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So after the 4th round of the new European Rugby Champions Cup we have seen every team play each other in their respective groups. So what are peoples predictions ? Pool winners from 1-5 ? the quater finalist ? who will get the home quaters ? Even the winner ?
For me pool 1 is now Clermont Auvergne's to lose, Saracens at home should be easy enough and then they go down to Sale who probably wont have had a win in the comp by then.
Pool 2 is a real tricky one with the Quins and Leinster on 14 with Wasps in 3rd with 13 points ! An incredibly tight pool and I feel the second placed team will also go through. I have to go with Leinster though, they should pick up 5 points at home to Castres (who have been shockingly poor) and if they need a result at Wasps I would also back them to win.
Pool 3 is easily Toulon's and faliure to not get a home QF should be seen as embarrassing for Laporte and co. Scarlets should not pose any real threat for Toulon now that their scrum doesn't have too face Ayerza again, if Giteau can get back as well than it should be 5 points.
Pool 4 again goes to the French with Toulouse out in front by 6 points. Bath could potentially be a tricky fixture at home but I would expect them to win that as well. Toulouse could end up with 26 points (more likely 24) and should secure the home QF.
Pool 5 goes to the Saints for me. Racing must be kicking themselves for letting the Ospreys draw down in Swansea, whereas Saints have just picked up 10 points from the Treviso games and I can see them winning both their remaining games. Racing should get 5 points against Treviso this time but who knows with them.
So QF in order
1-Toulouse
2-Clermont
3-Clermont
4-Toulon
5-Leinster
6-Racing
7-Quins
8-Saracens/Munster
For me there is no clearly best team. No one looks like the 2011-2012 Leinster or the 2012-2013 Toulon. I would say that Clermont looks like the best team so far but they got beaten by Saracens who haven't looked anything like last year, Toulon got beaten by Tigers this year, Saints didn't even get the LBP against Racing. The comp is really open this year but I would put Clermont as the winners at this stage.
For me pool 1 is now Clermont Auvergne's to lose, Saracens at home should be easy enough and then they go down to Sale who probably wont have had a win in the comp by then.
Pool 2 is a real tricky one with the Quins and Leinster on 14 with Wasps in 3rd with 13 points ! An incredibly tight pool and I feel the second placed team will also go through. I have to go with Leinster though, they should pick up 5 points at home to Castres (who have been shockingly poor) and if they need a result at Wasps I would also back them to win.
Pool 3 is easily Toulon's and faliure to not get a home QF should be seen as embarrassing for Laporte and co. Scarlets should not pose any real threat for Toulon now that their scrum doesn't have too face Ayerza again, if Giteau can get back as well than it should be 5 points.
Pool 4 again goes to the French with Toulouse out in front by 6 points. Bath could potentially be a tricky fixture at home but I would expect them to win that as well. Toulouse could end up with 26 points (more likely 24) and should secure the home QF.
Pool 5 goes to the Saints for me. Racing must be kicking themselves for letting the Ospreys draw down in Swansea, whereas Saints have just picked up 10 points from the Treviso games and I can see them winning both their remaining games. Racing should get 5 points against Treviso this time but who knows with them.
So QF in order
1-Toulouse
2-Clermont
3-Clermont
4-Toulon
5-Leinster
6-Racing
7-Quins
8-Saracens/Munster
For me there is no clearly best team. No one looks like the 2011-2012 Leinster or the 2012-2013 Toulon. I would say that Clermont looks like the best team so far but they got beaten by Saracens who haven't looked anything like last year, Toulon got beaten by Tigers this year, Saints didn't even get the LBP against Racing. The comp is really open this year but I would put Clermont as the winners at this stage.