Everything at stake, pool by pool, in this weekend's Heineken Champions Cup
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As the Heineken Champions Cup pool stage reaches its climax this weekend, here’s a pool by pool breakdown of what’s at stake.
Pool 1
A win for already-qualified Leinster at Benetton on Saturday will see the four-time champions finish the pool stage as the No 1-ranked club with a home quarter-final. A draw would also guarantee that precious home quarter-final, but a defeat and Leinster will be depending on other results to go their way. Northampton Saints on 14 points will have to win in Lyon to be in the shake-up for a best runner-up spot.
In Pool 1 @leinsterrugby have locked in their place in the quarter finals ?
There's still hope for @SaintsRugby as they head to @LeLOURugby on Saturday for #HeinekenChampionsCup Round 6?? ? pic.twitter.com/3KO46N9TsD
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) January 13, 2020
Pool 2
Pool winners, Exeter Chiefs, can book a first home quarter-final in their history with a win against La Rochelle at Sandy Park on Saturday. A draw or a defeat, and they’ll be anxiously watching results elsewhere. Glasgow Warriors are qualification outsiders on 12 points, and they’ll almost certainly need a bonus-point win at Sale to have a chance as a best runner-up.
Round 5?? ? Pool 2?? = drama. @ExeterChiefs secured QF qualification this weekend after a dramatic away draw at @GlasgowWarriors ?#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/HfLyQRZrIl
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) January 14, 2020
Pool 3
A two-horse race at the top of the table with ASM Clermont Auvergne (20 points) safely through but on a quest for victory at Harlequins on Saturday to win the pool and to be in the mix for a home quarter-final. Ulster are looking good for a quarter-final place on 17 points, and a win against Bath at the Kingspan will guarantee qualification either as the pool winner or as a best runner-up ranked No 6.
Pool 3 as it stands ?@ASMOfficiel's victory over @UlsterRugby on Saturday secured their place in the final 8 ?#HeinekenChampionsCup pic.twitter.com/InhVe9axiH
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) January 15, 2020
Pool 4
The clash of holders Saracens (14 points) and pool winners, Racing 92 (22 points), on Sunday is shaping up as the match of round. Racing are focused on securing a quarter-final at Paris La Défense Arena while Saracens will be hell-bent on the victory that could seal a knockout stage place for the ninth season in a row. Saturday’s results could well clarify the qualification situation for both clubs, but expect fireworks at Allianz Park just the same. Meanwhile, Munster (11 points), host the Ospreys needing a bonus-point win and some divine intervention.
? @racing92 charged their way to a qualification spot in Pool 4 ?
What can @Saracens bring to the table when they face them in #HeinekenChampionsCup action on Sunday? ? pic.twitter.com/xjDT6xqC5B
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) January 16, 2020
Pool 5
Even though a freakish set of results earlier in the weekend could see Gloucester (14 points) requiring just a losing bonus point to guarantee a quarter-final place at Toulouse on Sunday, all current indications are that they will need to win to have any hope of qualification. The TOP 14 champions may be already through, but they have a home quarter-final in their sights.
WATCH: Catch up on all the action from the opening round of the 2020 Top League season with Dan Carter & Brodie Retallick’s Kobelco Steelers v Canon Eagles.
Comments on RugbyPass
Not sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
24 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
1 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
24 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to commentsPot Kettle, the English and French teams have done it for years.
24 Go to commentsHas virtually played every minute of previous games. Back row of Li Lo Willie , Grace and Blackadder would be the 1. Crusaders issue is a very average 1st 5 who cannot run. Kicking in general play is also below par They need to put Yong Kemara in. He must have so.e talent for them to bring him down from Waikato. Hoehepa would struggle to play in so.e club sided
11 Go to commentsI hope this a good thing making all these changes!
3 Go to commentsThe Hurricanes are good, especially with a decent coach now. However, let’s be real, the Crusaders and Chiefs are clearly a good degree weaker without the players they’ve lost overseas now. The Canes lost one player. It’s also why the aussie teams ‘seem’ to be stronger.
9 Go to commentsOr you could develop your own players instead of constantly taking from the SH competition and weakening it in the process? With all the player and financial resources these unions have compared to SH countries you’d think they could manage that, or is weakening the SH comps and their national sides an added bonus? Probably.
3 Go to commentsNot so fast Aaron, we might need you in black yet lol. God knows he’d be a lot less nerve-racking than hot and (very) cold players like Perofeta. It’s really a shame Reuben Love isn’t playing 10, we’ve got enough 15 options.
4 Go to commentsAnd those from the NH still seem to be puzzled (and delighted) why NZ’s depth isn’t what it once was. Over 600 NZ players overseas, that’s insane. This sort of deal is why Super Rugby coaches have admitted they struggle now to find enough quality to fill out their squads.
6 Go to commentsArticle intéressant ! La question devrait régulièrement se poser pour les jeunes français originaires de Nouvelle-Calédonie, Wallis-et-Futuna et de Polynésie entre la Nouvelle-Zélande et la Métropole… Difficile pour la fédération française de rugby de se positionner : soit le choix est fait de dénicher les jeunes talents et de les faire venir très tôt en Métropole, au risque de les déraciner, soit on prend le risque de se les faire “piller” par les All Blacks qui, telle une araignée, essaye de récupérer tous les talents des îles du Pacifique… À la France de se défendre en développant l’aura du XV de France et des clubs français dans ses collectivités d’Outre-mer !
3 Go to commentsWrong bay. He needs to come to the REAL BAY which is Bay Of Plenty and have a crack at making the Chiefs.
3 Go to comments