European Champions Cup Preview: Pool 2

After last weekends matches. pool 2 has become a three-horse race with Harlequins leading the way with 12 points. After suffering their first defeat in the pool Leinster go into this weekends games with 9 points with Wasps behind them with 7 points. Castres complete the group with only 1 point to show from their opening three games and at this early stage look set to miss out on a place in the knockout stages.

Wasps put themselves back into contention of making it through to the knockout stages with a comprehensive 32-17 win over Castres as they picked up maximum points from the game. As for Castres their miserable season continued losing their 6th game in a row in Europe and as they sit bottom of the league they might take this opportunity to rest key players and save them for more important games as they look to avoid relegation from the Top 14. As for Wasps this will be their last game at Adams Park before they move into the Ricoh Arena and they will look to end their stay at Adams Park with another bonus point win as they look to close the gap between themselves and Leinster and Harlequins.

After a lacklustre display against Harlequins last Sunday, Leinster will look to get back to winning ways when they welcome Harlequins to the Aviva Stadium. Quins deservedly defeated the former three-time champions 24-18 at the Stoop last weekend and now travel to the Aviva where Leinster have lost their last two European games. Northampton Saints and Clermont were able to come away with wins from the Aviva and now Harlequins will look to do the same as they look to strengthen their lead at the top of pool 2. Leinster know how important a win will be on Saturday and having failed to score a try in their last two games in pool 2 they will look to be more clinical in attack with Matt O’Connor pushing his side to come away from Saturday’s game with a win and a four-try bonus point.