France’s Top 14 may have a reduced intake in this season’s Heineken Cup but that doesn’t mean there’s reduced ambition – quite the opposite in fact. As if the lure of a showpiece final at the Stade de France wasn’t enough, there’s also the small matter of restored national and regional pride to play for.

A shocking 2008/9 campaign – with no semi-finalists for only the second time ever - resulted in an unsightly mélange of navel gazing, finger wagging and superbly Gallic shoulder shrugging, but the upshot should be a more determined performance this time around.

Heineken Cup Pools & Fixtures

French clubs went out and bought big during the summer and while Jonny Wilkinson’s Toulon may be sidelined in the H-Cup’s little brother – the Amlin Challenge Cup – the Top 14 should be healthily represented by its ‘Super Six’.

French champions Perpignan are the first into action (away to Italy’s Benetton Treviso on Friday night) and they will be leading a Top 14 assault that also includes legitimate European wannabes Stade Francais, Biarritz and Stade Toulousain. Even perennial under-achievers Clermont Auvergne have ambitions of finally making their mark in the H-Cup, while France’s final entrants Brive remain one of only two teams from this side of the Channel to have lifted Europe’s premier cup.

Stade Toulousain are the others, and having won it three times and been runners-up on two further occasions they have unarguably the greatest European pedigree of any team entering this year’s competition. They are due to bring the curtain down on the this weekend’s opening round of games when they play host to Sale Sharks on Sunday afternoon, with Stade Francais (at home to Edinburgh), Biarritz (away to Glasgow Warriors), Brive (away to Scarlets) and Clermont (at home to Viadana) all doing battle in-between.

A good start is always essential in a competition based on Pools of four teams and while home wins are paramount it is equally important to pick up points away from home too. With all that in the mind this weekend’s games should prove to be a feast of cross-border clashes that could set the tone for another gripping campaign. Here’s hoping so.

Benetton Treviso v Perpignan (14.30, 10/10/09, Pool 1)
Perpignan are hoping to build on last season’s domestic success – their first French title in 54 years – by making a real impact in the Heineken Cup this time out. An opening away fixture in Italy gives them an ideal chance to start off with a win despite injuries ruling out the likes of Nicolas Duran, David Mele, Jean-Philippe Grandclaude, Philip Burger, Olivier Olibeau, Adrien Plante, Gavin Hume and Ovidiu Tonita.

On the plus side hey have recalled Gerrie Britz, Maxime Mermoz and Bertrand Guiry – who all missed last weekend’s 27-12 defeat in Biarritz – and the Catalans will still be expected to return with a full house of points after taking on a Treviso side which has lost its last 12 home games in the Heineken Cup. President Paul Goze is offering the carrot of a home quarter or semi-final in Barcelona should Perpignan progress, but Pool 1 will be no stroll in the park with the likes of Munster and ECC champions Northampton Saints making up the group.

HC pedigree: Perpignan reached the final in 2002/3 but lost 22-17 to Stade Toulousain.
Verdict: Perpignan win

Stade Francais v Edinburgh (14.35, 10/10/09, Pool 4)
Tom Palmer may not stand out among Stade Francais’ plethora of international stars and calendar pin-ups, but the England lock has something that club president Max Guazzini craves more desperately than an 80,000 sell out at the Stade de France – a Heineken Cup winners medal. Palmer’s was collected while at London Wasps, and he’s hoping to add another this year with his glamorous new Paris club. Stade have never lifted Europe’s premier club trophy and live in the constant shadow of three-time winners Stade Toulousain when it comes to Heineken Cup pedigree. They begin their latest quest with a home match against Edinburgh on Saturday afternoon in Pool 4 and Scottish-born England international Palmer will be particularly keen to impress, and not just because he sat out last week’s Top 14 clash with Brive which was watched by Martin Johnson.

The former Scotland Under-19 and Under-21 international still has fond memories of his rugby childhood in Boroughmuir, even though he turned his back on an opportunity to play for Scotland A in preference for throwing in his lot with England. He says Saturday’s game will be “special” after missing out twice against Edinburgh with his former club London Wasps due to injury, but admitted it won’t be easy for Stade. “I’ve been doing my homework,” he told The Scotsman. “Edinburgh like to get the ball wide and it’s going to be an interesting challenge. Stade might have the flamboyant reputation off the field with marketing players to help sell calendars with wine and even perfume on offer. But we are not the Harlem Globetrotters of rugby and when it comes to on-field matters we want to win.

