If you’re already gone barmy working out permutations this weekend I apologise, but I just spotted an interesting fact in the Heineken Cup tie-breaking procedures, one that might affect the final decision between Munster and Leinster reaching the last eight if results go a certain way.
It’s very possible that they will finish level on both pool points and tries. That they also finish level on aggregate points difference, probably not so much, but let’s just say they do. It will then go down to disciplinary record, which INCLUDES citings and suspensions…which means it is theoretically possible that a citing hearing which results from something that happens this weekend COULD decide the fate of the eighth and final quarterfinal spot!!!
Can’t even BEGIN to imagine the build-up in the media (mainstream and social) to that hearing if it ever does happen, but here’s hoping it won’t! And don’t start me on the suspense if it goes to the toss of a coin!!!
HEINEKEN CUP POOL RANKING PROCEDURES
Four points for a win, two points for a draw (match points). A bonus point will be earned by a team scoring four or more tries and by a team losing by seven or less points.
The six Pool winners and two best placed runners-up will qualify for the quarter-finals and will be decided by the following criteria:
(i) the Pool winner will be the Club with the highest number of match points earned in each Pool. The runners-up will be the two second placed Clubs from all six Pools with the next highest number of points. For the quarter-final round, the Pool winners will be ranked 1 - 6 in terms of the number of points earned. The runners-up will be ranked 7 and 8.
Clubs in the same Pool:
(ii) if two or more Clubs are equal on points and the Clubs are in the same Pool, then qualification/ranking will be based on the matches played between the Clubs concerned:
(a) the Club which has earned the most number of match points from the matches
(b) the Club which has scored the most tries in the matches
(c) the Club with the best aggregate points difference from the matches
Clubs from different Pools:
(iii) if still unresolved, or the teams have not played each other previously in the Pool stage, qualification/ranking will be based on:
(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
