Champions Cup Preview: Pool 4
Our latest preview ahead of the European Champions Cup looks at Pool 4, containing Glasgow, Montpellier, Bath and Toulouse.
Our latest preview ahead of the European Champions Cup looks at Pool 4, containing Glasgow, Montpellier, Bath and former champions Toulouse.
This is probably the only pool in which all four clubs will harbour genuine ambitions of finishing top, making it very difficult to predict.
Glasgow Warriors:
Riding high in the Pro12 after an impressive start to the season that has seen Gregor Townsend’s team win five out of six (losing for the first time away to Ulster last weekend), Glasgow have renewed ambition in Europe.
The Scottish club have not made it past the pool stages since 1998 and have won away from home just five times in 41 trips but after such a strong start to the season, they’ll kick off their European campaign with more confidence than usual.
Their campaign starts on home soil (against Bath) and if they can carry over their Pro12 form, an upset or two is on the cards.
One to Watch: Stuart Hogg
Back in the fold after a difficult few months, the Scotland full-back as reclaimed the 15 jersey for his club after not even being able to make the Warriors squad at the end of last season, when he missed out on the Pro12 Final. Hogg has since admitted that his attitude wasn’t great but a successful tour with Scotland and participating in the Commonwealth Games Sevens have put the 22-year-old British and Irish Lion back on track. He’s a rare talent and can be a huge asset to his team, especially on attack, when firing on all cylinders.
Montpellier:
A dark horse to make the play-offs, Montpellier are one of the most attractive teams to watch in Europe, when they’re up for it. The real question is, how seriously will Fabien Galthi