The top two teams in all six pools play each other twice before Christmas. But it could lead to dead games in January according to The Guardian's Rob Kitson.
"Perfect symmetry is rare in rugby union. Not this week. The middle fortnight of the Heineken Cup pool stages is always significant but the tournament is about to witness something unique. By a quirk of fate, the top two teams in all six pools will be playing each other home and away in rounds three and four. It is more than possible a number of pools will be virtually settled by Christmas.
"This is unusual to say the least. Traditionally, supporters are still sweating on pool winners entering the final minute of the final games in January. This time around six clubs – Scarlets or Munster, Edinburgh or Cardiff Blues, Leinster or Bath, Leicester or Clermont Auvergne, Saracens or Ospreys, and Toulouse or Harlequins – could secure near-certain quarter-final qualification way ahead of schedule if they achieve successive wins this weekend and next.
"It clearly remains a big "if". The beauty of Europe is that beating Toulouse, say, on a Friday night in south-west London is absolutely no guarantee of doing likewise on the banks of the river Garonne the following week. Last season six teams out of 24 managed to achieve a home-and-away double at this stage of the competition. The previous year it was seven. Would you bet on Bath beating Leinster home and away inside seven days? Thought not."
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