Take a look at what to expect this weekend as the European Rugby Challenge Cup pool stage reaches its conclusion.
A fifth consecutive tournament bonus point for the Ospreys last Sunday secured top spot in Pool 2 with a game to play, booking a home quarter-final in the spring.
They now head to Kingston Park this weekend looking to end the group stages on a positive note. It will be only the second time that the Ospreys have ever played at the venue, their previous visit coming in November 2010, for an LV= Cup tie.
On that occasion, the Falcons won 18-17 against an Ospreys team including a young Scott Baldwin, Ben John, James King, Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb, along with old heads like Duncan Jones, Mefin Davies, Ian Evans and Andy Lloyd.
The Ospreys ran in seven tries when the two teams met at the Liberty Stadium in Round 1, Keelan Giles scoring two late tries to round off the win after touch downs from Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb, Ashley Beck, Scott Baldwin and Justin Tipuric in a 45-0 win.
Round 6 Fixtures
Pool Updates
Pool 1
Gloucester (20 points) are sure of qualifying for the knockout stage and a bonus point win against Bayonne on Saturday will guarantee a home quarter-final. If La Rochelle (19 points) defeat Benetton Treviso at home, they will also go through and the TOP 14 club could top the pool depending on the Gloucester result
Pool 2
With an away trip to Newcastle in Round 6, Ospreys have already wrapped up a home quarter-final, and win, lose or draw at Kingston Park, the Welsh region look set to be No 1 seeds going into the knockout stage.
Pool 3
Brive (18 points) and the Newport Gwent Dragons (14 points) are preparing for a Pool 3 shoot-out. If Brive win at home in Round 6, they will go through to the quarter-finals for the 12th time in their history. However, if the Dragons come away with a victory and deprive Brive of a bonus point, then they will seal their place as they have five match points to Brive’s zero from the Round 1 match between the clubs.
Pool 4
Home wins for Bath (18 points) and Cardiff Blues (17 points) over Pau and Bristol respectively will see both clubs through to the last eight. A defeat for one or the other, and there could still be hope courtesy of a best runner-up spot.
Pool 5
Victories for Edinburgh (19 points) against Timisoara Saracens at Myreside, and for Harlequins (18 points) in Paris would see both clubs through to the quarter-finals. However, with the outcome of the cancelled Round 5 match between Timisoara and Stade Francais Paris to be decided shortly, this pool is still very much in the balance.
How clubs qualify for the quarter-finals
The five pool winners and the three best-placed runners-up qualify for the quarter-finals, and will be decided as follows:
(a) The pool winner will be the club with the highest number of match points in each pool. The best-placed runners-up will be the three clubs with the highest number of match points out of the five clubs that finish second in their respective pools. For the quarter-finals, the pool winners will be ranked 1 to 5 and the best-placed runners-up ranked 6th, 7th and 8th by reference to the number of match points earned.
(b) If two clubs in the same pool are equal on match points at the end of the pool stage, then their ranking will be determined by the results of the two matches played between the relevant clubs as follows:
(i) the club with the greater number of match points from the two matches; or
(ii) if equal, the club with the best aggregate points difference from the two matches; or
(iii) if equal, the club that scored the most tries in the two matches.
(c) If ranking remains unresolved and/or if clubs have not played each other previously in the pool stage, qualification/ranking will be determined as follows:
(i) the best aggregate points difference from the pool stage; or
(ii) if equal, the number of tries scored in the pool stage; or
(iii) if equal, the club with the fewest number of players suspended under Disciplinary Rules in the pool stage; or
(iv) if unresolved, by drawing lots.
The clubs ranked 1 to 4 will have home advantage in the quarter-finals as follows:
QF 1: Club 1 v Club 8 QF 2: Club 4 v Club 5
QF 3: Club 3 v Club 6 QF 4: Club 2 v Club 7
Semi-finals
NB The format for the semi-final matches in the Challenge Cup recognises performances by clubs during the pool stage as well as the achievement of winning a quarter-final match away from home.
Semi-final 1: winner QF 1 v winner QF 2
Semi-final 2: winner QF 3 v winner QF 4
The following clubs will have home stadium advantage in their respective semi-final matches:
- For Semi-final 1
If the clubs ranked 1 and 4 win their QFs, the club ranked 1 will have home advantage
If the clubs ranked 1 and 5 win their QFs, the club ranked 5 will have home advantage
If the clubs ranked 8 and 4 win their QFs, the club ranked 8 will have home advantage
If the clubs ranked 8 and 5 win their QFs, the club ranked 5 will have home advantage - For Semi-final 2
If the clubs ranked 3 and 2 win their QFs, the club ranked 2 will have home advantage
If the clubs ranked 3 and 7 win their QFs, the club ranked 7 will have home advantage
If the clubs ranked 6 and 2 win their QFs, the club ranked 6 will have home advantage
If the clubs ranked 6 and 7 win their QFs, the club ranked 6 will have home advantage
Newcastle v Ospreys
Saturday, 21 January, Kick-off: 17:00, Kingston Park
Referee: Alexandre Ruiz (Fra), Assistant Ref: Laurent Cardona (Fra), Assistant Ref: Cedric Clave (Fra), Citing Commissioner: Maurizio Vancini (Ita)
Match facts
- Ospreys were ruthless in the only previous meeting between the clubs, scoring 45 unanswered points in Round 1.
- Newcastle Falcons have won their last five home games, their best run since winning nine on the bounce between 2006 and 2008.
- Ospreys have not won away against Aviva Premiership opposition in Europe since 2006/07 (v Sale Sharks) losing nine and drawing one since then; this will be their first such game in the Challenge Cup though.
- All 11 of Newcastle’s games since the start of last season have seen the home side on the day end up as winners.
- Ospreys have averaged over 50 points per game this season so far, conceding just 30 overall.
2016/17 Challenge Cup - Leading Scorers
2016/17 Challenge Cup – Top Performers
