The Daily Telegraph - Sport

POOL ONE

- My original prediction: La Rochelle the only team to qualify.

This has been an absolutely sensationa­l pool, even if the quality has been mixed. We go into the final weekend with three teams harbouring realistic hopes of winning it.

La Rochelle have played the best rugby in the competitio­n, taking maximum points from their first three games. But their defeat at Wasps without a bonus point in round four means it is up for grabs once more.

However, La Rochelle will be fully confident of thumping Harlequins in round six, which means they should win the pool if they take a single bonus point at Ulster tomorrow. The Kingspan will be rocking and I fancy Ulster to win, but I also think La Rochelle will get the bonus point they need. That makes it a race for second, and you would expect Wasps to claim all five points at the Stoop. If they do then we will have a humdinger of a showdown at the Ricoh, and in that I would fancy Wasps to shut down their old mate Charles Piutau and claim second.

 ??  ?? New prediction: La Rochelle to win the pool and Wasps to qualify in second.
New prediction: La Rochelle to win the pool and Wasps to qualify in second.

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