and Co will provide a stern test, and Glasgow will hope to lower the colours of another English club having beaten Bath at Scotstoun last year. Northampton then face Racing in a pre-Christmas double-header – away and then home – which will almost certainly settle their fate.
The French side are in psychological surplus having tanked the Saints at Franklin's Gardens in the pool round last season, before beating them again in Paris. Northampton have some score-settling to do against Top 14 opposition because they were also humbled by Clermont 37-5 after they scraped into the quarter-finals.
Pool 4 – Leicester
Nov 13: Leicester v Stade Francais (Welford Road, 7.45pm)
Nov 14: Munster v Treviso (Thomond Park, 5.15pm)
Nov 21: Treviso v Leicester (Stadio Comunale di Monigo, 2pm)
Nov 22: Stade Francais v Munster (Stade Jean Bouin, 4.15pm)
Dec 12: Treviso v Stade Francais (Stadio Comunale di Monigo, 4.15pm)
Dec 13: Munster v Leicester (Thomond Park, 7.45pm)
Dec 19: Stade Francais v Treviso (Stade Jean Bouin, 4.15pm)
Dec 20: Leicester v Munster (Welford Road, 5.15pm)
Jan 15/16/17: Leicester v Treviso (Welford Road, tbc), Munster v Stade Francais (Thomond Park, tbc)
Jan 22/23/24: Stade Francais v Leicester (Stade Jean Bouin, tbc), Treviso v Munster (Stadio Comunale di Monigo, tbc)
Expectations will be high at Leicester following the return of former NZ centre Aaron Mauger to Welford Road, this time as coach. However, like their East Midlands rivals, Northampton, they will have their work cut out to qualify for the knock-out stage given that their pool also includes Munster and new French champions, Stade Francais.
The Tigers still have a quota of England internationals, including Dan Cole and the Youngs brothers, Tom and Ben, as well as new arrivals from New Zealand in flanker Brendan O'Connor (Blues) and lock Michael Fitzgerald (Chiefs), and Aussie wing Peter Betham. Leicester fans will also be hopeful of seeing a revitalised Manu Tuilagi once his disciplinary problems are behind him.
Another plus is that they meet a dangerous Stade Francais outfit at home first, and if they can get the right result and then trump it with an away win over perennial tail-enders Treviso, they will be well set for their December back-to-back trial of strength against Munster, with the first game at Thomond Park. Win both of those and Leicester will be in clover.
Pool 5 – Bath & Wasps
Nov 15: Leinster v Wasps (RDS Arena, 1pm), Toulon v Bath (Stade Felix Mayol, 4.15pm)
Nov 21: Bath v Leinster (Recreation Ground, 3.15pm)
Nov 22: Wasps v Toulon (Ricoh Arena, 5.15pm)
Dec 13: Toulon v Leinster (tbc, 4.15pm), Wasps v Bath (Ricoh Arena, 5.15pm)
Dec 19: Bath v Wasps (Recreation Ground, 5.15pm), Leinster v Toulon (Aviva Stadium, 5.15pm)
Jan 15/16/17: Leinster v Bath (RDS Arena, tbc), Toulon v Wasps (Stade Felix Mayol, tbc)
Jan 22/23/24: Bath v Toulon (Recreation Ground, tbc), Wasps v Leinster (Ricoh Arena, tbc)
In most circumstances Bath and Wasps could have been optimistic about making the knock-out stage of the tournament, but the two Premiership clubs will have their work cut out to stay alive in a pool that includes champions Toulon, and former winners Leinster.
Bath face a test of character at the Stade Mayol in the opening round, where Toulon will be hoping to parade their long line of new star signings including Springbok No.8 Duane Vermeulen, NZ centre Ma'a Nonu, veteran Irish lock Paul O'Connell, and the explosive former Northampton back-rower Samu Manoa. However, it will be longer-established Toulon imports like the Armitage brothers and Mathieu Bastareaud who will provide the direction for the champions.
Whether Bath can put a serious dent in either Toulon or Leinster – who they meet at The Rec in round two – will depend on whether their England backs George Ford and Jonathan Joseph, and South African flanker, Francois Louw, are fit for duty after their World Cup exertions.
Another quarter-final exit and their ambitious owner Bruce Craig could start to stamp his feet. Bath's December double-header is against Wasps, with a visit to the Ricoh first on the list before the home leg. If either side is to progress to the last eight their best bet will be to take maximum points against their English rivals.
With Leinster able to call on Irish internationals in most positions, including returning fly-half Jonny Sexton, Wasps may struggle to match them for firepower when they meet in Dublin in the opening round. Much will depend on whether Sexton and Co, and likewise Joe Launchbury and James Haskell, have recuperated after the World Cup.
Wasps will also be counting on the arrival from Saracens of tighthead James Johnston to give their front five the boost in ballast and power it requires.
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