- By Alastair Telfer
- ` Sport
January 12, 2024
Updated 1 hour ago
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Ciaran Frawley scored a penalty from distance in stoppage time to give Leinster a crucial win over La Rochelle
The third round of group games in the 2023-24 Investec Champions Cup begins on Friday, with teams fighting to secure their places in the knockout rounds.
All eight Premiership teams could make it to the last 16, with Bath, Northampton, Exeter and Leicester leading the way with two wins from two.
Saracens, Bristol, Harlequins and Sale have all won once and will be looking to increase their chances.
Ulster and Glasgow have a win each, while Cardiff – who face Harlequins on Saturday – are yet to record a win.
Leinster remains on track in their search for a fifth European star, but defending champions La Rochelle must see off Leicester to avoid a shock early exit.
Nothing is won in the group stages, but momentum is the key to winning the Champions Cup.
The top four from each of the four pools will qualify for the knockout stages, meaning only two teams from each pool will fail to reach the round of 16 in April.
But with the top two teams in each group securing home games in the knockout stages, where the teams finish could be crucial.
Last season's finalists, Leinster and La Rochelle, both finished top of their group, which resulted in them playing all their games before the final at home.
Pool 1 – Can Saracens chase away Bordeaux?
Bordeaux Begles have recorded two bonus point wins and control Pool 1. However, they face difficult remaining games and host Saracens on Sunday before traveling to South Africa to play the Bulls.
Three-time champions Saracens will be hoping the Bulls can do them a favor in the finals. If they can win in Bordeaux this weekend, the top spot is up for grabs.
Bristol host the South African team on Saturday and know a win will boost their chances of a top spot, with bottom side Connacht in danger of failing to reach the knockout stages if they lose away to Lyon, their last game is.
Pool 2 – Deciding between Toulouse and Bath?
Racing 92, who have signed South Africa's two-time World Cup-winning captain Siya Kolisi and England winger Henry Arundell, face a difficult trip to in-form Bath on Sunday as they know a win is essential to keep their European dream alive.
Bath have been the pick of the Premiership teams so far, scoring 76 points and two bonus point wins. Summer signing Finn Russell has helped unlock dangerous defenders Ollie Lawrence and Joe Cokanasiga, who have four European tries between them.
Antoine Dupont's Toulouse, also top-scoring, travel to Belfast to face Ulster on Saturday before hosting Bath in what could be a crucial game for the team.
However, after an impressive home win over Racing, Ulster will look to shake up Pool 2 with a win against the French side.
Cardiff host Harlequins on Saturday with a positive result the only realistic outcome for their qualification hopes. However, one win could be enough to qualify for the new format.
Pool 3 – Premier League dominance
Apart from Saracens and Exeter, Premiership clubs have struggled to make a significant impact on the competition over the last decade.
But strong starts give them confidence they can face French giants Toulouse and La Rochelle, who, along with Leinster, are the only teams to have appeared in the last three finals.
Exeter won the competition in 2020 and despite losing key players Jack Nowell, Stuart Hogg and Luke Cowan-Dickie, they have rejuvenated their squad with youngsters.
Chiefs have nine points to their name after wins over former champions Toulon and Munster and host Glasgow on Saturday to put themselves in a strong position for a home game in the knockout rounds.
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Henry Slade's injury-time conversion sealed Exeter's away win at Toulon
Equally impressive was 2011 finalists Northampton Saints, who became the first team to book their place in the knockout stages after beating Bayonne.
The result means they have reached the knockout stages for the first time since 2020, when they lost in the quarter-finals to eventual champions Exeter.
Bayonne host Exeter next weekend and will be hoping a win will be enough to progress to the knockout stages.
Toulon is in crisis after losing its first two games. They host Munster on Saturday in a must-win game for both teams as the Irish province are also winless in Pool 3.
Pool 4 – La Rochelle in danger
Defending champions La Rochelle, aiming to win the title for a third successive season, are in danger of missing out on the knockout stages after losing their first two games against Leinster and Stormers.
Manie Libbok's stoppage-time conversion gave the Stormers a win against Ronan O'Gara's side, adding to the impact of their opening game defeat to Leinster.
This means that the win against Leicester on Sunday is now crucial.
The Tigers have won their first two games but face the daunting task of facing La Rochelle and Leinster in their remaining two games.
Four-time champions Leinster won their opening games against La Rochelle and Sale and face Stade on Saturday in the fight for a top spot.
Stade Francais are also yet to record a win and will be looking to pull off a miracle in Dublin to stay in the competition.
The Sale Sharks, who beat Stade in their opening game, travel to South Africa to play the Stormers. With success, both teams would likely secure a place in the knockout rounds.
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