European Champions Cup Preview: Pool 3

The reigning champions of Europe, Toulon are on course to making it through to the quarter finals after winning their opening two games and sit top of pool three with 8 points. Behind them is Leicester and Scarlets who are level with 4 points each with Ulster occupying bottom spot with only 1 point after losing their opening two games.

Toulon travel to Welford Road to take on a Leicester side that know that defeat against the champions will put them on the brink of elimination. It all started so well for the Tigers who began with a fine win against Ulster but failed to make it two wins from two with a disappointing performance against Scarlets a week later with the Welsh side coming out on top. As for Toulon they returned to the top of the Top 14 with a win over Clermont at the weekend and will hope to secure a quarter final spot with two wins against the Tigers, starting with a win at Welford Road on Sunday.

Ulster go into Saturday’s game against Scarlets knowing that they have only a slim chance of qualifying for the quarter finals. After losing their opening two games the Irish province will need to win their remaining four games while also picking up bonus points on the way. The Scarlets can be happy with their opening two games where they fought valiantly in their defeat against Toulon and followed that up with a win against Leicester and will now hope to follow that up with a win at Ravenhill. This will be the second time these sides have met this season after a thriller of a game back in September with a late Andrew Trimble try securing a 32-32 draw for Ulster in the first round of games in the Guinness Pro12.