The inward soul-searching that followed a French shut out in the 2009 semi-finals – for only the second time in the tournament’s history - was swept away by voracious player recruitment during the summer, and of the six Top 14 teams in this year’s entry five have legitimate ambitions to make the knock-out stages.

Heineken Cup Pools & Fixtures

Only Brive are openly stating they’re in this year’s tournament “for the experience”, but the ambitious Limousin club have a long term plan to regain the European pedigree that saw them beat Leicester Tigers 28-9 in the 1997 final before losing narrowly to Bath 19-18 in the 1998 final. Indeed, Brive remain one of just two French clubs to have won Europe’s premier club competition – along with Stade Toulousain – and are still the only Top 14 side to have beaten non-French opposition the final.

The absence of high-profile England recruit Riki Flutey (out through injury until the New Year) may have something to do with their downbeat pronouncements – together with their tepid league form so far this season – and it’s hard to see them emerge from a tough-looking Pool 6 group which also features defending champions Leinster, as well London Irish and the Scarlets.

Brive open their campaign with a trip to the latter, with club captain Alix Popham particularly keen to impress as he returns to his former team. A home game against Leinster follows, by which time Andy Goode and company could already be turning their attention back to their struggling league campaign.

Top 14 Table  / Top 14 try-scorers / Top 14 Results / Top 14 Fixtures

Of France’s other five entrants, four naturally catch the eye – Stade Toulousain, Perpignan, Biarritz and Stade Francais.

The latter suffered a torrid start to their domestic campaign but have since got back on track following the sacking of Ewen McKenzie to be replaced by former Biarritz head coach Jacques Delmas.

The English triumvirate of James Haskell, Tom Palmer and Ollie Phillips are clearly relishing the prospect, especially with the high-profile nature of the games certain to attract the attention of Martin Johnson.

“It’s a massively important tournament for me,” admitted Haskell. “Every week we play massive games in France – last week 46,000 watched us against Toulouse – but playing against English sides, against players I’m vying with for international selection – is very important to me,” he added.

Phillips told FRC he was buzzing at the prospect of Heineken rugby. “It’s going to be brilliant, and is one of the main reasons I signed for Stade Francais,” said the England sevens captain. “I hadn’t really had the opportunity to play in the Heineken Cup before because at Newcastle we only ever featured in it once during my tenure at the club, so that’s going to be hugely exciting for me. Also, on top of that, I’m playing for a club that can potentially win it.”

Stade are moving their ‘home’ games around again this year, opening against Edinburgh at the Stade Jean Bouin, playing Bath at the Stade de France and taking their game against Ulster over to Brussels (in Belgium).

“That’s half the fun and beauty of playing for Stade Francais,” admitted Phillips.

“I came here because I wanted to play for a club that was ambitious and that wanted to win the Heineken Cup, win Top 14 and play in big match environments. We’re in the winning business and we believe we go and do that, but that’s not to disrespect the other sides because they are quality opposition and the way Edinburgh are playing in the Magners League that is going to be a seriously hard game. Then Bath at The Rec are always quality, so we know that’s not going to be easy either.

“But I think that’s the beauty of the Heineken Cup, there just aren’t any easy games any more. It’s now so competitive it’s probably going to make it even more rewarding if you can go on and win it,” he said.

Biarritz, runners-up to Munster in 2006, are also eyeing Euro glory and go into next weekend’s away game at Glasgow Warriors (in Pool 2) on the back of five successive league wins and flying high in third place in Top 14.

They will have to make do without England World Cup winner Iain Balshaw, however, who is still out with pulled abdominal muscles sustained in the recent Basque derby. That means he’ll also miss the round two game against former club Gloucester. “I’m gutted, but hopefully I’ll be fit for the game at Kingsholm later in the competition,” he told FRC.

Balshaw certainly believes that Biarritz have the quality to progress, but he knows it won’t be easy.

“Biarritz want to go as far as they can, of course, and they’re always up for the Heineken Cup here, but we know that going to places like Newport and Glasgow is going to be very difficult. We’ve just got to make sure we win all of our home games and try to pick up some points away. It’s certainly a group from which we can progress but we’re not taking anyone lightly,” he added.

“It’s frustrating having this injury but apart from that I’m loving it here. People said it would be different, and it certainly is,” confirmed the 30-year-old full-back/winger.

Of the other French teams, three-time champions Stade Toulousain have shown indifferent form so far this season, but have too much class to be written off. They open up Pool 5 with a home game against Sale Sharks followed by an away trip to Harlequins, but it’s their mid-group double-header against Cardiff Blues – who knocked them out in last year’s quarter-final – that catches the eye. Their 30-12 away win at Montpellier at the weekend hinted at an upturn in form and head coach Guy Noves believes the result could be a turning point for the club.

French champions Perpignan start in Pool 1 away to Benetton Treviso and will be hoping for a win to set them on their way for the knockout stages. Club president Paul Goze is aware the Catalans need European glory to further lift their profile – and income – and is dangling the carrot of a knockout game in Barcelona should his players progress that far.

Twice champions Munster stand in their way, but they should have enough to beat both Treviso and Northampton Saints to make it through.

Clermont Auvergne have a tougher group, with Leicester Tigers and the Ospreys both vying for qualification from Pool 3. ‘Les Jaunards’ have been perennial underachievers in the Heineken Cup, although a home game against Italian side Viadana should at least see them get off to a winning start. But Top 14 glory remains their primary objective again this season as they finally attempt to free themselves of their unwanted ‘chokers’ tag.

Groups & Fixtures: 
Pool 1: Munster, Perpignan, Northampton Saints, Benetton Treviso
Benetton Treviso v Perpignan (10.10.09)
Perpignan v Northampton Saints (16.10.09)

Pool 2: Biarritz, Gloucester, Newport Gwent Dragons, Glasgow Warriors
Glasgow Warriors v Biarritz (10.10.09)
Biarritz v Gloucester (17.10.09)

Pool 3: Leicester Tigers, Ospreys, Clermont Auvergne, Viadana
Clermont Auvergne v Viadana (10.10.09)
Ospreys v Clermont Auvergne (18.10.09)

Pool 4: Bath Rugby, Stade Francais, Edinburgh, Ulster
Stade Francais v Edinburgh (10.10.09)
Bath Rugby v Stade Francais (18.10.09)

Pool 5: Stade Toulousain, Cardiff Blues, Sale Sharks, Harlequins
Stade Toulousain v Sale Sharks (11.10.09)
Harlequins v Stade Toulousain (17.10.09)