1
How do the Heineken Champions Cup pools stack up on the RugbyPass Index?
By Alex Shaw
According to the RugbyPass Index (RPI), Pool 2 of the Heineken Champions Cup, is set to be the ‘Pool of Death’ this season.
With a combined score between the four clubs of 266, the quartet of Castres, Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester and Munster make the pool, on paper, the strongest in the competition.
Exeter and Munster lead the way with scores of 72, with reigning Top 14 champions Castres sitting on 63. Unfortunately for Gloucester, their score of 49 doesn’t leave them too much hope of emerging from the pool, but they are set to welcome Franco Mostert and Jaco Kriel to XV, which should help boost their chances.
As for the most competitive pool, that accolade falls to Pool 4, which consists of Leicester Tigers, Racing 92, Scarlets and Ulster.
Leicester, the lowliest ranked team, and Racing, the highest ranked team, are separated by just 13 points on the RPI. Racing (65) are closely followed by Scarlets, who are at 62, whilst Leicester’s 52 is not far behind Ulster’s 54. With so little separating all four teams, every penalty, try and tackle could matter in Pool 4.
Continue reading below...
Watch: Johnny Sexton discusses Leinster's Champions Cup defence
The pool with the least quality, per the RPI, is Pool 5.
Montpellier lead the way with 63, followed by Toulon at 57, Edinburgh at 55 and finally Newcastle Falcons on 42. It is the only pool in the competition without multiple teams rated at 60 or above and its combined total of 217 is 17 points less than the next worst pool, Pool 5.
Pool 3 sits in second spot to Pool 2 in terms of overall quality, with Cardiff Blues (56), Glasgow Warriors (61), Lyon (69) and Saracens (72) boasting a combined total of 258, just eight points off of Pool 2’s total.
If you’re looking for a team to dominate a group, then look no further than Pool 1, where Leinster, the highest ranked team in the competition at 75, have a 16-point advantage over their nearest rivals Toulouse (59). The two other sides in Pool 1, Bath and Wasps, sit at 45 and 57 respectively.
Check out all the latest movements on the RPI by clicking here.
In other news: Connacht set for €30m redevelopment for the Sportsground.
Trending on RugbyPass
2
Stuart Hogg addresses rumours of rugby return
3
Nigel Owens has final say on URC's most controversial game
4
OTD – Declan Kidney takes step up into Test rugby
5
Latest Comments
I still see nothing in Sotutus play that hes changed his upright running style that failed so many times against decent international defences like the french. Other than that… Iose? Well you have covered his limitations well. If Sititi had been playing the the season… Jacobson? Grace?…Neither shout pick me. So Ardie it is.
Go to commentsThere isn’t one element you mentioned there that every top class or successful team gets up to. The great All blacks sides used to play on the ‘fringes or edge’ but it was essentially saying they were doing something illegal or borderline to gain dominance. The fine margins at the top are minute between the top sides. La Rochelle, the crusaders, Saracens, Toulon etc etc…..have all been accused. Get over it, the comment comes across as salty and naive. Northampton as well as they played to get back into the match were thoroughly beaten and controlled for 60 minutes and Leinster have only themselves to blame for kicking it away and hence losing control of the match and being nearly the architects of their own downfall.
Go to comments