It’s all to play for in the Investec Champions Cup as the pool stage reaches its climax with jeopardy in every game.
The Glasgow Warriors, Sale Sharks, Leinster, Harlequins, Bordeaux Bègles, Bristol Bears and Northampton Saints are already assured of qualification.
However, with the likes of six-time winners Toulouse, three-time champions Saracens, Englishs Premiership champions Bath, and URC log-leaders the Stormers yet to secure qualification, the race is now on for the final places and valuable round-of-16 home advantage.
Pool 1 is already taking shape. Glasgow have secured their qualification with three wins from three and currently top the table. They’ll be looking to secure home advantage in the round of 16, when they host third-placed Saracens, while a win for the English side would secure their qualification with home advantage still a possibility as well. Fourth-placed Toulouse welcome the Sale Sharks, who are also already qualified, while fifth-placed Sharks need a win over Clermont Auvergne to keep their knockout hopes alive.
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Pool 2 remains wide open with no teams qualified. Bath lead the way after claiming a bonus point at Castres in round three and now host second-placed Edinburgh in a key battle at the top where a win for either would secure home advantage. Just one point separates Munster (fourth) and Gloucester (fifth) from Castres (sixth). Munster face Castres at home, while Gloucester host third-placed Toulon in a pivotal round for the whole group. Bath return home to the Rec in round four looking to secure qualification in the knockouts.
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Pool 3 has two qualifiers confirmed. Leinster and Harlequins booked their places with bonus-point wins last weekend. Leinster travel to Bayonne chasing a fourth straight win and home advantage. Harlequins, second, visit fourth-placed La Rochelle, the hosts knowing a positive result would guarantee qualification, while a win for Harlequins would secure home advantage. The Leicester Tigers, one point behind in fifth, travel to the Stormers, with both sides still in the hunt and the Cape side targeting home advantage in the round of 16.
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Pool 4 sees three teams already qualified, but the race for top spot is tight. Leaders Bordeaux Bègles travel to the second-placed Bristol Bears with just one point between them. With the two sides having a combined 44 tries so far it will no doubt be a high-scoring game, but home advantage is not yet secure for either club. At the other end of the pool, the Scarlets and Vodacom Bulls must win away at the Northampton Saints and Pau respectively to keep their qualification hopes alive, while Saints need a win to secure their home advantage.
Investec Champions Cup Round 4 fixtures (SA times)
Friday, 16 January
Pau vs Bulls (10pm)
Bath vs Edinburgh (10pm)
Saturday, 17 January
Sharks vs Clermont (3pm)
Bayonne vs Leinster (5:15pm)
Stormers vs Leicester Tigers (5:15pm)
Toulouse vs Sale Sharks (7:30pm)
Munster vs Castres (7:30pm)
Gloucester vs Toulon (10pm)
Sunday, 18 January
Bristol Bears vs Bordeaux (3pm)
Northampton Saints vs Scarlets (5:15pm)
La Rochelle vs Harlequins (5:15pm)
Glasgow Warriors vs Saracens (7:30pm)
Round of 16 qualifying rules
The top four clubs in each pool will qualify for the round of 16. Clubs will then be ranked overall from 1 to 16, based first on their pool position and then on total match points earned. Pool winners will be ranked 1-4, second-placed clubs 5-8, third-placed clubs 9-12, and fourth-placed clubs 13-16. Clubs ranked 1-8 will have home advantage in the round of 16. The fifth-placed club in each pool will qualify for the EPCR Challenge Cup round of 16.
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
The post Champions Cup preview (Round 4) appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
It’s all to play for in the Investec Champions Cup as the pool stage reaches its climax with jeopardy in every game.
The post Champions Cup preview (Round 4) appeared first on SA Rugby magazine. Read More
