Heino review so far ...

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From the Herald:

"How Europe is shaping up

Pool 1

Munster now have full control of the pool. Meanwhile Llanelli Scarlets, having already beaten Northampton on their travels will finish host the English side next before finishing against a Castres team that will have no real incentive to win. That being the case, the Scarlets must believe they can pick up two more wins and even a bonus point or two to have a real chance of going into the Heineken Cup quarter-finals as one of the best runners-up.

As things stand Munster would be in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals and Scarlets in the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

Pool 2

The pool table gives a slightly misleading impression since it was clear when Dan Parks opted to kick the ball dead at Murrayfield with his team trailing by seven points on Friday, that Cardiff felt they had done the job they were looking to do. While try count places Edinburgh top at present, should both still be tied on points at the end of the pool campaign – and that is a very real possibility since Racing Metro will consider themselves out of contention while Cardiff are likely to kill off London Irish's interest in the next round of matches – it is the Welsh side that will have the upper hand on the basis of their head-to-head meetings. Two wins will, however, take Edinburgh into the quarter-finals for only the second time in their history.

As things stand Edinburgh and Cardiff would both be in the Heineken Cup quarter-finals.

Pool 3

It seems harsh given that they have lost just one match, but Glasgow's failure to secure a bonus points thus far couple with Saturday's draw in Montpellier means Glasgow have little real hope of making the Heineken Cup quarter-finals even if they can overcome defending champions Leinster at Firhill and follow that up with a win Bath and win. Leinster are all but through but they will still arrive in Glasgow determined not only to maintain their unbeaten record, but to enhance their chances of the top seeding in the quarter-finals that would be theirs if the draw was made now.

As things stand Leinster would be through, while Glasgow would be worst placed of the six teams in second spot so would miss out on the knockout stages of both competitions.

Pool 4

Pundits love a group of death and while Aironi have not contributed in any way, failing to secure so much as a bonus point, all three of the other teams has pretty much an even chance of progression. Ulster's position atop the pool is a slightly misleading because they alone have played the Italian province twice and must still face both their rivals and they have to beat Leicester at Ravenhill in the next round of matches to set up what would almost certainly be a winner-takes-all match against Clermont Auvergne. Leicester will, however, probably have to win with a bonus point in Belfast to have full control of their chances of topping the pool. They are currently only one point ahead of the French club who have the upper hand on them in their head-to-head and, if Leicester were to win in Ulster then Clermont would surely fancy their chances of securing bonus points in both their remaining matches.

As things stand Ulster would be in the Heineken quarter-finals, while Leicester would miss out on one of the two best runners-up spots on try count, so would go into the Amlin.

Pool 5

A combination of their own home and away wins over the Ospreys and Biarritz's slip against Treviso in Italy has put Saracens in the driving seat with the French club due to visit them next time around. Even if the French side produce an upset in that match they still face a tricky meeting with the Ospreys in their final match while, for all that Treviso are unbeaten at home so far, Saracens will surely win their final match in Italy.

As things stand Saracens would have qualified while Biarritz would join them since they are on 12 points, the same as Leicester and Harlequins, whom they lead on try count.

Pool 6

After being well beaten by the four-time champions at Twickenham the previous week, Harlequins salvaged their own pride and, in many ways, that of English rugby with their rousing performance in Toulouse at the weekend. On the face of it, that has blown the pool wide open, but having a one-point advantage and the better of their head-to-head encounters with the English champions league leaders it is still very much in Toulouse's control. They will fully expect to win with a bonus point when Connacht visit next while Harlequins are engaged in an English derby with a Gloucester team that has kindled a little hope of involvement in the knockout stages of at least one of Europe's competitions and it is also hard to see Toulouse slipping up in Gloucester in the final round when everything is on the line.

As things stand Toulouse would be through to the last eight with Harlequins just missing out on try count."

Beshocked,

If the tie is between 2 teams in the same group they look at the head to head between them.

(1) Group points gained in the 2 games ie 4 for a win, LBP, TBP etc.

(2) Tries scored

(3) Points difference.

If teams from different pools are tied it goes to

(a) the number of tries scored in all Pool matches.
(b) aggregate points difference from all Pool matches.
(c) the Club with the fewest number of players sent off and / or suspended in all Pool matches.
(d) toss of a coin.

Thanks MrsP.

Time to rack up some tries then. Hardly a Saracens strong point.