Battle Is On For Runners-Up Positions

Since then, no team has qualified as a best runner-up with less than 19 points, although during the 2003/04 campaign, Celtic Warriors, and in 2006/07, the Ospreys, both found that 20 points was not sufficient to make the knockout stage.

The sides (with current names) who have qualified as best runners-up are:

SEASON/TEAM/WINS/BONUS POINTS/POINTS –

1999/00
London Wasps 5 – 10
Clermont Auvergne 4 – 8

2000/01
Swansea 4 – 8
Pau 4 – 8

2001/02
Munster 5 – 10
Scarlets 4 – 8

2002/03
Munster 4 – 8
Biarritz Olympique 4 – 8

2003/04
Gloucester 5 4 (T 4) 24
Edinburgh 5 2 (T 2) 22

2004/05
Northampton Saints 5 1 (T 1) 21
Leicester Tigers 4 3 (T 2, L 1) 19

2005/06
Sale Sharks 5 3 (T 3) 23
Leinster 4 6 (T 4, L 2) 22

2006/07
Munster 5 3 (T 2, L 1) 23
Northampton Saints 4 4 (T 4) 20

2007/08
Perpignan 5 2 (T 2) 22
Ospreys 5 1 (T 1) 21

2008/09
Toulouse 4 (+ 1 draw) 2 (T 1, L 1) 20
Ospreys 4 4 (T 2, L 2) 20

2009/10
Ospreys 4 (+ 1 draw) 2 (T 2) 20
Northampton Saints 4 3 (T 2, L 1) 19

2010/11
Ulster 5 2 (T 2) 22
Leicester Tigers 4 (+ 1 draw) 4 (T 3, L 1) 22

2011/12
Cardiff Blues 5 1 (T 1) 21
Ulster 4 4 (T 4, L 1) 20

(T = Try bonus; L = Losing bonus)

Here are some quarter-final pointers since runners-up and bonus points came into the Heineken Cup qualification equation:

– No team has qualified as a pool winner with less than four wins

– Since bonus points were introduced, no team has qualified as a pool winner with less than 17 points. Toulon topped Pool 3 with 17 points in 2010/11

– No side has qualified as one of the best runners-up with less than four wins

– Since bonus points were introduced, no side has qualified as one of the best runners-up with less than 19 points

– Leicester Tigers in 2004/05 and Northampton Saints in 2009/10 each qualified as best runners-up on 19 points

The maximum points and wins attainable by each team on current pool standings are:

POOL 1

Saracens – 24 points / 5 wins
Racing Metro 92 – 22 points / 5 wins
MUNSTER – 21 points / 4 wins
Edinburgh Rugby – 10 points / 2 wins

POOL 2

Leicester Tigers – 24 points / 5 wins
Toulouse – 23 points / 5 wins
Ospreys – 19 points / 4 wins
Benetton Treviso – 11 points / 2 wins

POOL 3

Harlequins – 29 points / 6 wins
Biarritz Olympique – 19 points / 4 wins
CONNACHT – 18 points / 4 wins
Zebre – 10 points / 2 wins

POOL 4

ULSTER – 25 points / 5 wins
Castres Olympique – 22 points / 5 wins
Northampton Saints – 20 points / 4 wins
Glasgow Warriors – 12 points / 2 wins

POOL 5

Clermont Auvergne – 28 points / 6 wins
LEINSTER – 20 points / 4 wins
Exeter Chiefs – 19 points / 4 wins
Scarlets – 12 points / 2 wins

POOL 6

Toulon – 28 points / 6 wins
Montpellier – 23 points / 5 wins
Sale Sharks – 14 points / 3 wins
Cardiff Blues – 11 points / 2 wins