Who will join Lions in European playoffs?

The South African sides will have everything to play for this weekend as they embark on the final round of pool matches in the Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup, where four of the five teams will be playing for places in the Rounds of 16.

The Lions – one of the three teams participating in the EPCR Challenge Cup – have already sealed their spot in the first playoff round.

The other four SA teams – the Bulls, Stormers (Champions Cup), Sharks and Cheetahs (EPCR Challenge Cup) – will all have one last throw of the dice to ensure that they are among the teams that advance to the playoffs.

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CHAMPIONS CUP PROSPECTS

The Bulls have 10 points from two wins – at home against Saracens and away to Bristol Bears and need just one more point to qualify when they take on Bordeaux-Begles this weekend at Loftus Versfeld.  The big question is: Which Bordeaux team will pitch up? French teams have been known to send second string teams for away games or will they want the points for a top finish at the end of the pool stages?  Either way it should be a cracker and the Bulls haven’t been beaten at home by European opposition yet.  Bristol and Saracens have tough games against Connacht (away) and Lyon (home) and one will qualify, but it is tough to see both English teams qualify.

Pool 2 – teams qualified for Round of 16 in Champions Cup: Stade Toulousain, Bath Rugby and Harlequins

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WHAT ARE THE STORMERS’ CHANCES OF QUALIFICATION?

This is truly the pool of death and by no means near knowing which four sides will go through. While Leinster have booked their spot, the Stormers and Leicester Tigers are second on nine points. La Rochelle were incredible in their win over Leicester this past weekend and are on seven with Sale Sharks on five. Only Stade Francais are out of contention with one point. Given the Parisians are out, that may be good news for the Stormers, who haven’t won away from home for some time now in any competition.  Leicester host Leinster in an intriguing battle at Welford Road on Saturday followed by the Stormers quest against Stade Francais in Paris. On Sunday Sale Sharks have a mammoth task against La Rochelle, with the winner there set to qualify and the loser set to drop down to EPCR Challenge Cup. 

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CHALLENGE CUP PERMUTATIONS FOR SA TEAMS

Pool 1

The Sharks and Cheetahs are both in this pool and both have a good chance of qualifying as they sit first and second in the pool at the moment.

For all their troubles, the Sharks need just one point to qualify and grab a home game in the Round of 16. Their trip to face the Dragons in Wales is a tough one, with the Dragons needing a win to qualify and if the Sharks are victorious it will end the Welsh side’s campaign.

Only Oyannax, who host the Cheetahs, are out of the running right now and while an away game will be tough on the Bloemfontein side, they know they need to get points out of it if they are to ensure qualification as well.

While they sit on nine points, Italian side Zebre Parma are on eight and Section Paloise – or Pau – are on seven points.  Zebre and Pau face off in a straight shootout at Stade du Hameau on Saturday night to see who qualifies. The loser will have be at the mercy of results from the Cheetahs and Sharks away games to see who makes up the other qualifier.

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Match information – Investec Champions Cup:

Vodacom Bulls v Bordeaux Begles

Date: Saturday, 20 January

Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

SA Time: 15h00

Referee: Karl Dickson

TV: SuperSport

Stade Francais v Stormers

Date: Saturday, 20 January

Venue: Stade Jean Bouin, Paris

SA Time: 19h30

Referee: Luke Pearce

TV: SuperSport

Match Information – EPCR Challenge Cup:

Oyonnax v Cheetahs

Date: Saturday, 20 January

Venue: Stade Charles Mathon, Oyonnax

SA Time: 17h15

Referee: Anthony Woodthorpe

TV: SuperSport

Lions v Ospreys

Date: Sunday, 21 January

Venue: Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg

SA Time: 15h00

Referee: Jeremy Rozier

TV: SuperSport

Dragons v Hollywoodbets Sharks

Date: Sunday, 21 January

Venue: Rodney Parade, Newport

SA Time: 19h30

Referee: Adrien Marbot

TV: SuperSport

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