Northampton Saints - News : Saints on the brink of getting through to the quarters

16 January 2006, 10:01 am

Saints on the brink of getting through to the quarters

Ben Cohen has scored six tries so far for Saints in this competition

Northampton Saints have virtually booked their place in the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup with four wins out of five. However, they still need to beat Viadana away, with a four-try bonus point, on Friday to guarantee them an all-important home draw on Saturday, April 1. Saints scored seven tries past Bristol Rugby on Saturday and have now amassed 24 tries and 174 points as they eye the final stage of the pool competition.

English clubs are set to dominate the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup, with the distinct possibility of an all-England semi-final series. With one round to go, English clubs lead all five pools and the race is on to finish ranked as one of the top two quarter-finalists. That ranking ensures a home quarter-final and - even more importantly - a home semi-final if the club make the final four. Of the 20 sides in the tournament, only 10 are left in play-off contention.

POOL 1
Northampton Saints should confirm their place in the play-offs with a win over bottom-placed Viadana this weekend, but they need a bonus point to guarantee a home match in the next round. Bristol are at home to French side Narbonne and a win to either side will put them into the mix as one of the best runners-up. Bristol (16 points) are in a healthier position than Narbonne (13), but the English club will be chasing five points

POOL 2
London Irish's scratchy eight-point win over Rugby Parma in Italy on Saturday confirmed their place in the quarter-finals, but they need to beat Pau this weekend to clinch a home play-off. Pau are a tough outfit, but with only 11 points, they are out of playoff contention and will be the underdogs at Madejski Stadium. Parma face a tough trip to Agen in the other match and will struggle to avoid finishing last in the pool.

POOL 3
Gloucester Rugby are in arguably the best position of any of the 20 cup sides. They have 24 out of a possible 25 points, and their 43 tries will prove valuable if they finish level on points with Newcastle Falcons (42 tries). Gloucester play Bayonne at Kingsholm in the final round, knowing a win will ensure a valuable top-two ranking for the playoffs. The French club are also in a good position and their 20 points should be enough to qualify whatever happens in the last round.

POOL 4
Newcastle Falcons know a win in the last round will clinch a top-two ranking for the playoffs, but they won't have things all their own way in Brive. The French club are sitting on 17 points, but will need at least a bonus point - if not a victory - against the Falcons to play any further part in this tournament.

POOL 5
Worcester's 44-8 win over Catania has edged them ahead of Connacht on the table, but they will be looking to return from Montpellier with five points this weekend. The Irish province, meanwhile, head to Italy to play Catania, knowing that a bonus-point victory will ensure a spot in the play-offs as one of the best three pool runners-up. If the Warriors earn only four points and Connacht bag five, the Irish side's superior try count (21-19) will take them to the top of the table.

POSSIBLE QUARTER-FINAL LINEUPS:

1. Gloucester                  v           8. Brive
2. Newcastle Falcons     v           7. Bristol Rugby
3. London Irish               v           6. Connacht
4. Northampton Saints   v            5. Worcester Warriors