The Pathway To Quarters

With four sides already qualified – Harlequins, Toulon, Clermont, Ulster – and Saracens and the winners of the Leicester Tigers/Toulouse to follow, it still leaves six sides who can still claim the two ‘best’ runner-up places.

To whittle that number down the magic number is 19 because that's all that Biarritz, Northampton Saints or Toulouse, if they dont win in Welford Road, can attain. Munster and Leinster can get to 20 while a win over Toulon in their last game gives Montpellier a place in the play offs

Biarritz need to beat Harlequins at home with a bonus and Northampton need to do similar in Glasgow. Tall order for both.

If Montpelier lose with a bonus against Toulon, and Toulouse do likewise against the Tigers, because of tries scored it means Munster and Leinster need a win bonus to get to stay ahead of them.

Then its down to tries and as things stand Munster are on 9 and Leinster on 8. So basically whatever Leinster do in Exeter, Munster have to mirror against Racing. That includes winning of course.