Leinster are the only team guaranteed of a spot in the Champions Cup quarter-finals going into the last round of pool fixtures.
Leo Cullen’s men are unbeaten in the competition this season, with five convincing wins in their five games so far. All they need is a single point next weekend in Montpellier to guarantee their spot as number one seeds, which would, in turn, ensure they have home advantage for a semi-final, should they progress from the last eight.
Their quarter-final on the March 30 to April 1 weekend is already certain to be a home game, and Leo Cullen has confirmed that this will more than likely take place in the Aviva Stadium.
Ulster still have some work to do in comparison. Les Kiss’ men travel to the Ricoh Arena next weekend to take on Wasps. A bonus point win there will guarantee the top spot for them in Pool 1 – regardless of second placed La Rochelle’s result at home to Harlequins. That’s why Ulster’s 20-13 victory over the French side at the Kingspan Stadium at the weekend was so important.
This bonus point victory will more than likely be required by Ulster, if they are to achieve top spot, however, given that English side Harlequins are languishing at the bottom of the pool and have absolutely nothing to play for against La Rochelle.
If Ulster don’t secure the bonus point victory – they won’t be a first placed qualifier, with La Rochelle’s 41-17 home hammering of Ulster in October proving costly as they would claim the top spot on their head to head advantage in this instance.
Even if it comes to this, with a win Ulster will still be guaranteed one of the three best runner-up spots – while a bonus point in defeat – though they’ll be hoping it doesn’t come to that, might be enough depending on other results.
As for Munster, the pool 4 toppers host the hapless Castres Olympique at Thomond Park next Sunday. Johann Van Graan’s men will be hotly tipped to win with a bonus point and this would guarantee their progression as table toppers, regardless of Racing 92’s result against Leicester in Welford Road.
They were in luck, however, that the French side opted for a kick at goal instead of an attacking lineout in the dying stages of Sunday’s game.
This could be absolutely crucial next week https://t.co/IobxA0jvQc
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) January 14, 2018
Meanwhile, in Pool 2, both The Ospreys’ and Clermont Auvergne’s fate is in their own hands based on their clash in France next weekend. A victory for Clermont will guarantee the a home quarter-final. For a top two seeding, and a potential home semi-final date – they will need a better result than Toulon in Pool 5.
A win for the Ospreys would guarantee their progression.
First and second place in Pool five will clash in Scarlets’ Park next weekend with the Scarlets hosting French side Toulon. A win for Wayne Pivac’s English side will ensure they progress as table-toppers, while two points would be enough for a playoff spot.
What a legend https://t.co/Ngo8jvIs1J
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) January 15, 2018
Exeter Chiefs can still have a say in the final pool, but only if they take a bonus point victory away to Glasgow.
We asked SportsJOE’s main rugby correspondent and pundit on The Hard Yards, Pat McCarry on how he sees next weekend’s games going.
The predicted points earned by each team are in brackets after their name, and the winners are highlighted.
Predictions
Glasgow Warriors (1) vs. Exeter Chiefs (4)
Montpellier (1) v Leinster Rugby (4)
Saracens (5) v Northampton Saints (0)
ASM Clermont Auvergne (4) v Ospreys
Scarlets (4) v RC Toulon (1)
Benetton Rugby (1) v Bath Rugby (4)
Leicester Tigers (1) v Racing 92 (4)
Munster Rugby (5) v Castres Olympique (0)
Wasps (1) v Ulster Rugby (4)
La Rochelle (5) v Harlequins (0)
These results would leave the seedings as follows.
SEEDINGS
Leinster – 27
Clermont – 22
Munster – 21
La Rochelle – 21
Scarlets – 21
Ulster – 21
Racing – 19
Saracens – 18
Which would in turn set up the following quarter-finals.
Quarter-finals (First team named with home advantage)
Leinster v Saracens (Aviva Stadium)
Clermont v Racing (Parc des Sports Marcel Michelin)
Munster v Ulster (Thomond Park)
La Rochelle v Scarlets (Stade Rochelais)
Bring on that Munster Ulster clash.
The teams last met in the then Heineken Cup quarter final in 2012, with Ulster shading that one.
