Investec Champions Cup: Knockout Picture Clarified After Round 3
Investec Champions Cup: Knockout Picture Clarified After Round 3
Discover which teams clinched spots in the Investec Champions Cup Round of 16 after Round 3. Highlights, standings and key eliminations all unpacked.
The third round of the Investec Champions Cup delivered high-stakes drama, cementing some teams' places in the last 16, while dashing the hopes of others.
Here’s a breakdown of the results, standings and who’s already secured a knockout berth.
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Results Recap: Round 3 Highlights
The Glasgow Warriors made a strong statement with a 29-19 victory over Racing 92 at Scotstoun Stadium, solidifying their top-tier status in Pool 4.
Meanwhile, the DHL Stormers dismantled the Sale Sharks 40-0 in Cape Town, demonstrating their attacking prowess and keeping their playoff aspirations alive.
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Union Bordeaux-Bègles delivered a stunning 69-17 demolition of Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park, cementing its dominance in Pool 1.
Similarly, Stade Toulousain’s disciplined performance saw it earn a 20-8 away win over the Hollywoodbets Sharks in Durban.
Munster Rugby edged Saracens 17-12 in a gritty clash at Thomond Park, maintaining its strong position in Pool 3.
In Paris, Stade Francais bested the Northampton Saints 45-35 in a high-scoring thriller, while the Leicester Tigers comfortably defeated Ulster Rugby 38-10 at Welford Road.
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Castres Olympique steamrolled the Vodacom Bulls 49-10 at Stade Pierre-Fabre, effectively ending the Bulls’ playoff hopes.
Elsewhere, RC Toulon showcased its depth with a 33-21 triumph over Harlequins at Stade Felix Mayol.
In a nail-biter at Stade Marcel Deflandre, Leinster Rugby edged Stade Rochelais 16-14, preserving its perfect record in Pool 2.
The Bristol Bears kept their slim hopes alive with a 35-29 win over Benetton Rugby, while Bath Rugby cruised to a 40-21 victory over ASM Clermont Auvergne at The Rec.
Teams Securing Spots In Round Of 16
Several teams confirmed their places in the Round of 16 following Round 3:
Pool 1: Union Bordeaux-Bègles continued its unbeaten streak, topping the pool with 15 points. Stade Toulousain also secured qualification, sitting in second place with 14 points.
Pool 2: Leinster Rugby’s hard-fought victory over La Rochelle ensured its progression, accumulating 13 points. Despite a narrow loss, La Rochelle (10 points) remains a strong contender for a top seed.
Pool 3: The Northampton Saints lead with 11 points, and Munster Rugby (10 points) joined them in advancing after a pivotal win against Saracens, which also holds 10 points. That's enough, though.
Pool 4: RC Toulon and the Glasgow Warriors punched their tickets to the knockout stage. Toulon’s 13 points secure its lead, while Glasgow’s bonus points pushed it to 12.
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Teams Out Of Contention
Several sides already have been eliminated from playoff contention:
Pool 1: The Exeter Chiefs and Ulster Rugby, both winless after three rounds, cannot advance to the knockout stage.
Pool 3: The Vodacom Bulls, languishing at the bottom with zero points, also are out.
Pool 4: Racing 92’s loss to Glasgow, coupled with its four-point tally, leaves Racing 92 unable to break into the top spots. Harlequins, the Sale Sharks and the DHL Stormers remain mathematically in contention but face an uphill battle in Round 4 to secure qualification.
What’s Next?
The final round of pool play promises to be decisive, as teams battle for crucial seeding and the last available spots in the knockout round.
While dominant sides, such as Bordeaux-Bègles and Leinster, aim to maintain their perfect records, those on the bubble will be fighting to keep their campaigns alive.
Stay tuned for another thrilling weekend of top-tier rugby action.
Investec Champions Cup Round Three Results
- Glasgow Warriors 29, Racing 92 19
- DHL Stormers 40 vs. Sale Sharks 0, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 8 a.m., DHL Stadium
- Exeter Chiefs 17 vs. Union Bordeaux-Bègles 69, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:15 AM, Sandy Park
- Hollywoodbets Sharks 8 vs. Stade Toulousain 20, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 10:15 a.m., Hollywoodbets Kings Park
- Munster Rugby 17 vs. Saracens 12, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 12:30 p.m., Thomond Park
- Stade Francais Paris 45 vs. Northampton Saints 35, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 12:30 p.m., Stade Jean Bouin
- Leicester Tigers 38 vs. Ulster Rugby 10, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3 p.m., Mattioli Woods Welford Road
- Castres Olympique 49 vs. Vodacom Bulls 10, Sat, Jan 11, 2025, 3 p.m., Stade Pierre-Fabre
- RC Toulon 33 vs. Harlequins 21, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 8 a.m., Stade Felix Mayol
- Stade Rochelais 14 vs. Leinster Rugby 16, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:15 a.m., Stade Marcel Deflandre
- Bristol Bears 35 vs. Benetton Rugby 29, Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 10:15 a.m., Ashton Gate
- Bath Rugby 40 vs. ASM Clermont Auvergne 21 Sun, Jan 12, 2025, 12:30 p.m., The Rec
Here are the pools compiled in the exact format for a round recap article:
Pool 1
| Club | P | W | D | L | PD | Tries | TB | LB | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Union Bordeaux-Bègles | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 87 | 23 | 3 | 0 | 15 |
| 2 | Stade Toulousain | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 95 | 21 | 2 | 0 | 14 |
| 3 | Leicester Tigers | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 53 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 11 |
| 4 | Hollywoodbets Sharks | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -33 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 5 | Ulster Rugby | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -89 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6 | Exeter Chiefs | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -113 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Pool 2
| Club | P | W | D | L | PD | Tries | TB | LB | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leinster Rugby | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| 2 | Stade Rochelais | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 30 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 3 | Bath Rugby | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| 4 | Benetton Rugby | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -33 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| 5 | ASM Clermont Auvergne | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 6 | Bristol Bears | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -45 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
Pool 3
| Club | P | W | D | L | PD | Tries | TB | LB | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Northampton Saints | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 29 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 11 |
| 2 | Munster Rugby | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 29 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 3 | Saracens | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 28 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| 4 | Castres Olympique | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 11 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| 5 | Stade Francais Paris | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -27 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 6 | Vodacom Bulls | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | -70 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Pool 4
| Club | P | W | D | L | PD | Tries | TB | LB | PTS | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | RC Toulon | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 13 |
| 2 | Glasgow Warriors | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 28 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 12 |
| 3 | Harlequins | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 4 | DHL Stormers | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -7 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 5 | Sale Sharks | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -37 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 6 | Racing 92 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | -21 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
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