"Final Rematch" - Top 5 Investec Champions Cup Matches to Watch on the Opening Weekend

We are set to experience a case of deja vu, as Ronan O'Gara's side take on Leinster for a blockbuster opening round match contest. In what is a repeat of the 2022 and 2023 Champions Cup Finals, La Rochelle host Leinster, with revenge firmly on the mind of the Dublin side, after back-to-back finale defeats. The script couldn't have been written any better for this clash in Pool 4, and it is certainly the marquee match-up in this weekend's fixture list.

However, there is a grand total of 12 matches to enjoy across this opening weekend of the Investec Champions Cup, and we've picked out five enticing fixtures to enjoy from Friday to Sunday. With the hotly contested action set to heat up the winter's frozen pitches, here are our picks for the Top Five Champions Cup matches, to watch this weekend, live on TNT Sports.

Glasgow Warriors vs Northampton Saints - Scotstoun Stadium, 20:00 KO

One of the opening matches of the weekend, Northampton Saints make the journey up to Scotstoun Stadium for a battle with Glasgow Warriors. The Scottish side are in fine form within the United Rugby Championship, and currently sit at second in the league. The Warriors have made their home stadium into a definite fortress in recent years, with just one home defeat over the past two seasons. Glasgow will be looking for a hot start to their Champions Cup campaign, after falling at the final hurdle during their last run in Europe.

Glasgow were defeated in the 2022/23 Challenge Cup Final, as Italian legend Sergio Parrise ended his career triumphant with Toulon. The French side recorded a 43-19 win over the Warriors, with Glasgow eyeing up a fast start in this season's European venture. There is a notable milestone amongst the Warriors squad, as Scotland back-row Matt Fagerson will make his 100th cap for the club. Matt joins his brother Zander Fagerson in becoming a Glaswegian centurion, with the Fagersons becoming the fourth set of brothers to both reach the landmark (Gordon and Allan Bulloch, Richie and Jonny Gray, George and Pete Horne).

Glasgow Warriors Head Coach Franco Smith has made seven changes to his squad, following their away defeat to Munster last Friday. Jamie Bhatti and Zander Fagerson are back to pack down the front row, with Richie Gray returning at lock alongside Sintu Manjezi, who's set for his Champions Cup debut for the Warriors. Fly Half Tom Jordan is also set for his maiden European appearence for Glasgow, whilst scrum half Sean Kennedy prepares for his first Champions Cup run out for Glasgow since 2012. Max Williamson and Ben Afshar could also make their debut in the competition, as they take a seat on the bench.

Onto the visitors, and Northampton Saints Director of Rugby Phil Dowson has also made seven changes to his side. The shuffled deck sees Alex Waller, Curtis Langdon and Paul Hill form a new-look front row, with Tom Lockett packing down the second row for his European debut. Alex Mitchell is back in the Saints nine jersey, and wing George Hendy is also getting ready for his first taste of Champions Cup rugby. With Fin Smith returning at fly half, George Furbank is back in his preferred fullback position. Robbie Smith is back from injury amongst the Saints replacements, whilst Tarek Haffar gets set for his milestone Northampton debut from the bench.

15. Josh McKay 14. Sebastian Cancelliere 13. Huw Jones 12. Stafford McDowall 11. Ollie Smith 10. Tom Jordan 9. Sean Kennedy 1. Jamie Bhatti 2. Johnny Matthews 3. Zander Fagerson 4. Sintu Manjezi 5. Richie Gray 6. Scott Cummings 7. Rory Darge 8. Matt Fagerson

16. George Turner 17. Oli Kebble 18. Lucio Sordoni 19. Max Williamson 20. Ally Miller 21. Sione Vailanu 22. Ben Afshar 23. Ross Thompson

15. George Furbank (c) 14. Ollie Sleightholme 13. Tommy Freeman 12. Fraser Dingwall 11. George Hendy 10. Fin Smith 9. Alex Mitchell 1. Alex Waller 2. Curtis Langdon 3. Paul Hill 4. Tom Lockett 5. Alex Moon 6. Courtney Lawes 7. Angus Scott-Young 8. Sam Graham

Replacements
16. Robbie Smith 17. Tarek Haffar 18. Trevor Davison 19. Temo Mayanavanua 20. Tom Pearson 21. Tom James 22. Tom Litchfield 23. Tom Seabrook

The reigning Challenge Cup holders have been promoted to the Champions Cup, with Toulon looking to build on their momentum in European competition. Toulon have been to the Champions Cup mountain top three times before, with the trifecta of wins coming back-to-back-to-back, from 2012 to 2015. Toulon are the only side to have achieved this feat, yet La Rochelle could well claim their own 'three-peat' should they retain their Champions Cup title in London next Summer.

Exeter Chiefs enter the Champions Cup fray in an intriguing position. The men from Devon boast a new-look side of promising young talents, with just two men from the 2020 Champions Cup triumph's starting XV are retained in the current crop of players. Just centre Henry Slade and hooker Jack Yeandle remain at Sandy Park, following the mass exodus of Chiefs players throughout the past couple of seasons. However, this new side has been firing in recent Premiership appearances, and have climbed to sixth in the table, with five wins in eight matches.

