After a gruelling international break, the Champions Cup is back on the radar for the next two weeks, and while we won’t know who’ll be making up the last eight of the competition by Sunday week, we’ll certainly know who won’t be.
Munster and Leinster face Clermont and Harlequins respectively, with both sides looking to stamp their authority on their pools following wins in their opening two matches.
Ulster take on the Scarlets in their next two games, knowing that they’ll need to pick up two wins, and probably a try bonus point along the way, if they’re to remain in with a small shout of a place in the last eight.
After gorging ourselves on the international game for the past month or so, it might be worth recapping on where we are at this stage of the competition.
Pool 1
Munster v Clermont Auvergne (Saturday, 5.30pm, Sky Sports)
Two wins from two for Munster so far, after their late heroics against Sale in October, before grinding out an impressive win against Saracens at Thomond Park.
With Clermont visiting on Saturday evening, Munster will be hoping to continue their unbeaten record at home to French sides, which includes two wins against Saturday’s opposition.
But Clermont have impressed in the Top 14 this season, they’re second place behind Toulon, while they routed Sale Sharks last time out in round two. With just one team looking likely to progress from this pool, a win for Munster is a must on Saturday evening.
Sale Sharks v Saracens (Saturday, 1pm, BT Sports)
Sale look like being the whipping boys of Pool 1 after defeats to Munster and Clermont in the opening rounds, but familiarity with fellow Premiership side Saracens could make this closer than it seems.
Sarries may have put 40 points on the Sharks when the sides met in September, but Sale have won three in a row, and four of their last five, while Saracens have struggled without their internationals in recent weeks, and have failed to register a win in their last three Premiership games.
A Sale win in either of their back-to-back wins could potentially put last season’s finalists in deep, deep trouble.
Pool 2
Castres v Wasps (Sunday, 1pm, Sky Sports)
With both sides suffering defeats in their opening matches, Sunday’s meeting in probably France won’t determine much when Pool 2 comes to a close in January.
Wasps had to settle for losing bonus points in both of their opening games in the competition, and with their opposition Castres rooted to the bottom of the Top 14 and the bottom of their pool, they could potentially get their campaign back on track over the next two weeks.
Harlequins v Leinster (Sunday, 3.15pm, BT Sport)
After just two rounds of games in the pool, it already looks like being a shoot-out between Leinster and Quins for the top spot, and with the sides meeting back-to-back over the next 10 days, two wins for either side will all but guarantee a place in the knock-out stage.
While Leinster have won their opening games, they’ve been far from impressive, needing second-half comebacks on both occasions.
Quins impressed in their comfortable win in the opening round against Castres at The Stoop, and ground out a seven-point win against their old rivals Wasps last time out.
While neither side would be devastated with a “win one, lose one” outcome over the next two weekends, it’s a huge opportunity for either side to take firm control of their own destiny.
Pool 3
Ulster v Scarlets (Saturday, 7.45pm, BT Sport)
Ulster know that anything less than back-to-back wins will be disastrous over the next two weekends, if they have any aspirations of making it out of Pool 3.
After defeats to Leicester and Toulon in the opening weekends, it looks almost impossible for the Ulstermen to make it to the last eight of the competition, but after Scarlets got the better of Leicester last time out, they still have a glimmer of hope.
Realistically they’ll need to win their remaining games, and take at least 0ne try bonus point from their Welsh opposition over the next two weekends, but it won’t be easy, the Scarlets impressing in their round two win against the Tigers in October.
Not only that, but they’ll need to pray for some favourable results elsewhere to go with it.
Leicester v Toulon (Sunday, 5.30, BT Sport)
Two-time champions Toulon could move well on their way to securing a home quarter final by the end of next week with two wins against Leicester.
The French and European champions looked their irresistible best in the opening two rounds of the competition, and if they can get away from Welford Road this Sunday evening with a win, they’ll be looking comfortable at the top of Pool 3.
The Tigers were impressive winners on the opening day against Ulster but never got going the following week in Llanelli, losing to the Scarlets, and with just one team looking likely to make it out of this pool, a win is a must this weekend.
Pool 4
Montpellier v Bath (Friday, 7.45pm, BT Sport)
The weekend’s Champions Cup action kicks off tomorrow night with Montpellier and Bath both seeking their first wins of the tournament.
The French side were unlucky in losing their opening match 30-23 to Toulouse, before striking late to secure a late losing bonus point at home to Glasgow.
Bath also picked up a losing bonus point against Toulouse last time out, and we could see a European debut for new league convert Sam Burgess against the French side, but they may end up ruing their opening day hammering to Glasgow when the pools are decided at the end of January.
However with all four sides looking relatively evenly matched so far, back-to-back wins for either side, and a some split results between Toulouse and Glasgow could bring them back into the qualification mix.
Toulouse v Glasgow (Sunday, 3.15pm, BT Sport)
Could this be the year that Glasgow transfer their Pro12 form to the European stage?
The Scots have been on an upward curve domestically in recent seasons, and after picking up wins in their opening two games in Pool 4, they have their sights set on a first ever European quarter final.
They travel to Toulouse on Sunday for one of the games of the weekend, and after winning there in 2009, they’ll have plenty of confidence they can do it again.
Toulouse aren’t the team they once were, and neither side will be too disappointed to come away from this round of games with a win apiece.
Pool 5
Treviso v Northampton Saints (Saturday, 1pm, Sky)
You can write off Treviso’s chances of making it out of Pool 5, but aside from that, this group is still wide open.
Northampton never got going against Racing Métro on the opening day, and blew it late on to miss out on a losing bonus point, but they got off the mark in style a week later with a hammering of the Ospreys at Franklin’s Gardens.
A couple of wins against Treviso in the next two weeks, and at least one bonus point will be the target for Jim Mallinder’s side, who could make Pool 5 one of the three groups to send a second team to the knock-out stage.
Ospreys v Racing Métro (Saturday, 3.15pm, Sky)
For the Ospreys, this is a must win.
With Northampton expected to pick up two wins in the coming weeks against Italian opposition, Ospreys know that anything less than a win at home to Racing Métro will spell disaster ahead of next week’s return game in Paris.
They rolled over Treviso on the opening day, but were demolished by the Saints last time out, while Johnny Sexton’s Racing can leave themselves in a great position with a win in Swansea this weekend. The Irish out-half misses out this weekend but should be back in action next weekend.
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