French the favourites in last hurrah for Europe's showpiece.

The 19th and final instalment of the Heineken Cup will explode into life on Friday night as a nostalgic antidote to the backdrop of political chaos, but also as an ideal means of supporting the militant view that reform is essential.
For the last month, the new season has been scarred by brinkmanship and gunboat diplomacy, threats and dire warnings and back-door negotiations over the shattered vision of future European club combat. As the English and French teams press ahead with plans for a new venture, the Rugby Champions Cup, and as various unions attempt to contain what they perceive as a power-grabbing exercise, the tournament itself is upon us once more.

Holders: Toulon fly-half Jonny Wilkinson lifts the Heineken Cup in Dublin back in May

Since 1995, the Heineken Cup has grown into a truly majestic showcase of the northern hemisphere game; played by many outstanding teams full of high-class players from across the globe. Many matches are staged in front of vast crowds in increasingly modern, expanding stadia. The blend of cultures and colours, tribes of supporters and national characteristics is rightly cherished.
And yet… Put aside the inevitable squabble over financial returns and the attendant issue of competing TV rights deals, and the Anglo-French protests carry real weight. Their gripe about the imbalanced qualification process is entirely justified and the Celtic teams and unions have gradually accepted as much.
What the Aviva Premiership and Top 14 revolutionaries want is a 20-team competition and that would be an improved model. This season’s pool stage would be given even more clout and gravitas if the weakest four sides were removed, certainly including Zebre, Connacht and Edinburgh. The Italians provide opponents with a virtual bye, and while the Irish province are improving, Edinburgh were thumped 45-0 at home by Saracens a year ago.

Raring to go: The captains of the English and Welsh teams at the Heineken Cup launch last week

Last season’s final was an all-French affair and there is no reason why the richer Gallic sides won’t dominate this swansong for the tournament in its current guise. The depth of Test quality in the squads of Toulon, Clermont Auvergne and Toulouse in particular is frightening for rivals to behold, but once again the leading Irish teams, Munster and Leinster – perhaps in that order – can challenge, based on the careful, union-controlled management of their players.
Of the English contingent, Saracens appear best-placed to mount a meaningful assault on the title, given the extent of the talent pool at Mark McCall’s disposal, the harsh lessons learned from previous knock-out exits and the fact that the pool draw has not been too cruel. Northampton would be similarly strong contenders, but first they must navigate through a gruelling round-robin stage.
As for the Welsh teams, with uncertainty hanging over them about the future of this tournament and their financial prospects, now is the time to break a cycle of under-achievement. The Ospreys and the Blues have several Lions in their ranks, but the suspicion lingers that they will once again struggle to perform as the sum of their parts.