ERC confirms dates for final Heineken Cup rounds

The organisers of the Heineken Cup have confirmed that Leinster will face an arduous five-day turnaround in the last two rounds of the pool matches in this year's competition.

The three-time champions will travel to France where they take on Castres at 1.35pm local time (12.35pm Irish time) on Sunday, January 12th.

And Matt O’Connor’s side, who are likely to need at least eight points from the remaining two fixtures to secure a home quarter-final, will then play host to the Ospreys in the RDS the following Friday at 8pm.

Ulster, who are in pole position for a home berth in the knockout stages as the only side still boasting a 100 per cent record, have been handed a friendlier assignment by the ERC.

Mark Anscombe’s side entertain Montpellier at Ravenhill on Friday, January 10th before rounding off their campaign against Leciester at Welford Road on Saturday, January 18th.

Munster will also enjoy an eight-day turnaround, travelling to Gloucester on Saturday, January 11th before playing Edinburgh at Thomond Park the following Sunday.

Connacht will be seeking an unprecedented third win of their campaign on Saturday, January 11th before facing Saracens a week later.

Round Five (all times Irish)

Friday, January 10th

Pool 5
Ulster v Montpellier (Ravenhill, 8pm)

Pool 4
Racing Métro 92 v Scarlets (Stade Yves-du-Manoir, 8pm)

Saturday, January 11th

Pool 4
Harlequins v Clermont Auvergne (The Stoop, 1.35pm)

Pool 5
Benetton Treviso v Leicester (Stadio Comunale di Monigo, 1.35pm)

Pool 2
Exeter Chiefs v Glasgow Warriors (Sandy Park, 3pm)

Pool 3
Connacht v Zebre, (The Sportsground, 3.40pm)

Pool 2
Toulon v Cardiff Blues (Allianz Riviera, 3.40pm)

Pool 6
Edinburgh v Perpignan (Murrayfield, 6pm)
Gloucester v Munster (Kingsholm, 6pm)

Sunday, January 12th

Pool 1
Ospreys v Northampton Saints (Liberty Stadium, 12.35pm)
Castres Olympique v Leinster (Stade Pierre Antoine. 12.35pm)

Pool 3
Toulouse v Saracens (Stade Ernest Wallon, 3pm)

Round Six

Friday, January 17th

Pool 1
Leinster v Ospreys (RDS, 8pm)
Northampton Saints v Castres Olympique (Franklin's Gardens, 8pm)

Saturday, January 18th

Pool 3
Saracens v Connacht (Allianz Park, 1.35pm)
Zebre v Toulouse (Stadio XXV Aprile, 1.35pm)

Pool 2
Cardiff Blues v Exeter Chiefs (Cardiff Arms Park, 3.40pm)
Glasgow Warriors v Toulon (Scotstoun Stadium, 3.40pm)

Pool 5
Leicester Tigers v Ulster (Welford Road, 6pm)
Montpellier v Benetton Treviso (Stade Yves-du-Manoir, 6pm)

Sunday, January 19th

Pool 6
Munster v Edinburgh (Thomond Park, 12.35pm)
Perpignanv v Gloucester (Stade Aimé Giral, 12.35pm)

Pool 4
Scarlets v Harlequins (Parc y Scarlets, 3pm)
Clermont Auvergne v Racing Métro 92 (Stade Marcel-Michelin, 3pm)

Qualification for the quarter-finals

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 two clubs with the highest number of match points out of the six clubs that finish second in their respective pools. For the quarter-finals, the pool winners will be ranked 1 to 6 and the best-placed runners-up 7 and 8 by reference to the number of match points earned.

If two or more clubs in the same pool are equal on match points, their ranking will be determined by the matches played between the relevant clubs as follows:

* the club with the greater number of match points from those matches; or

* if equal, the club that scored the most tries in those matches; or

* if equal, the club with the best aggregate points difference from those matches.

If ranking remains unresolved and/or if clubs have not played each other previously in the pool stage, ranking will be determined as follows:

* the number of tries scored in the pool stage; or

* if equal, the best aggregate points difference from the pool stage; or

* if equal, the club with the fewest number of players suspended for incidents in the pool stage; or

* if equal, by drawing lots.

The third, fourth and fifth ranked pool runners-up will qualify for the quarter-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup.