Clermont Are White Hot as the Champions Cup Returns

As European Champions Cup rugby returns to give fans an early Christmas present, James Harrington reveals the tournament's on-fire teams – and the ones that need a fire lit under them.

The Champions Cup returns to give the northern hemisphere's rugby calendar a distinctly European flavour for the next fortnight, with all 20 teams preparing for a home-and-away double header against one opponent from their pool.

As the competition enters its key pre-Christmas third and fourth rounds, the question is which sides are in the box seat for a place in the knockout phase of the competition - and are there any surprising teams at risk of an early exit?

Who's Hot

Clermont: Ten points after two rounds says it all. A blip against Pau in the Top 14 last weekend, when they lost by five points and the odd touchdown in a nine-try, 75-point thriller, gives other teams a hint of a hope, but just a hint. They face Ulster twice in the next two weeks, starting in Belfast, a city they have visited only once previously (and lost), and will be looking for a minimum of six points over the next two matches to put at least one foot in the knockout phase. The French side have already beaten Exeter Chiefs and Bordeaux-Begles in Pool Five and have won their last five European outings against Irish sides - four against Munster and one against Leinster.

Saracens: The defending champions took Toulon apart at Stade Mayol in the opening round of the tournament, following up with a bonus-point home win over Scarlets. The Premiership leaders are at home in the first leg of their double-header against 10th-placed Sale. Like Clermont, they will be looking to pick up at least of six points from the next two games. Eight, nine or 10 would seem even more likely, given current form and confidence at both sides.

Who's Just Warming Up

Toulon: The Toulon that will take to the Stade Mayol pitch against Scarlets this weekend is a very different animal to the one that hobbled through the first two rounds of the tournament in October. In the backroom, Diego Dominguez has been relieved of his duties and replaced by Mike Ford. The change has been almost instantaneous. The nervy and uncertain Toulon that started the season has been replaced by a more adventurous, more confident side. They still do not have the swagger of a couple of seasons ago, but they're on the way back. Scarlets, their opponents over the next two matches, beware.

Munster: The untimely death of Munster legend Anthony Foley shortly before they were due to open their Champions Cup account against Racing 92 in France means that two-time champions from southwest Ireland are a match behind pool one rivals Glasgow and Leicester in the tournament. Yet they are sitting at the top of the table, following a bonus-point victory over Glasgow in the second round of matches. They are at home again for the third round, when they welcome Leicester to Thomond Park, and with the spirit of Foley apparently watching over his beloved province, it will be hard to bet against them.

Who's Out Of It

Northampton: The Saints 100th European Cup match could not come at a much more difficult time. They are ninth in the league, have just lost the Midlands' derby against Leicester, and their last European outing was a far from impressive 47-7 hammering at Castres Olympique. They may be only the 10th side to join the elite European 100 club - after Toulouse (152), Munster (151), Leinster (144), Leicester (140), Scarlets (131), Ulster (131), Cardiff Blues (114), Treviso (108) and Glasgow Warriors (105) - but they need a rapid turnaround in fortunes to escape from the foot of Pool Four. And it won't be easy for Jim Mallinder's side. Not only double-header opponents Leinster in better form right now, so are the other two Pool Four rivals, Montpellier and Castres who'll be bashing lumps out of each other in France.

Zebre: Two matches. Two defeats. Three tries scored and 20 conceded. A points difference of -113 … and a rejuvenated Toulouse at home and away in the next week or so. Enough said.