Exeter Director of Rugby Rob Baxter has made six changes to his side, with four of the alterations coming in the pack. Baxter has named an entirely new front row, from the one that was defeated by Bath last weekend. Scott Sio is in at loosehead, Ehren Painter at tighthead with Dan Frost in the middle of the two at hooker. Rusi Tuima rotates into the side to partner captain Dafydd Jenkins in the second row. The remaining two changes come in the form of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso's returns to the match-day squad, and Tom Cairns starts at scrum half.

Toulon have confirmed a stacked side to take on the Chiefs, with boundless international talents decorating the ranks. After extending his contract with the red and blacks, France flanker Charles Ollivon starts on the open-side and also captains the team. Scotland scrum half Ben White takes the number nine jersey, and leads a back-line that includes Fiji captain Waisea Nayacalevu in the midfield, and French maestro Melvyn Jaminet slots in at fullback.

RC TOULON

15. Melvyn Jamient 14. Gael Drean 13. Waisea Nayacalevu 12. Mathieu Smaili 11. Gabin Villiere 10. Enzo Herve 9. Ben White 1. Bruce Devaux 2. Jack Singleton 3. Beka Gigashvili 4. Matthias Halalgahu 5. Brian Alainu'uese 6. Estaban Abadie 7. Charles Ollivon 8. Facundo Isa

16. Christopher Tolofua 17. Dany Prisio 18. Emerick Setiano 19. David Ribbans 20. Cornell Du Preez 21. Baptiste Serin 22. Leicester Fainga'anauku 23. Maelan Rabut

15. Tommy Wyatt 14. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso 13. Henry Slade 12. Joe Hawkins 11. Ben Hammersley 10. Harvey Skinner 9. Tom Cairns 1. Scott Sio 2. Dan Frost 3. Ehren Painter 4. Rusi Tuima 5. Dafydd Jenkins (c) 6. Ethan Roots 7. Jacques Vermeulen 8. Greg Fisilau

16. Max Norey 17. Nika Abuladze 18. Marcus Street 19. Lewis Pearson 20. Ross Vintcent 21. Stu Townsend 22. Rory O’Loughlin 23. Olly Woodburn

Alongside the DHL Stormers who are set to take on Leicester Tigers this Sunday, the Vodacom Bulls are one of just two South African sides to have qualified for the Champions Cup this year. The likes of the Sharks, Emirates Lions and Toyota Cheetahs all slot into the Challenge Cup for the 2023 campaign. The Bulls have had a strong start to the United Rugby Championship campaign, and currently sit at third in the table with five wins in seven matches.

Saracens head out to Pretoria, and begin their search for a fourth Champions Cup title. The North Londoners won back-to-back titles in 2015 to 2017, before adding a third triumph in the 2018/19 season. Saracens enter the Champions Cup off the back of a mixed bag in the Premiership. Five wins out of three matches is a solid start, however Mark McCall's latest result was an 18-12 home defeat to Northampton Saints. This first time meeting between the two clubs will be sure to provide some fireworks, and sees Bulls co-captain Marcell Coetzee returning from serving his suspension.

The starting Bulls herd remains unchanged, with Director of Rugby Jake White praising the continuity and Coetzee return to the match day squad. “We are happy to have Marcell back but we are also more happy to have the same pack of forwards running out for continuity and also sends the right message to the guys after they played so well last weekend. It is nice to have him but there is a lot of positivity in the camp that it is as it was last weekend."

Saracens have named a stacked side brimming with international experience, with six changes made from the side that was defeated by Northampton Saints. England stalwarts Mako Vunipola and Jamie George are back in the front row, and captain Owen Farrell is back at fly half following a minor knee injury. This will be Farrell's first match for Saracens, after the news was announced that he would be stepping away from England duties to prioritise his mental health. On the bench, Christian Judge is set for a milestone 50th Saracens cap, with Theo McFarland and Lucio Cinti also amongst the replacements.

15. Willie le Roux 14. 14. Kurt-Lee Arendse 13. Stedman Gans 12. David Kriel 11. Canan Moodie 10. Johan Goosen 9. Embrose Papier 1. Gerhard Steenekamp, 2. Akker van der Merwe, 3. Wilco Louw, 4. Ruan Vermaak, 5. Reinhardt Ludwig, 6. Marco van Staden, 7. Elrigh Louw (c), 8. Cameron Hanekom

16. Simphiwe Matanzima, 17. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18. Mornay Smith, 19. Janko Swanepoel, 20. Marcell Coetzee, 21. Zak Burger, 22. Jaco van der Walt, 23. Sergeal Petersen

15. Alex Goode 14. Alex Lewington 13. Elliot Daly 12. Nick Tompkins 11. Sean Maitland 10. Owen Farrell (C) 9. Ivan Van Zyl 1. Mako Vunipola 2 .Jamie George 3. Alec Clarey 4. Maro Itoje 5. Hugh Tizard 6. Juan Martin Gonzalez 7. Andy Christie 8. Billy Vunipola

16. Theo Dan 17. Tom West 18. Christian Judge 19. Theo McFarland 20. Toby Knight 21. Aled Davies 22. Olly Hartley 23. Lucio Cinti

We are set to experience a case of deja vu, as Ronan O'Gara's side take on Leinster for a blockbuster opening round match contest. In what is a repeat of the 2022 and 2023 Champions Cup Finals, La Rochelle host Leinster, with revenge firmly on the mind of the Dublin side, after back-to-back finale defeats. The script couldn't have been written any better for this clash in Pool 4, and it is certainly the marquee match-up in this weekend's fixture list.

