European Champions Cup Preview: Pool 1

With two games already played it looks like a three horse race in Pool 1 with Munster leading the way with 8 points with Clermont second with 6 closely followed by Saracens in third with 5 points. Sale complete the group with only one point to show for the two opening rounds in the competition with them needing two wins in the next two games if they are going to have any hope of qualifying for the quarter finals.

Pool leaders Munster will look to make it three from three with French giants Clermont Auvergne travelling to Thomond Park on Saturday. This will be the 6th time these two sides have met in Europe with Clermont winning 3 out of the 5 previous games. The last time they met was in the Heineken Semi-final in 2013 with Clermont coming out on top which turned out to be Ronan O’Gara’s last game for the province. Munster know a win on Saturday will be vitally important if they are to top the group and having beaten the French side on their last two visits to Thomond Park they will look to defeat Clermont and further stretch their lead at the top. A win on Saturday will also be Munsters 100th win in European Competition.

The other game in the group is an all English affair with Sale hosting Saracens. After losing their two opening games Sale find themselves bottom of pool 1 and will most likely have to win their remaining 4 games in the group if they are to have any hope of qualifying for the quarter finals. Saracens got off to a great start with a 4 try bonus point win over Clermont but suffered a major setback a week later losing away to Munster. Mark McCall’s side made it all the way to the final last year and if they are going to go a step further this year a win at Sale is a must.