We dive into each EPCR Challenge Cup pool to find out how all the sides of the competition are doing mid-way through the pool stages.
Pool 1 – Lyon Olympique Universitaire on leaders Connacht Rugby’s tail
After hitting the ground running in this season’s EPCR Challenge Cup, getting two bonus-point wins out of two, Irish side Connacht Rugby sit top of Pool 1 with a perfect 10 points out of a possible 10. French side Lyon Olympique Universitaire are close behind on nine after their back-to-back wins, but the battle for first will reach its climax in Round 3 as both sides go head to head for the Pool 3 top spot heading into the final matchday.
Cardiff Rugby, third on six points, have had a good start to this campaign after their bonus-point win in Round 2 backed up their losing bonus point secured in Round 1. With a trip to USAP in Round 3 before hosting current group leaders Connacht to close the pool stages, the Welsh side will hope for another win to guarantee qualification. Behind them on two points thanks to their opening day draw to Toyota Cheetahs is French side USAP. Facing Cardiff Rugby at home before travelling to Zebre Parma in Rounds 3 and 4, the TOP 14 outfit will fancy their chances of reaching the knockouts.
Right on USAP’s heels in fifth are South Africa’s Toyota Cheetahs who, going up against current bottom side Zebre Parma in Round 3, will hope to leapfrog USAP into the qualification spots. Bottom with one point but with neither of the current top three sides left to play, Zebre will be looking to the final pool games to stage a late charge for the knockouts.
Pool 2 – France’s Montpellier Hérault Rugby and Section Paloise lead by example
Top with nine points and a bonus-point win under their belt, Montpellier Hérault Rugby heads into the second half of the pool stage with sights set on wins over Emirates Lion and Newcastle Falcons to guarantee qualification. Behind them on six is the group’s other French contingent, Section Paloise, whose bonus-point win and a bonus-point loss stand them in good stead for their remaining games against Dragons RFC and Ospreys.
With nothing but a points difference to separate third to fifth, Dragons RFC lead the middle of the pool after their impressive win over Newcastle Falcons in Round 2. The remaining games against Section Paloise and the Lions promise to throw up challenges as they look for qualification. In fourth and on five points, Emirates Lions face a tricky away tie at leaders Montpellier that they will need to find points from.
As for Ospreys, fifth, they will look to get a result from their home tie to Newcastle Falcons in Round 3 as a way to propel themselves up the table as they eye a way through while Falcons, last, will need points from their Round 3 and 4 ties against Ospreys and Montpellier respectively if they are to forget their opening two defeats and move out of the elimination spots.
Pool 3 – Edinburgh Rugby, RC Vannes and Scarlets lead tight group
With just points difference separating the top three in Pool 3, Edinburgh Rugby go into Christmas in first after their bonus-point loss followed by their bonus-point win. Also on six points is second-placed RC Vannes, who will be targeting their home tie to leaders Edinburgh in Round 3 as a way of proving they’re worthy of the top spot before taking on current third-placed side Scarlets.
Welsh outfit Scarlets, Pool 3’s third side on six points, go into their remaining fixtures against Gloucester Rugby and Vannes with targets firmly set on securing as many points as possible to ease their qualification.
Just behind the pack on four points is Black Lion. Having impressed in just their second participation in the EPCR Challenge Cup, the Georgian side take on Aviron Bayonnais and current top side Edinburgh next up as they target what would be their first EPCR Challenge Cup knockout qualification. Level on four points but with a worse points difference, last year’s finalists Gloucester Rugby face Scarlets and Aviron Bayonnais in January as they eye going deep once again.
Sat bottom, but only by points difference, TOP 14 side Aviron Bayonnais face Black Lion and Gloucester Rugby in two Rounds which will determine everything in such as hotly contested pool.