On the search for a record-equalising third consecutive Champions Cup title, La Rochelle begin their campaign with a reunion against an old foe. Ronan O'Gara has taken his men to new heights during his time in charge, and is eyeing up a battle against the club he rivalled the most, during his Munster playing days as Johnny Sexton's counterpart.

Leinster have entered their post-Sexton era, with revenge certainly on the mind of the Irish province. Garry Ringrose and James Ryan co-captain Leinster into Europe for the first time, with hooker Dan Sheehan set to make a milestone 50th appearance for the club. Nine of the team that started last season’s Champions Cup Final have been named in the starting lineup for the trip to La Rochelle.

15. Brice Dulin 14. Dillyn Leyds 13. Ulupano Seuteni 12. Jonathan Danty 11. Jules Favre 10. Antoine Hastoy 9. Tawerra Kerr-Barlow 1. Reda Wardi, 2. Pierre Bougarit (cap), 3. Uini Atonio, 4. Thomas Lavault 5. Will Skelton, 6. Paul Boudehent, 7. Levani Botia, 8. Yoan Tanga

16. Sacha Idoumi 17. Joel Sclavi 18. Georges-Henri Colombe Reazel 19. Ultan Dillane 20. Rémi Picquette 21. Judicaël Cancoriet 22. Teddy Iribaren 23. Hugo Reus

15. Hugo Keenan 14. Jordan Larmour 13. Garry Ringrose 12. Robbie Henshaw 11. Jimmy O’Brien 10. Harry Byrne 9. Jamison Gibson-Park 1. Andrew Porter 2. Dan Sheehan 3. Michael Ala’alatoa 4. Joe McCarthy 5. James Ryan 6. Ryan Baird 7. Will Connors 8. Caelan Doris

16. Rónan Kelleher 17. Cian Healy 18. Thomas Clarkson 19. Jason Jenkins 20. Josh van der Flier 21. Ben Murphy 22. Ciarán Frawley 23. Charlie Ngatai

Henry Arundell is set for a reunion with his old West London rivals, as the former London Irishman gets prepped for a run out against Harlequins in the Champions Cup. Arundell starts at fullback for Racing 92, amongst a star studded line-up brought together in Paris. Racing's squad features members of the French national team, including centre Gael Fickou and lock Cameron Woki. Racing have had an active summer in the transfer market, and bolster their squad with Rugby World Cup winning captain Siya Kolisi.

The Harlequins starting XV features just one change following the win over Sale Sharks, with Will Collier ruled out through injury. Collier has been replaced by Welsh international Dillon Lewis at tight-head prop. The Harlequins squad also features talents from the Rugby World Cup, with England internationals Marcus Smith and Danny Care, joined by Springbok Andre Esterhuizen in the starting XV. Harlequins have certainly rolled out their big guns, for this battle against the Top 14 leaders.

Henry Arundell is set for a London Irish reunion, as he lines up against his former teammates Chandler Cunningham-South and Will Joseph. Harlequins Director of Rugby Billy Millard discussed the threatening skillset that Arundell brings to La Defense Arena.

“I think we know him well. We know his threats. I think the boys are excited, you know, to play against him, he’s had some pretty big moments for them since he’s been there. I think he got three in his first game for them. So, we haven’t focused on him too much, because if you focus on him, you’re missing the other 14 guys who are also outstanding. So look, we know what he can do, and there’s been a bit of chatter around it, but it’s not front and centre.”

15. Henry Arundell 14. Vinaya Habosi 13. Gael Fickou 12. Francis Saili 11. Juan Imhoff 10. Antoine Gibert 9. Nolann Le Garrec 1. Guram Gogichashvilil 2. Camille Chat 3. Trevor Nyakane 4. Cameron Woki 5. Boris Palu 6. Ibrahim Diallo 7. Siya Kolisi 8. Wenceslas Lauret

16. Janick Tarrit 17. Eddy Ben Arous 18. Thomas Laclayat 19. Baptiste Chouzenoux 20. Jordan Joseph 21. Clovis le Bail 22. Tristian Tedder 23. Henry Chavancy

15. Tyrone Green 14. Nick David 13. Will Joseph 12. Andre Esterhuizen 11. Cadan Murley 10. Marcus Smith 9. Danny Care 1. Joe Marler 2. Sam Riley 3. Dillon Lewis 4. Joe Launchbury 5. Dino Lamb 6. Chandler Cunningham-South 7. Will Evans 8. Alex Dombrandt (Captain)

16. Jack Walker 17. Fin Baxter 18. Simon Kerrod 19. Irne Herbst 20. James Chisholm 21. Will Porter 22. Jarrod Evans 23. Oscar Beard