Heineken Cup time

This week we will be mostly concerning ourselves with the Heineken Cup – what else?

Welcome to Loose Pass – our weekly assortment of disjointed thoughts. This week we will be mostly concerning ourselves with the Heineken Cup, naturellement!

Hooray! The Heineken Cup is upon us! We'll refrain from trotting out the tired old line about it refreshing the parts other tournaments can't reach, but it does – it really does.

This year we have the added excitement of seeing newly-forged Lions friendships being tested to the hilt, the rise of the Scots, and the lure of a Parisian final for the sometimes diffident French. Bring it on!

We thought we'd mark the occasion with a wee guide to the months ahead. In truth, it's a rather geeky analysis of each side, but it's FREE and its pioneering print-out-and-keep format makes it perfect for impressing friends and annoying strangers.

So go forth and discharge the nuggetty facts at will – they make the perfect accompaniment to a pint.

POOL ONE

Bennetton Treviso: The Italian giants have never made it past the group stages, but they have had the better of Scottish opposition in Europe, winning three out of five encounters. Unfortunately, Treviso's travels won't take them anywhere further north than Franklin's Gardens.

Munster: The two-time champions suffered a 60-19 defeat to Toulouse in the 1996/97 edition of the tournament, and went on to finish bottom of their group. Since then it has been all about over-achieving, and in 101 games they have yet to be nilled in Europe. With a 91% winning ratio at home in Europe, don't expect any foreign celebrations on Irish soil.

Northampton Saints: The club went from clinching the overall spoils in 1999/2000 to winning just one group game as defending champions, losing to both Leinster and Edinburgh at home in the process.

Perpignan: Reports suggest that the Top 14 champions are eyeing up a quarter-final in Barcelona – but two rather large obstacles require navigating before any thoughts of dancing down Las Ramblas can take hold.

POOL TWO

Biarritz Olympique: Three semi-finals and one final, but still no wins for Europe's new lead bridesmaid (Leinster got hitched). The quarter-finals is this year's primary target – they failed to graduate from their group in the last two editions of tournament.

Glasgow Warriors: Current form suggests a play-off spot is within reach of the Scots. Historical form suggest otherwise: they have yet to progress past the group stages. The closest they got was a quarter-final play-off against the Tigers in 1997/98, where they were crushed 90-19. Ouch!

Gloucester: Another of the great bridesmaids of Europe, if that dress actually fits: Gloucester's best effort has been a sole semi-final appearance in 2000/1. Biarritz are no strangers to Gloucester, the two sides were grouped together last year. The head-to-head finished one apiece, but neither side made it to the quarter-finals.

Dragons: The omens aren't good for the Welsh region, despite a reasonable start to the season. They have never finished higher than third in the group stages and have never beaten English opposition in Europe in ten attempts.

POOL THREE

Clermont Auvergne: The French side has bagged the Challenge Cup on two occasions, but their attitude to the bigger prize has been decidedly middle-of-road, as suggested by stats of 19 wins, 18 losses and a draw in all European competition. This year they look interested, and anything less than a first quarter-final since 2001/2 would be seen as a massive failure.

Leicester Tigers: Five finals and two titles – need we say more? The absence of Irish opposition in the group will steel the Tigers: although Leicester boast an overall European win ratio of 68%, honours between the Midlanders and their bogeymen from across the sea stand at eight apiece.

Ospreys: If this ambitious side's star continues to rise, they are surely due a semi-final. Chronologically and since their inception, their European history reads like this: fourth in group, third in group, third in group, second in group, quarter-finals, quarter-finals.

Viadana: The Italians have yet to record a win in their two appearances in the Heineken Cup, but came close to beating Glasgow in 2007/8 and Perpignan in 2002/3. Whilst they can consider themselves desperately unlucky with their draw, the experience will be invaluable.

POOL FOUR

Bath: Time to see whether Bath's recent renaissance has gone the way of Pablo Escobar. Quarter-finalists last year, the champions of 1997/8 have made easy pickings of French opposition in Europe, winning 13 of 18 encounters. Meanwhile, the club boasts an impressive 81% winning ratio at the Rec – the best in England.

Edinburgh: Steady progress has got Edinburgh fans dreaming of a quarter-final – a stage the club has reached only once, back in 2003/04. But the Parisians in the group could cause consternation: Edinburgh have won just five of 24 encounters with French opposition in Europe.

Stade Francais: Très bizarre! The more attention the Parisians pay Europe, the earlier they fall. Two finals have been followed by three exits in the group stages. It's the away form that spoils the balance sheet: at home they have won 89% of their European games, on the road that drops to 41%.

Ulster: Another curate's egg of a side. Ulster have made the play-offs only once, back in 1998/9 – and they went on to win the whole kicking caboodle! Other than that, their best effort is second in the group in 2001/2. Must do better. They might fancy it this time.

POOL FIVE

Cardiff Blues: Since losing in the 1995/6 final, Cardiff's European fortunes have hit rock-bottom twice, finishing last in their group in 2002/3 and 2004/5. Since then it has been ever upwards, despite fortune abandoning them against last year in the infamous penalty shoot-out in the semi-final against the Tigers.

Harlequins: A return to the scene of the crime! Quins are lucky to be playing, and any success on their part will be met with protestations from their vanquished foe … so just the sort of conditions in which the Londoners thrive! But they'll need to improve their home form – they have won just six games on the road in 22 European excursions.

Sale Sharks: Two Challenge Cup crowns but only one Heineken Cup quarter-final. The stats sum up the Sharks: they seem to lack that extra gear against the best of the best. Bizarrely, home form is a large part of the problem – they have won only 60% of their European encounters at Edgeley Park.

Toulouse: Five finals and three titles – in your face, Leicester Tigers! The undisputed kings of Europe have lost only 27 of their 101 games in the competition. The only known kryptonite (other than an on-rushing Rob Howley) appears to stem from the Emerald Isle: Toulouse have won only 50% of