Who will qualify for Quarter Finals?
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Who will qualify for Quarter Finals?
As we enter the final round of European matches, we predict the outcome of the pools and who will face off in the quarter finals.
Pool 1
Saracens already have a home QF wrapped up and travel to an out of sorts Toulouse to maintain their 100% record in this seasons competition. Expect Saracens to win and be the top seeded team going in the quarter finals.
Ulster host Oyonnax in Belfast and if they have any hopes of qualifying, they need a bonus point win. They sit on 13 points, while their opponents who won their first European game last week against Toulouse, sit on 7 points and are already out of the competition. Will be tough but the home side should get the BP and finish on 18 points. If that's enough to qualify is another question.
Pool 1 final table:
1. Saracens 28 (Q)
2. Ulster 18 (Q)
3. Oyonnax 7
4. Toulouse 6
Pool 2
This one is incredibly tough to call, Ospreys sit top of Pool 2 and travel to Exeter Chiefs, who they beat 25-13 when they met earlier in the pool. Chiefs have rotated to a stronger side instead of the side that narrowly lost out in Bordeaux last week. At home the Chiefs have been good and Ospreys haven't won away in Europe since 2009. Exeter to win and Ospreys to leave with only a losing bonus point.
Clermont sit in 2nd in Pool 2, but on paper look in a better situation as they host Bordeaux. These sides met 2 weeks ago, Clermont traveled to Bordeaux and left with 4 points. Expecting Clermont to pick up 5 points and top up the group.
Ospreys have performed valiantly in this European campaign but we feel they may just come up short and finish on 17.
Pool 2 final table:
1. Clermont 19 (Q)
2. Ospreys 17
3. Exeter 15
4. Bordeaux 11
Pool 3
Like Saracens, Racing have already wrapped up the pool and a home quarter final. They have been one of the standout teams in this competition, with the addition of Dan Carter boosting the Paris side significantly. They travel to Glasgow's temporary home of Rugby Park and with the rugby they are playing, they should edge this one.
Northampton travel to Scarlets, who are yet to win in the competition, knowing that a win puts them in contention for a best placed runner up spot. Saints have been hit and miss this season which makes this one tough to call, but Scarlets haven't beaten the Saints at home since 2003 so we're edging towards a Saints win. A BP may be needed to qualify depending what happens in Belfast so they may just fall short.
Pool 3 final table:
1. Racing 26 (Q)
2. Northampton 18
3. Glasgow 11
4. Scarlets 2
Pool 4
Leicester have this pool wrapped up along with a home quarter final, which many did not expect, so it is a great achievement by Richard Cockerill's side. They travel to Stade Francais knowing they can play with freedom with their fate already sealed. Stade must win if they have any chance of qualifying, with the pressure of the home fans on them we think they'll win this one which should be enough to qualify.
Munster travel to Italy to take on Treviso, in what is a dead rubber of a game. Munster will win if they play anything like last week, but they've no chance of qualifying for the last 8.
Pool 4 final table:
1. Leicester 23 (Q)
2. Stade Francais 18 (Q)
3. Munster 15
4. Treviso 0
Pool 5
Pool 5 is finely poised ahead of the final round.
Wasps were so close to sealing the group last week in the south of France but Toulon broke their hearts with a last minute win thanks to Drew Mitchell. Dai Young's men welcome inform Leinster to the Ricoh knowing that a win will secure qualification, if that's as group winners or a best runner up remains to be seen. Leinster will run them close but Wasps should see it over the line.
Toulon know how lucky they are to be in the position that they are, they are way off where they were last season but still sit top of the pool. Bath host the pool leaders and are already out of the competition after a disappointing defeat in Dublin last week. This game will be close for the first 60 minutes but Toulon should pull away with the squad they have available and win the pool.
Pool 5 final table:
1. Toulon 20 (Q)
2. Wasps 19 (Q)
3. Bath 10
4. Leinster 6
So according to our predictions this is how the quarter finals will look..
(1) Saracens vs Ulster (8)
(2) Racing 92 vs Stade Francais (7)
(3) Leicester vs Wasps (6)
(4) Toulon vs Clermont (5)
It's a toss up between Ulster and Northampton but Saints need a BP to edge ahead into the 8th seed which will be tough. but either way there are some mouth watering clashes there!
Dan Hayes
