Newcastle’s 42-9 victory over Toulouse in Pool Six of the European Cup means that Leinster have qualified for the quarter-final stages of the competition as Pool winners.
Leinster, having beaten everyone else in Pool Six, have now eight points after four matches with two games left to play. Toulouse and Newcastle both have two points and can only achieve a maximum of 6ix points, while Welsh side, Newport have four points and could equal Leinster’s total with two games remaining.
Newport have, however, lost twice to Leinster and under Heineken Cup rules if clubs are equal on points, and the clubs are in the same Pool, then qualification/ranking will be based on the two matches played between the two clubs. The winner will be the club which has earned most Pool points from two games.
While coach Matt Williams will be delighted that his charges have qualified, he will be well aware that the job is not yet finished. Only the top four of the Pool winners that gained the most points from their Pool will have home advantage for the quarter-final.
No team has ever won the European Cup without home advantage at the quarter-final stage and Leinster will know that they will need to win one more Pool match away from home to secure a home quarter-final match.