In Touch/ Paul Wallace (Former Ireland and Lions tight head prop): Stade Français are one of the more complete sides in the competition and Llanelli are going to surprise some people.

Ulster, too, are going to rattle a few cages but maybe it will be next year before they really challenge.

I'd be surprised if Munster didn't come out of their group and get into the semi-finals. They will be the hardest side to beat but I just feel there will be someone to knock them out.

I felt the recent game between Leinster and Munster had almost the same intensity as their European Cup semi-final last season. I just think Munster played the wrong game at Lansdowne Road. They tried to move it. It was amazing how the Leinster backs played.

Llanelli, over the last few years, kept coming up against Toulouse and Toulouse do identify the European Cup as the competition to win. This Toulouse do not have the mental fire power to win, so I'd have to go with Stade.

New rules

The number of players each team can register for the pool stages has risen to 38 this season. At least 10 must be frontrow players. A new innovation is the facility for clubs to include an "additional player" to their squads to help ease injury or selection worries during the pool stages. This player must be properly registered with the club, must replace one of their existing players, who will then be de-registered, and notification must be made to ERC by noon on the Wednesday prior to the match weekend.

There has also been a change to the rules regarding abandoned matches. For games abandoned after 60 minutes of play, the result will stand. Games abandoned before 60 minutes should be replayed or where both clubs agree and subject to ERC Board approval, the result may stand.

Parma take their bow

Overmach Rugby Parma will take their tournament bow this season and will be one of three Italian sides in the tournament for the first time. There will be seven teams from France, six from England, three from Ireland, Italy and Wales and two from Scotland.

Domestic fare

How the Irish representatives have performed in this season's Celtic League.

Ulster (Celtic League - 1st)

Round 1 W Ulster 49 Llanelli Scarlets 19

Round 2 W Newport Gwent Dragons 25 Ulster 32

Round 3 L Edinburgh 20 Ulster 15

Round 4 W Ulster 43 Ospreys 7

Round 5 L Munster 21 Ulster 13

Round 6 W Connacht 17 Ulster 24

Round 7 W Ulster 32 Cardiff Blues 12

Leinster (Celtic League - 5th)

Round 1 Free

Round 2 L Edinburgh 20 Leinster 14

Round 3 W Leinster 16 Cardiff Blues 9

Round 4 L Llanelli Scarlets 33 Leinster 21

Round 5 W Connacht Rugby 16 Leinster 31

Round 6 W Leinster 27 Munster 20

Round 7 L Border Reivers 22 Leinster19

Munster (Celtic League - 10th)

Round 1 L Cardiff Blues 22 Munster 13

Round 2 W Munster 9 Border Reivers 8

Round 3 L Glasgow Warriors 24 Munster 13

Round 4 Free

Round 5 W Munster 21 Ulster 13

Round 6 L Leinster 27 Munster 20

Round 7 L Munster 10 Edinburgh 21

Kicker puts foot in mouth

"The way they hype these English guys is unbelievable. Some of the people they are trying to put on a pedestal just don't deserve to be there.'

- Ronan O'Gara endears himself to tomorrow's opponents Leicester

"It makes you smile . . . players of his experience don't normally give their teams that sort of ammunition."

- Leicester assistant coach Richard Cockerill won't have to work hard to motivate his charges before the game.