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Serial underachievers Stade Francais, Leinster, Gloucester and Ospreys begin their latest campaigns to finally solve the riddle of the European Cup this weekend.
The 14th edition of the continental showpiece gets underway on Friday with Munster beginning their title defence at a refurbished Thomond Park against tournament newcomers Montauban.
But it’s the annual failure of some of the continent’s giants to convert their silky talents into meaningful European silverware which will exercise minds.
Australian rugby league convert Mark Gasnier’s club Stade have been runners-up twice in 2001 and 2005.
They have a new coach this season in Australian Ewen McKenzie who has presided over seven wins in seven outings in the French championship.
This time round, they hope their decision to wear garish ‘Andy Warhol-style’ shirts, bearing the image of a medieval French queen, will not detract from a team which boasts Argentinian fly-half Juan Martin Hernandez.
“We lost the 2005 final against Toulouse and it still hurt three months later. It took a long time to get over it,” admitted Hernandez.
Stade start their Pool 4 campaign against Ulster on Saturday at Ravenhill where they have lost all four European Cup trips.
“The team is used to the competition, but I’m a little bit nervous at the moment,” said McKenzie, whose team will also face the Scarlets and Harlequins.
Leinster have been semi-finalists three times but know that with a squad containing Brian O’Driscoll and Felipe Contepomi, they should have at least one title to their name.
This year they have added steel to their pack with the signing of Australian flanker Rocky Elsom and Springboks prop CJ van der Linde which should be enough to see them through Pool 2 where 2004 and 2007 champions Wasps, Castres and Edinburgh wait for them.
Wasps should cruise with majestic England fly-half Danny Cipriani pulling the strings for the 2004 and 2007 champions.
However, the build-up to their opener at home to Castres on Sunday was overshadowed by a training pitch bust-up between Cipriani and England teammate Josh Lewsey.
Gloucester, semi-finalists in 2001, have a habit of choking. In the English Premiership, they have topped the table three times only to come up short in the play-offs.
Gloucester are in Pool 6 with Biarritz, the 2006 runners-up, Cardiff and Italian makeweights Calvisano.
“We can’t get away from the labels people put on us,” said Gloucester skipper Mike Tindall. “But it’s up to us to do something about it.”
Welsh side Ospreys, quarter-finalists last season, are in Pool 3 where they face 2001 and 2002 winners Leicester, Treviso and French side Perpignan whose ambitions were highlighted by the audacious capture of All Black superstar Dan Carter, who should make his European Cup bow in December.
“We were bitterly disappointed last year when we didn’t go through to the semi-finals in what was otherwise a successful season for us,” said Ospreys and Wales skipper Ryan Jones.
Leicester welcome the Ospreys on Sunday with Tigers skipper Martin Corry still scarred by his side exiting early last season after losing all three group away games.
“We are proud of our record in Europe at Welford Road but history and tradition don’t win matches,” said Corry, refusing to underestimate a Welsh side containing Gavin Henson, Shane Williams and James Hook in the backs.
“We have a huge amount of respect for them. They keep on improving, although we like to think we are doing so as well,” added Corry.
Pool 5 sees three-time champions Toulouse facing Bath, the 1998 champions, Newport and Glasgow.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.