by Weegie on Sun Dec 18, 2016 7:28 pm
Now the weekend games are complete, with Edinburgh on 15 and with Timisoara Saracens to come at home which should be a 5 pointer to give 20, Edinburgh now look well placed to go through as a best runner up. The runner up spots currently look like going to pools 1, 4 and 5. Anything from the Quins game is a bonus, but Edinburgh need to win it to get a home fixture.
Pool 1
Gloucester and La Rochelle both on 15. Both have Treviso and Bayonne to come so both first and second should have 23 - 25 depending on bonus points
Pool 2
Newcastle did us a favour at the weekend. Ospreys lead on 20, Lyon second on 11, Newcastle third on 10. Ospreys have Lyon at home and Newcastle away. Ospreys will win the group. Lyon have Ospreys away, and Grenoble at home so unlikely to get more than 5 or 6 from that. Newcastle are on 10 and have Grenoble and Ospreys so will be doing well to get 6 from those.
Second place in this group looking like 16-17.
Pool 3
Brive on 14, Dragons and Ensei on 9 each.
Brive have Worcester and Dragons at home so should win both games and the group. Both Dragons and and Worcester have Ensei at home which should be 5 point games to put them on 14. However, Dragons did give Brive a kicking at Rodney parade so it is possible they might win in France to go to 18 or a max of 19. In that case the most Brive could have is 19. So the most second place is likely to get is 19.
Pool 4
Bath and Cardiff both on 13. Cardiff have Pau next, Pau seem to have given up so it should be 5 points to go to 18. Bath have Bristol next in Bristol, but Bath should still win to go to 17. Then Bath have Pau at home to go to 22, and Cardiff have Bristol at home to go to 22, unless Bristol can step up. So another group with a high number of points of circa 22 in second place.