How things stand in Pool 3 of the Investec Champions Cup with two rounds remaining.
The top four in each six-team pool progress to the last 16 of Europe’s premier club competition, with the fifth-placed team dropping down to the EPCR Challenge Cup.
Pool 3 features the unbeaten Stormers who sit level with Leinster with nine points. Both teams have won their two opening fixtures, with the Cape Town-based outfit top by virtue of a +5 points difference.
It is not just in the Champions Cup where the Stormers are setting the standard. John Dobson’s side are also eight from eight in the Vodacom URC, and together with Leinster, are almost assured a spot in the Champions Cup last 16.
What is up for grabs is coveted home advantage for the playoffs and Dobson and the rest of the coaching team have made no secret that that is what they are targeting.
READ: Stormers hungry to beat ‘desperate’ Harlequins
In third place on six points are struggling Harlequins, followed by La Rochelle on five. The Leicester Tigers surprisingly, and less so, Bayonne, both have zero points after the two opening rounds and have plenty to do to make the playoffs.
In round three, the Stormers travel to the Twickenham Stoop to take on Harlequins who are on a horrendous run of form which prompted top management to issue a rare public statement calling for patience and support.
ALSO: Stormers take on Harlequins team in crisis
The Stormers finish the pool stage by hosting Leicester next week.
Leinster face French opposition in their final two pool matches in La Rochelle (who thrashed Toulon 66-0 in the French Top 14 last weekend) and Bayonne.
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Elsewhere in round-three action, the two bottom clubs, Leicester and Bayonne, do battle.
Photo: Cole Cruickshank/Gallo Images
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