“There is a special feeling attached to the Heineken Cup, though, because if winning my England caps has been fantastic then that day at Twickenham with Wasps [when they won the Heineken Cup] has been the highlight domestically,” he added.

Edinburgh have named Chris Paterson, Ben Cairns, Ross Ford and Roddy Grant in their starting XV.

HC pedigree: Stade Francais reached the final in 2000/01 but lost 34-30 to Leicester Tigers at Parcs des Princes in Paris – the last time the final was held in Paris – and 18-12 to Stade Toulousain (after extra time) at Murrayfield in 2004/05
Verdict: Stade Francais win

Scarlets v Brive (15.00, 10/10/09, Pool 6)
Brive will attempt to cast off their disappointing league form as they travel to Wales to face a Scarlets outfit on their return to Heineken Cup duty after an 11-year absence. The former champions have struggled for consistency so far this campaign, but will be led by former Scarlets favourite Alix Popham as they seek to open up with a valuable away win. Their optimism will be boosted by the fact Scarlets have won only one of their last 13 Heineken Cup ties, although that was against Stade Francais last season.

Scarlets are set to play British Lion Stephen Jones at fly-half with Scottish winger Sean Lamont to partner Jonathan Davies in the centres, while their international back row should feature Simon Easterby, Dafydd James and David Lyons. Head coach Nigel Davies described the Pool 6 clash as a “massive game for us” and urged his players to wear their shirt with pride. “They’re representing us as a group and as a region,” he added.

Brive’s English CEO Simon Gillham described Scarlets as “the weakest of the three [pool opponents] on paper” this week, and will be hoping his words don’t come back to haunt him. “We know we are minnows in this pool but we owe it to our supporters and to our sponsors to put up a good showing in a competition which we have been away from for more than 10 years,” he told planetrugby.com.

Andy Goode is set to continue at fly-half, with fellow England internationals Shaun Perry at scrum-half and Jamie Noon in the centres. The latter is relishing the chance to shine on Europe’s main stage.

“When it comes to international time the national coaches pick players who are playing well in the Heineken Cup. It’s a real step up from domestic league competition,” he said. “It’s a great honour for Brive to be back in the Heineken Cup after such a long break and we will be going out to give it everything.”

With London Irish and defending champions Leinster making up the remainder of the Pool it is vital that Brive get something from their opening match if they are to harbour serious pretensions of progress. They will definitely be without South African born flanker Gerhard Vosloo, however, after the player picked up a 10-day ban for a dangerous tackle on Biarritz scrum-half Yann Lesgourgues.

HC pedigree: Brive put their name on the rugby map by winning the Heineken Cup in 1996/97 with a thumping 28-9 victory over Leicester Tigers at Cardiff. They were back in the final 12 months later but lost 19-18 to Bath in Bordeaux.
Verdict: Brive win

Glasgow Warriors v Biarritz (15.45, 10/10/09, Pool 2)
Confidence is rarely lacking down in Biarritz, indeed it was a surfeit of the stuff that probably saw them slip to three defeats in their opening four league games after a perfect record in pre-season. But five successive league wins has seen them regain their coastal swagger, including last weekend’s 27-12 downing of champions Perpignan. And with it has returned the belief that the Basques could again mount a serious challenge in this year’s Heineken Cup.

Club president, and national treasure, Serge Blanco certainly believes so, even if he does have a uniquely French way of expressing it. “The Heineken Cup is like a garden in which the team can enjoy themselves and we will see quite a different approach,” he said. “It is a separate type of challenge and the demands will be different. We will be very relaxed and that relaxation has been brought about by confidence,” added the former France full-back.

Blanco’s belief in his team’s “beautiful confidence” clearly shared by Biarritz coach Jean-Michel Gonzalez, who admitted that five successive wins had banished the fear of failure previously pervading the squad. “Our style is more varied and that is down to the level of confidence. The players dare to pass and they want to create things together,” he said.

Glasgow coach Sean Lineen will be lapping it all up though, and knows how over-confidence can come back to bite after his unfancied team did Stade Toulousain untold damage with a stunning away win at the three-time champions last season. They also go into the match at Firhill Arena on a high after winning 21-5 in Cardiff last weekend and can reflect warmly on a 9-6 home win against Biarritz two seasons ago. His preparations, though, were hit by late withdrawals due to injury of Scottish internationals Graeme Morrison and former Perpignan scrum-half Chris Cusiter.

