Heineken Cup: As It Stands

The race for Heineken Cup quarter-final qualification is entering the home straight with the majority of the coveted eight places set to go all the way to the completion of round 6 matches.

However, Harlequins hold a commanding six points lead at the top of Pool 4 and a round 5 win over Ulster at Ravenhill would guarantee ‘Quins quarter-final qualification – but not all important ranking with home advantage going to the best four Pool winners.

And the Cardiff Blues are in the Pool 6 driving seat, four points clear of Gloucester Rugby with their Kingsholm Sunday showdown potentially the clash of round 5.

Since the format of the two best runners-up qualifying for the quarter-finals as the number 7 and number 8 ranked teams has been in operation since the 1999/00 season and bonus points coming into the equation in season 2003/04, here are some quarter-final qualification pointers: 

– No team has qualified as pool winners on less than four wins 
– No team has qualified as one of the best runners-up on less than four wins 
– Since bonus points were introduced no team has qualified as a Pool winner on less than 18 points (Stade Francais in 2003/04) 
– Since bonus points were introduced no team has qualified as one of the best runners-up on less than 19 points (Leicester Tigers in 2004/05)

The maximum points and wins attainable by each team on current standings are:

POOL 1: 
Munster – 23 points / 5 wins
Sale Sharks – 21 points / 4 wins
ASM Clermont Auvergne – 18 points / 4 wins
Montauban – 16 points / 3 wins

POOL 2:
Leinster – 25 points / 5 wins
London Wasps – 22 points / 5 wins
Castres Olympique – 15 points / 3 wins
Edinburgh – 14 points / 3 wins

POOL 3:
Ospreys – 25 / 5 wins
Leicester Tigers – 25 points / 5 wins
Perpignan – 19 points / 4 wins
Benetton Treviso – 10 points / 2 wins

POOL 4:
Harlequins – 27 points / 6 wins
Stade Francais – 21 points / 4 wins
Ulster Rugby – 16 points / 3 wins
Scarlets – 13 points / 2 wins

POOL 5:
Toulouse – 27 points / 6 wins
Bath Rugby – 25 points / 5 wins
Newport Gwent Dragons – 15 points / 3 wins
Glasgow Warriors – 14 points / 2 wins

POOL 6:
Cardiff Blues – 28 points / 6 wins
Gloucester Rugby – 24 points / 5 wins
Biarritz Olympique – 17 points / 3 wins
Rugby Calvisano – 10 points / 2 wins

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