Paris (AFP)
Clermont opened the way, Saturday at the Harlequins (26-19), to a quarterfinal at home, but Toulouse and Racing 92, already qualified, can steal this advantage from him Sunday during the last meetings of the 6th day European Cup.
This last goosebumps has a taste of Crunch. Two weeks from France-England on the first day of the Six Nations Tournament on February 2, five meetings oppose this weekend French and English clubs.
Saturday, Clermont saved the honor of the Top 14 by winning in the suburbs of London, while Lyon fell at home against Northampton in Lyon (36-24) and that La Rochelle left his tiny hope of qualification s fly to Exeter (33-14).
The Irish province of Ulster (21 pts) qualified, sinking Bath on Saturday (22-15), while there are two tickets left to validate on Sunday.
In Harlequins eliminated, the ASM (1st pool 3) suffered but knew how to preserve the essential: the victory, which allows it to count 24 points and hope to receive in the next round.
After the matches on Saturday, only the Irish Leinster, victorious in Treviso (18-0), and the English of Exeter have a better total with respectively 28 and 27 points and are therefore guaranteed to play at home in quarter.
Like Clermont (24 pts, +91), Racing and Toulouse can also believe it. Sunday, Racing (1st pool 4, 22 pts, +71) will go to the Saracens (2nd, 14 pts), defending champions wanting to qualify and clear up a dark season after a penalty of 35 points in the league and a demotion at the end of the season for non-compliance with the salary-cap (2:00 p.m.), and Toulouse (1st pool 5, 22 pts, +56) will welcome Gloucester (2nd, 14 pts) at 4:15 p.m.
The classification of the eight qualified teams will define the quarter posters: the first (Leinster) will host the eighth, the second will host the seventh, the third the sixth and the fourth the fifth.
For example, if Toulouse wins on Sunday and Racing loses, Clermont will welcome the Parisians to Michelin. But if Toulouse and Racing win, ASM will be on the move ... in the Sky and White Arena.
In addition, the first two teams (Leinster and another to be determined), are guaranteed to also receive in the semi-finals, in case of course victory in the quarter.
Quarters that neither La Rochelle (3rd pool 2, 10 pts) nor Lyon (3rd pool 1, 7 pts) will see, eliminated before the match and which remains in the learning phase in Europe with five defeats for a victory against Italians from Treviso.
© 2020 AFP