English duo Ayoola Erinle and Magnus Lund both make the Biarritz starting XV – together with French internationals Imanol Harinordoquy and Dimitri Yachvili - but Iain Balshaw remains injured.

HC pedigree: Biarritz are another French club to have made the final but lost, in their case in 23-19 in 2005/6 against Munster at the Millennium Stadium
Verdict: Biarritz win

Clermont Auvergne v Viadana (16.00, 10/10/09, Pool 3)
Perennial bridesmaids, never the bride. Clermont Auvergne will be sick of hearing it but the mocking continue until they finally cast the monkey their backs. Offer them the French championship or Heineken glory and it will be Top 14 every time. That may not have too much of a bearing on their opening Pool 3 clash – at home to Viadana – but come the business end of the season it could be a crucial factor. There’s no doubting ‘Les Jaunards’ have the quality to succeed both in the Heineken Cup and domestically but Vern Cotter’s team will be excused if they don’t go past their previous best in this competition – twice reaching the quarter-finals. Fijian winger Napolioni Nalaga – freshly named Top 14’s Player of the Year – and Australian fly-half Brock James will no doubt clock up a hatful of points, but trophies is where it’s at in the top echelons of sport and Clermont’s cabinet remains starkly bare despite their persuasive argument for having been France’s most consistent performers in Top 14 for the past three years.

HC pedigree: Reached the quarter-finals in 2001/2 and 1999/2000
Verdict: Clermont Auvergne win

Stade Toulousain v Sale Sharks (16.00, 11/10/09, Pool 5)
Stade Toulousain away is about as daunting a task as you can face in Heineken Cup rugby, but Sale Sharks will seek solace from Glasgow Warriors’ stunning win at the three-time champions last season. They should also be buoyed by Stade’s indifferent start to the Top 14 season, although last weekend’s 30-12 away win at Montpellier hinted at a return to form. Sale boss Kingsley Jones is also hoping to get a few tips from Philippe Saint-Andre, his predecessor at the Manchester club who has already overseen a dramatic 18-13 victory over Stade this season for his new team Toulon. “I’ve already had one conversation on the phone with him and the plan is to meet him on Saturday and hopefully he can give us a few more pointers about Toulouse,” Jones told the Manchester Evening News.

But he knows his team will be up against it, whatever Toulouse’s form so far this campaign. “Obviously we know all about Toulouse’s pedigree and what a huge ask this will be. They are packed full of world-class stars and their team sheet can look frightening, particularly in the backs,” he added. Jones sees the tackle area as key to their fortunes and has been boosted by the return of Wales and British Lion scrum-half Dwayne Peel. “Having Dwayne back is huge for us,” said Jones. |He’s got huge experience and will really give is a lead on Sunday,” he added. But Sale will have to make do without injured fly-half Charlie Hodgson (broken toe) and centre Lee Thomas (groin).

Peel will captain the side, while regular prop Rob O’Donnell starts at second row as Jones tries to mix adventure with prudence, necessitated by a five-day turnaround before next week’s home game with Cardiff.

Toulouse are desperate to make amends for last year’s disappointing exit to Cardiff and Guy Noves will be urging his star-studded outfit to lay down an early marker. If they score early it could become a rout, but if Sale manage to hang on until half time then home nerves could become frayed. The form of halfback combination Byron Kelleher and Jean-Baptiste Elissalde is likely to be key, and Sale will be mighty wary of the talent these two could unleash outside them if provided with good clean ball. Elissalde needs just one conversion to take his tournament tally past 400 points, while winger Vincent Clerc is just one try short of Dafydd James’ Heineken record of 29.

HC pedigree: Winners in 1995/96 (beating Cardiff 21-18 in Cardiff), 2002/03 (beating Perpignan 22-17 at Lansdowne Road, Dublin) and 2004/05 (beating Stade Francais 18-12 aet at Murrayfield). Runners/up in 2007/08 (lost to Munster 16-13 at Millennium Stadium) and 2003/04 (losing to Wasps 27-20 at Twickenham), and semi-finalists on a further three other occasions.
Verdict: Stade Toulousain win