POOL 1
All eyes are on Thomond Park next weekend as Munster try to get as many points as possible against unbeaten Sale Sharks. If Munster continue their incredible record at their Thomond fortress and leave the game with five points – and restrict the Sharks to none – they will leap-frog the English club to the top of the pool. The Sharks need only one bonus point from the match to win the Pool, but victory would give them a home quarter-final.
POOL 2
The postponement of the Leeds Tykes-Calvisano match at the weekend has left Pool 2 undecided. Tykes fans would have been confident of four or five points from their trip to Italy, but they now have to wait. Perpignan’s rugged 21-3 win over the Cardiff Blues in Wales puts them in the box-seat for a play-off berth. They finish the Pool rounds at home to Calvisano and it would take a brave man to bet that the French heavyweights don’t get five points from that match. The Blues must beat the Tykes in Leeds and hope other Pool results go their way.
POOL 3
Leicester Tigers’ stunning victory over Stade Français Paris on Sunday turned Pool 3 on its head and makes the Tigers hot favourites to qualify as Pool winners. Stade have home advantage against the Ospreys as opposed to the Tigers’ trip to Clermont Auvergne – but they need everything to go their way to get past the English club. Stade need to win with a bonus point and hope Leicester get nothing out of their trip to Clermont.
POOL 4
Saracens’ exciting win over Benetton Treviso on Sunday has kept their play-off hopes alive, but they face a tough trip to Pool leaders Biarritz Olympique in the final round. If Biarritz turn home advantage into a victory, they will join several teams on 23 or 24 points and their 18 tries so far may come in very handy.
POOL 5
Bath Rugby are through, but have a royal chance to finish as one of the top two qualifiers if they can beat Leinster at the Recreation Ground. The Irish province have 17 points and they know they have to add to that in Bath to have any chance of making the next round. If they can secure at least one bonus point, their 23 tries give them a great chance of sneaking into the play-offs. Glasgow have a home match against Bourgoin, but even a win won’t get them off the bottom of the table.
POOL 6
Toulouse can’t be passed as Pool 6 leaders, but they will be looking for a bonus-point win at the Scarlets’ Stradey Park to ensure a home quarter-final. None of the other three sides – including 2004 champions London Wasps – can qualify.
