There can be desperation for some and concern about seedings for others so everybody has a lot to play for because the Champions Cup pool part goes into the third spherical this weekend.
Whereas some groups are on the cusp of qualifying for the spherical of 16, and an elite few could even really feel fairly safe that they’ve just about already performed so, there are nonetheless seedings on the road.
Champions Cup spherical three takes centre stage
The method the competitors works, the highest eight groups in every pool advance, with the first-placed workforce in Pool A dealing with the last-placed workforce in Pool B, and vice-versa.
The method it stands for the time being, Pool A leaders Leinster would advance to a spherical of 16 tie in opposition to Clermont-Auvergne, with LaRochelle taking part in in opposition to Gloucester. However, the Pool part is simply half accomplished and far can occur in these remaining two weeks.
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Ulster face must-win
Ulster can be happy that’s the case. They are at the moment properly outdoors of spherical of 16 qualification, itemizing at tenth in Pool B. Ulster can be in a determined temper as another defeat will finish their problem to advance to the play-off part.
It goes to be a large problem for Ulster although, for his or her third spherical recreation is the return conflict with LaRochelle, at LaRochelle.
Champions Cup controversy
There was some controversy across the first spherical recreation, which a lot to the chagrin of Ulster coach Dan McFarland, was switched from Kingspan Stadium to the extra impartial Aviva Stadium, behind closed doorways, due to an iced over pitch on the Ravenhill venue.
LaRochelle received that match 36-29, which sounds shut sufficient, however should you have a look at the high-quality print, you’ll notice that the French workforce was main 29-0 at halftime. So was {that a} case of the match champions taking their foot off the accelerator, or was it an indication of resurgence from Ulster? The Belfast workforce’s current outcomes would recommend the previous, for they’ve been slipping within the United Rugby Championship too, and misplaced late in opposition to Benetton final week.
Injury woes hamper Champions Cup hopes
To compound issues for Ulster, they’ve misplaced a number of gamers to damage, with prop Marty Moore dealing with a prolonged interval of rehabilitation after tearing the ACL on his proper knee within the current shut defeat within the URC derby in opposition to Munster.
Also out this week are wing Rob Baloucoune (hamstring) and Sean Reffell (ankle). Both these gamers had been injured in final week’s URC loss in Treviso.
So Ulster are up in opposition to it, however McFarland says his workforce likes pitting itself in opposition to the perfect.
“They are probably one of the top two teams in Europe, so it’s a big challenge to test yourself against the very best and is something we will look forward this week,” mentioned the Ulster coach.
McFarland didn’t say who the opposite member of his high two is, but it surely would possibly properly be his workforce’s arch-rivals from Dublin, Leinster, who’ve 10 factors after each video games and are on the high of Pool A.
Leinster motivated by seeding
Although you’d say that qualification for the spherical of 16 is nearly inevitable for Leinster, the seeding challenge makes a win crucial away at Gloucester this weekend.
Meanwhile, Exeter Chiefs have the identical log factors and are solely second to Leinster in Pool A as a result of on points-difference.
The Chiefs head to South Africa this weekend to play the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus and have made it clear they need the highest seeding, so that may be seen as a problem thrown all the way down to Leinster, who misplaced in dramatic vogue to a last-gasp LaRochelle rating within the 2021/2022 ultimate.
Of the URC groups in search of qualification, the three South African groups are all well-placed in the event that they win this weekend.
Sharks and Stormers out to consolidate playoff spots
Heineken Champions Cup Round 1 Pool A, Hollywood Kings Park, Durban, South Africa – 10 Dec 2022 Photo: Steve Haag Sports/INPHO/Shutterstock/BackpagePix (
The Sharks host their return recreation in opposition to Bordeaux Begles.
The Stormers are away in opposition to a London Irish workforce who had been in an aggressive temper and got here again strongly at them within the second half of the first-round recreation in Cape Town.
One of essentially the most engaging video games should you have a look at the type of the one and the standing and repute of the opposite, is the conflict between the Welsh consultant within the Champions Cup, the Ospreys, and Montpellier.
The Ospreys scored an amazing upset win away at Montpellier within the first spherical, and with no wins from two begins, the French champions are beneath stress to reverse that end result this time. Montpellier are at the moment ninth on the Pool B log, simply forward of Ulster.
Munster search solace after tanking URC season
Munster are having fun with a resurgence after a tough begin to the season and life beneath new coach Graham Rowntree and could have that resurgence examined once they host Northampton Saints, a workforce they held on in opposition to as they produced a tenacious efficiency in successful on English soil within the away conflict.
The Irish facet are stage with the Stormers on factors, although trailing in sixth place to the Cape workforce’s fifth in Pool B on factors differential (a slim margin of 4), and may be virtually assured of qualification for the spherical of 16 in the event that they win. Another URC workforce, Edinburgh, are on the cusp of final 16 {qualifications} and may really feel fairly safe in the event that they beat Castres away on Sunday.
One of the massive match-ups of the weekend is Toulouse, second in Pool B, travelling to fourth-placed Sale Sharks on Saturday.
Weekend Champions Cup fixtures
Clermont-Auvergne v Leicester Tigers (Friday, 22.00)
Gloucester v Leinster (Saturday, 15.00)
Sale Sharks v Toulouse (Saturday, 15.00)
Cell C Sharks v Bordeaux-Begles (Saturday, 17.15)
Munster v Northampton Saints (Saturday, 17.15)
LaRochelle v Ulster (Saturday, 19.30) Vodacom Bulls v Exeter Chiefs (Saturday, 19.30)
Ospreys v Montpellier (Saturday, 22.00)
Saracens v Lyon (Saturday, 22.00)
Castres v Edinburgh (Sunday, 15.00)
London Irish v DHL Stormers (Sunday, 15.00)
Racing 92 v Harlequins (Sunday, 17.15)
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