Ulster Rugby heads into round 6 of the Champions Cup this weekend with real optimism regarding their potential progress to the knock out stages...
OVERVIEW OF POOL 1
With five wins out of five and 24 points, Saracens have already booked their place in the last eight and are guaranteed a home quarter-final. Ulster is currently in second place on 13 points and almost certainly a bonus point win against Oyonnax at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday to have any hope of grabbing one of the three best runners-up spots. Should Ulster pick up five points, they will then need two of six teams to suffer defeat for them to progress (Clermont, Ospreys, Northampton, Stade Francais, Wasps, Toulon). However, Director of Rugby, Les Kiss, will be mindful that Saracens reached the knockout stage last season with 17 points.
Tickets are still available for Saturday’s crucial game - please visit www.ulsterrugby.com/buytickets to purchase now.
HOW THINGS CURRENTLY STAND...
HOW TO QUALIFY FOR THE QUARTER-FINALS
The five pool winners and three best-placed runners-up will 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 1st to 5th and the best-placed runners-up ranked 6th, 7th and 8th by reference to the number of match points earned.
(b) 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; or
(iv) if unresolved, by drawing lots.
The clubs ranked 1 to 4 will have home advantage in the quarter-finals as follows:
Club 1 v Club 8 (QF1)
Club 4 v Club 5 (QF2)
Club 3 v Club 6 (QF3)
Club 2 v Club 7 (QF4)
ULSTER v OYONNAX MATCH FACTS
- Ulster has won 12 of its last 15 home games against French opposition in the European Cup, including a 38-0 win against Toulouse in round three
- Overall, Ulster has won seven of its last nine games against Top 14 teams, with the only defeats in that run coming against Toulon
- Stuart McCloskey has beaten 26 defenders in the first five rounds and leads this category in the tournament
OVERVIEW OF POOL 1
With five wins out of five and 24 points, Saracens have already booked their place in the last eight and are guaranteed a home quarter-final. Ulster is currently in second place on 13 points and almost certainly a bonus point win against Oyonnax at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday to have any hope of grabbing one of the three best runners-up spots. Should Ulster pick up five points, they will then need two of six teams to suffer defeat for them to progress (Clermont, Ospreys, Northampton, Stade Francais, Wasps, Toulon). However, Director of Rugby, Les Kiss, will be mindful that Saracens reached the knockout stage last season with 17 points.
Tickets are still available for Saturday’s crucial game - please visit www.ulsterrugby.com/buytickets to purchase now.
HOW THINGS CURRENTLY STAND...
HOW TO QUALIFY FOR THE QUARTER-FINALS
The five pool winners and three best-placed runners-up will 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 1st to 5th and the best-placed runners-up ranked 6th, 7th and 8th by reference to the number of match points earned.
(b) 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; or
(iv) if unresolved, by drawing lots.
The clubs ranked 1 to 4 will have home advantage in the quarter-finals as follows:
Club 1 v Club 8 (QF1)
Club 4 v Club 5 (QF2)
Club 3 v Club 6 (QF3)
Club 2 v Club 7 (QF4)
ULSTER v OYONNAX MATCH FACTS
- Ulster has won 12 of its last 15 home games against French opposition in the European Cup, including a 38-0 win against Toulouse in round three
- Overall, Ulster has won seven of its last nine games against Top 14 teams, with the only defeats in that run coming against Toulon
- Stuart McCloskey has beaten 26 defenders in the first five rounds and leads this category in the tournament