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Rugby

21st Jan 2017

Here’s who Leinster and Munster should face in the Champions Cup quarter finals

Becoming clearer

Patrick McCarry

Here’s what we know: Leinster and Munster are through to the Champions Cup quarter finals and they will be at the Aviva Stadium and Thomond Park.

The full picture should become clear on Sunday afternoon when the Pool 2 games are played out. By then, Connacht could be in the draw for the knock-out stages too.

After six games today, Munster are confirmed as second seeds. There are four sides they could yet host at Thomond Park in April – Wasps, Connacht, Toulouse or Glasgow. The most likely scenario would be two of the Pool 2 sides overtaking Glasgow and bumping them down to seventh seeds.

Asked about facing Glasgow Warriors again, Munster director of rugby Rassie Erasmus remarked:

“That would be something else. I’ve never had something like that before – facing a team five times in a season.”

Barring a 62+ point win for Connacht over Toulouse, Leinster will be fourth seeds. Right now, their likely opponents are Connacht or Wasps but a Toulouse win could see the French side travel to Dublin in April.

As for Connacht, they can go into the last eight by either beating Toulouse at Stade Ernest Wallon or by losing to them by seven points or less. That would give them a losing bonus point and make then un-catchable for the French side.

That is a result we are predicting, with Pat Lam’s eeking through as seventh seeds.

Connacht vs. Toulouse and Wasps vs Zebre takes place at 3:15pm [Irish time] on Sunday. The final standings should be known around 5pm.

PREDICTED QUARTER FINALS

  • Clermont vs. Toulon
  • Munster vs. Glasgow
  • Saracens vs. Connacht
  • Leinster vs Wasps