Bristol have been drawn against Sale Sharks, which does guarantee one quarter-finalist from the Premiership. Alex Sanderson, the latter’s director of rugby, has not been able to retain Faf de Klerk and Lood de Jager for next season. This week, he stressed that Exeter struck upon something special to beat Racing 92 in 2020. 

“When you come into the Champions Cup and you are playing big games, they tend to be decided by your most talented, experienced players,” Sanderson said.

“There might be a bit of a distance opening up if you look at teams on paper. Exeter won it two years ago. They do not have the budget the French club do, now or then. But there’s something in that group that came together really well, it was really well-coached and supported to overcome that team-sheet of galacticos. There is something in that.”

For Premiership teams to crack Europe, then, a team must be as good as the sum of its parts. “The only way we can compete in the future is through the structure, the support around the players and real good coaching, which we are starting to see,” Sanderson continued.

“I am not putting myself in that bracket but there are a few out there. My head says the gap is going to widen. My heart says f— that, we just need to coach better and be better as a team.”

Champions Cup last-16 power rankings

After a group-stage blighted by fixture cancellations and travel chaos, the knock-out rounds of the Champions Cup are upon us. We start with an intriguing, home-and-away double-header in the last 16.

But where might the teams rank in one table? This ladder is based on European pedigree, domestic form, experience of big occasions and star quality. All that should show us which sides have the potential to lift the trophy later this season.

1. Leinster

Domestic form: Dominant despite a loss to Ulster in mid-March and leading the United Rugby Championship.

Knock-out record over the past three seasons: P13 W10 L3 (not including bye against Toulon last season). Losses to Saracens and La Rochelle followed a similar trend, with Leinster wilting under kick-pressure and ball-carrying power.

Trophies over the past three seasons: 3 (Pro14 2019, 2020, 2021)

Game-breakers: Where to start? There are influential Ireland players everywhere. That said, the loss of Andrew Porter does raise concerns that they could be outmuscled again.

2. Toulouse

Domestic form: Part of the Top 14’s chasing pack but back in fifth and, understandably, not as convincing without Antoine Dupont.

Knock-out record over past three seasons: P12 W10, L2. European setbacks have given way to a golden period.

Trophies over past three seasons: 3 (Top 14 2019, 2021; Champions Cup 2021)

Game-breakers: Toulouse contributed a number of Grand-Slammers, from Julien Marchand and Cyril Baille in the front row to Dupont and Romain Ntamack via François Cros and Anthony Jelonch. Cheslin Kolbe’s move to Toulon deprives them of a star strike-runner.