Clermont pedigree to tell in chase for crown

Best bet
Clermont 8-1
English champions Saracens ended Toulon’s three-year reign as kings of Europe with victory over Racing 92 of Paris in last May’s final. And as the new European Champions Cup campaign kicks off today, not only are those two clubs right in the mix at the top of the outright market, they are drawn in the same pool and go head to head in the south of France on Saturday.

With two teams from three of the five groups progressing to the knockout stage the heavyweights could yet meet in the final.

But it will be a long haul for both teams and on the basis that they will be strong favourites to win their home game against the other, there will be no room for error against the other pool rivals Sa~le and Scarlets. Neither club will hold out much hope of going far in the tournament but both have claimed big European scalps in the past and will be out to make their mark.