Champions Cup: Scarlets and Exeter Chiefs looking to upset the favourites and go one better in Europe

For all the world-class brilliance and bucket-loads of expectation contained within the squads of all 20 clubs in this season’s European Champions Cup, it feels as if two coaches more than any could be embarking on career-defining campaigns.

Scarlets’ Wayne Pivac, confirmed this summer as Warren Gatland’s successor-in-waiting with Wales, and Exeter Chiefs’ Rob Baxter, who many believe should be Eddie Jones’s successor for England, are two men with something to prove.

For Pivac, whose Scarlets team are perhaps a year ahead of Exeter’s in terms of their evolution, leaving Parc-y-Scarlets in the rudest of health is paramount after four years of “hard graft” which has seen the former North Auckland policeman transform the west Walians from in-fighting, also-rans into serious title contenders.

An historic Pro12 title in 2017 was followed last season by a Champions Cup semi-final defeat by eventual winners Leinster after Pivac’s team became the first Welsh region in six years to reach the knock-out stages courtesy of an epic final pool win over Toulon.

He may be moving on to the international stage after next year's World Cup but Pivac has no intention of allowing his hard work in Llanelli to slip in his last season in charge.

Injuries to key players including Aaron Shingler and James Davies have hampered Scarlets preparations for Saturday’s encounter with French giants Racing 92 but Pivac believes the region is ready for the next step on its evolution.

“There’s been four hard years of graft here on my part here and last thing I want to do is see the Scarlets go backwards," Pivac told The Independent.

“We’ve achieved what we wanted to achieve last season in terms of the semi-finals but the club as a whole would like to think that one day very, very soon we’re going to be good enough to win this competition.

“We were pretty satisfied with how we went last year. It was definitely a step in the right direction. We have a few injuries and the loss of Aaron Shingler and James Davies are big names for us to lose but when we’re near full strength we think we can be a match for anyone out there.

“For me at the Scarlets it’s work as normal. I’m still trying to improve every day and help the players improve every day. Looking to the future with the Welsh job it’s completely in my interests that the Scarlets are buoyant and strong and I intend to leave them in that kind of shape.”

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While expectations in west Wales on Pivac’s watch are as high as they’ve been for a decade or more, expectations in the west of England are also sky high despite five years of relative underachievement in Europe, regardless of sustained domestic success.

Last year’s back-to-back pool defeats by Leinster left Baxter and his upwardly-mobile squad more deflated than any of their previous four European Champions Cup campaigns, but with only one knockout stage appearance to show for their endeavours, the Chiefs have looked to change their approach this season.

While Pivac has called for more of the same from his players after they cracked the knockout nut last season, Baxter has unashamedly talked up Europe during his side’s functional if uninspiring start to their Premiership campaign.

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After being out-muscled by Leinster, Baxter’s team have added an even more confrontational edge to their collective game and with Munster arriving at Sandy Park on Saturday, we will see if the 2017 Premiership champions and last season’s finalists are in position to mount a serious European charge.

If they can, the calls for Baxter’s elevation to higher honours will surely become deafening.

“Our performances haven’t been great in the Premiership so far, but that’s the price you pay sometimes when you do start looking forwards,” Baxter said.

“If you’ve won the Premiership and been to three successive finals but never got past the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup, then we must aim to get past that stage.”

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Two clubs full of ambition and two directors of rugby with firmly established reputations but with a desire to push their players and themselves on to the next level. The big tests are about to begin.

While Scarlets are set to mix it in a brutal-looking pool containing Racing 92, Leicester Tigers and Ulster, Exeter’s pool containing Castres, Munster and Gloucester will hardly be a walk in the park.

Following Scarlets’ and Exeter’s respective European campaigns this season is set to be fascinating. For Pivac and Baxter, this season will cement their legacies and help shape their futures.

POOL 1

Teams: Leinster, Wasps, Toulouse, Bath

Predicted winner: Leinster

Player to watch: Lima Sopoaga (Wasps) – The early signs are that Wasps have signed a good ‘un, on and off the field, and the former All Black fly-half could be about to take Europe by storm.

POOL 2

Teams: Exeter, Munster, Gloucester, Castres

Predicted winner: Exeter

Player to watch: Henry Slade (Exeter) – Has hit top form at the start of this domestic season and impressive European displays could make a compelling place for England spot.

POOL 3

Teams: Saracens, Cardiff, Lyon, Glasgow

Predicted winner: Saracens

Player to watch: Willis Halaholo (Cardiff) – A potential future Wales international delivering on his early promise after shedding nearly three stone.

POOL 4

Teams: Scarlets, Racing 92, Leicester Tigers, Ulster

Predicted winner: Scarlets

Player to watch: Gareth Davies (Scarlets) – Now one of Europe’s outstanding scrum-halves with pace and power making him a constant try-scoring threat.

POOL 5

Teams: Toulon, Newcastle Falcons, Montpellier, Edinburgh

Predicted winner: Montpellier

Player to watch: Nemani Nadolo (Montpellier) – A massive threat in every sense and one of world rugby’s most exciting players to watch.