Heineken Cup Pools 2012/2013

Munster will meet Saracens, Edinburgh and Racing Metro in the Pool stage of the 2012/2013 Heineken Cup

It will be the first time they've met either Racing Metro or Michael Bradley's Edinburgh in the competition but there is 'previous' with Saracens who they had in Pool 4 of the 1999/2000 campaign and again in the 2008 semi final when the London club were coached by Alan Gaffney.

Of course those who believe in the 'tea-leaves' will take comfort from the fact on both occasions when Saracens were in the way, Munster reached the final, but this is a serious outfit under Mark McCall who topped a Pool last season that included Biarritz Olympique, Ospreys and Benetton Treviso.

Rob Penney will doubtless be delighted that Peter Stringer will have some insider information to divulge following his stint with Sarries while new Backs Coach Simon Mannix must know all there is to know about Munster's Parisian opponents.

Saracens and Edinburgh are familiar enough but Racing Metro are a relatively unknown quantity given that they've only been involved in the competition for the past two seasons. In their inaugural season they had Saracens in their Pool beating them in Vicarage Road while Clermont was the other scalp they claimed with a 16-9 victory at Stade Yves du Manoir.

Last term they ended bottom of Pool 2 that included Edinburgh (pool winners) , Cardiff Blues and London Irish and finished in 6th spot in the top 14.

In an ultra competitive Pool 1 it's unlikely there'll be a best runner-up emerging. That honour might however fall to Leinster's Pool 5 where they and Clermont might do the needful.

Elsewhere, Pool 2 (Toulouse, Leicester Tigers, Ospreys, Benetton Treviso) definitely looks the winner in the Pool of Death category and unlikely there'll be a 'best runner-up' there either. Ulster should be happy enough after drawing Northampton Saints, Glasgow Warriors and Castres in Pool 4 while Connacht's Pool 3 (Biarritz, Harlequins and Italian newcomers Zebre) could provide a second quarter finalist and loads a dosh Toulon could be the surprise packet in Pool 6.