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Seven former Investec Champions Cup winners still to qualify for knockouts
By Jon Newcombe
With one round of the pool phase left to play, Toulouse are in danger of missing out on the knockout stages of the Investec Champions Cup for the first time since 2018 following their 20-14 loss to Saracens on Sunday.
Two defeats in three games leaves the most decorated club in European club rugby uncertain of their future in the competition, which they have won a record six times, going into a high-stakes round four.
Le Rouge et Noir currently occupy the fourth and final spot for Round of 16 qualification from Pool 1, but are only two points better off than the Durban-based Sharks, who play first on the final weekend of pool play.
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The top four teams from each pool qualify for the last 16, with the top two qualifying with home advantage. Fifth in each pool drops down to the Challenge Cup, while the bottom side are eliminated.
A bonus-point win for the South African franchise team in the lunchtime kick-off at home to bottom-of-the-table Clermont Auvergne would really put the pressure on Toulouse, as they would then need to beat Sale Sharks in the match that follows to progress through to the knockout stages.
Meanwhile, it would take something remarkable for Saracens not to continue with their bid for a fourth title, given they have a five-point buffer and vastly superior points difference.
While Toulouse fans would expect their side to get the job done, given Sale have never beaten the Top 14 giants in five attempts at this level, it is entirely conceivable that one former champion team could fall at the first hurdle in Pool C, where La Rochelle and Leicester are both in danger of missing out.
While four-time winners Leinster and Harlequins already have a ‘q’ next to their names, it is between the Stormers and La Rochelle and Leicester, two of the five teams in the history of the Champions Cup who have won back-to-back titles, for the other two qualification spots.
The Tigers, whose last title was nearly a quarter of a century ago, head to South Africa to face the Stormers on Saturday needing to at least match their opponents total of nine competition points once the pool stages are complete. As things stand, Geoff Parling’s team are fifth, on five points, with La Rochelle ahead of them by one point.
A win by more than seven points with fewer than four tries conceded would be enough, as points difference and then tries scored are the two criteria used to seperate teams level on points in this competition, and Leicester hold the aces here. Alternatively, a bonus-point would get the job done, as long as the Stormers don’t also pick up two bonus points.
La Rochelle, who held the trophy in 2022 and 2023, are at home to Harlequins the following day.
Investec Champions Cup
Pool 1
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Glasgow
3
3
0
0
15
2
Sale
3
2
1
0
11
3
Saracens
3
2
1
0
10
4
Toulouse
3
1
2
0
7
5
Sharks
3
1
2
0
5
6
Clermont
3
0
3
0
0
Pool 2
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Bath
3
2
1
0
11
2
Edinburgh
3
2
1
0
10
3
Toulon
3
2
1
0
9
4
Munster
3
1
2
0
6
5
Gloucester
3
1
2
0
6
6
Castres
3
1
2
0
5
Pool 3
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Leinster
3
3
0
0
14
2
Harlequins
3
2
1
0
11
3
Stormers
3
2
1
0
9
4
Stade Rochelais
3
1
2
0
6
5
Leicester
3
1
2
0
5
6
Bayonne
3
0
3
0
0
Pool 4
P
W
L
D
PF
PA
PD
BP T
BP-7
BP
Total
1
Bordeaux
3
3
0
0
15
2
Bristol
3
3
0
0
14
3
Northampton
3
2
1
0
11
4
Pau
3
1
2
0
5
5
Scarlets
3
0
3
0
2
6
Bulls
3
0
3
0
2
Pool 2 has been the most open of pools, with nothing officially decided. However, 1998 champions Bath are all but home and dried ahead of their first versus second encounter against Edinburgh, Friday night’s visitors to The Rec.
Bath are joined by two other former winners in Toulon, who completed a tripeat of titles, from 2013 to 15, and two-time champions Munster (2006 and 2008) in failing to get the job done and dusted a round early.
A win for Munster at home to Castres in the first of the two Saturday games would make the result of Toulon’s game at injury-ravaged Gloucester immaterial in terms of qualification, as the top four places would be sewn up. Toulon, though, would still have home advantage in the Round of 16 to play for when they make the trip to Kingsholm.
The two previous winners in Pool D, defending champions Bordeaux-Begles and the team they thrashed at the weekend, Northampton Saints, have successfully made it through, along with Bristol Bears.
Confirmed Round of 16 Champions Cup qualifiers:
Pool 1: Glasgow Warriors, Sale Sharks
Pool 2: –
Pool 3: Leinster, Harlequins
Pool 4: Boredeaux-Begles, Bristol, Northampton
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