Saints out to make it unlucky 13 for Ulster

All three table-topping teams around Europe, are top of their respective Pools in the Heineken Cup and will be defending unbeaten runs through the opening two rounds.

The top two clubs in five of the six Heineken Cup Pools will go head-to-head in the key round 3 and 4 pre-Christmas back-to-back fixtures which traditionally go a long way to deciding the qualifiers for the tournament knockout stages.

Of the seven unbeaten clubs after the opening two rounds of the 2012/13 season, two find themselves ready to do battle in Pool 5, and reigning champions Leinster Rugby and ASM Clermont Auvergne have a long-standing Heineken Cup rivalry.

They met in last season's memorable semi-final at Stade Chaban Delmas in Bordeaux when Leinster dramatically edged the verdict 19-15, they clashed in the pool stages of the 2010/11 tournament in the same order as this season at Stade Marcel Michelin and the Aviva Stadium, and they were adversaries at the quarter-final stage in 2010 at the RDS in Dublin.

Although Leinster lead the series between the two clubs 5-1 dating back to 2002,
Clermont are in vintage form in Europe going into Sunday's eagerly anticipated Pool 5 contest, and are the only club with a maximum 10 points in the current competition.

High-scoring Saracens, who have registered victories over Edinburgh Rugby and
Racing Metro 92 to date, will be looking to maintain their lead at the top of Pool 1
when they take on two-time tournament winners, Munster Rugby, in the first of the back-to-back games at Thomond Park on Saturday.

In Pool 2, four-time champions, Toulouse, continue their quest for yet another
Heineken Cup success when they go up against Ospreys at Stade Ernest Wallon on Saturday. The clubs met in the back-to-back rounds in the 2003/04 season with Toulouse winning both contests 26-9 and 29-11.

Current Pool 6 toppers, Toulon, will play Sale Sharks for the first time in the Heineken Cup when the two go head-to-head at Salford City Stadium on Saturday.

WHO HAS DONE WHAT … SO FAR

POOL 1

MUNSTER 4th - PRO12
RD1 W Edinburgh 18-23 Munster
RD2 W Munster 19-6 Treviso
RD3 L Ulster 20-19 Munster
RD4 W Munster 33-13 Dragons
RD5 L Ospreys 30-15 Munster
RD6 L Leinster 30-21 Munster
HC1 L Racing 22-17 Munster
HC2 W Munster 33-0 Edinburgh
RD7 W Munster 29-3 Zebre
RD8 W Blues 18-24 Munster
RD9 L Munster 6-13 Scarlets
RD10 W Munster 31-3 Glasgow

RACING METRO 92 9th - Top 14
RD1 W Agen 20-24 Racing
RD2 L Racing 21-23 Toulon
RD3 W Racing 18-7 Bordeaux
RD4 L Clermont 13-12 Racing
RD5 W Bayonne 18-25 Racing
RD6 W Racing 13-12 Biarritz
RD7 L Grenoble 27-13 Racing
RD8 L Racing 12-16 Montpellier
HC1 W Racing 22-17 Munster
HC2 L Saracens 30-13 Racing
RD9 L Perpignan 17-13 Racing
RD10 L Toulouse 32-13 Racing
RD11 L Racing 16-17 Mont de Marsan
RD12 W Racing 23-15 Paris

SARACENS 2nd - Premiership
RD1 W Saracens 40-3 L Irish
RD2 W Sale 16-23 Saracens
RD3 D Saracens 9-9 Leicester
RD4 L Exeter 14-12 Saracens
RD5 W Harlequins 16-18 Saracens
RD6 W London Welsh 23-28 Saracens
HC1 W Edinburgh 0-45 Saracens
HC2 W Saracens 30-13 Racing
RD7 W Northampton 6-16 Saracens
RD8 W Saracens 29-24 Wasps
RD9 L Worcester 12-3 Saracens
RD10 W Saracens 28-23 Gloucester

EDINBURGH RUGBY 7th - PRO12
RD1 L Edinburgh 18-23 Munster
RD2 W Blues 19-21 Edinburgh
RD3 W Edinburgh 41-10 Zebre
RD4 L Leinster 22-16 Edinburgh
RD5 L Dragons 32-12 Edinburgh
RD6 L Edinburgh 22-27 Treviso
HC1 L Edinburgh 0-45 Saracens
HC2 L Munster 33-0 Edinburgh
RD7 L Edinburgh 28-29 Scarlets
RD8 L Ulster 45-20 Edinburgh
RD9 W Edinburgh 23-13 Ospreys
RD10 W Connacht 23-24 Edinburgh

POOL 2

OSPREYS 6th - PRO12
RD1 L Treviso 12-6 Ospreys
RD2 L Ospreys 13-16 Ulster
RD3 L Ospreys 10-28 Glasgow
RD4 W Scarlets 16-23 Ospreys
RD5 W Ospreys 30-15 Munster
RD6 W Zebre 16-34 Ospreys
HC1 W Ospreys 38-17 Treviso
HC2 L Leicester 39-22 Ospreys
RD7 W Ospreys 26-9 Connacht
RD8 W Ospreys 19-10 Leinster
RD9 L Edinburgh 23-13 Ospreys
RD10 W Ospreys 33-12 Blues

LEICESTER TIGERS 4th - Premiership
RD1 W L Welsh 13-38 Leicester
RD2 W Leicester 34-26 Worcester
RD3 D Saracens 9-9 Leicester
RD4 L Leicester 9-22 Harlequins
RD5 W Leicester 30-8 Exeter
RD6 W Sale 8-20 Leicester
HC1 L Toulouse 23-9 Leicester
HC2 W Leicester 39-22 Ospreys
RD7 L Gloucester 27-21 Leicester
RD8 W Leicester 16-12 Northampton
RD9 L Wasps 14-12 Leicester
RD10 W Leicester 17-12 Bath

BENETTON TREVISO 8th - PRO12
RD1 W Ospreys 12-6 Ospreys
RD2 L Munster 19-6 Treviso
RD3 L Treviso 18-19 Leinster
RD4 L Blues 34-18 Treviso
RD5 W Treviso 22-20 Scarlets
RD6 W Edinburgh 22-27 Treviso
HC1 L Ospreys 38-17 Treviso
HC2 L Treviso 21-33 Toulouse
RD7 L Treviso 13-24 Glasgow
RD8 L Connacht 18-3 Treviso
RD9 L Treviso 15-16 Ulster
RD10 W Treviso 32-13 Dragons

TOULOUSE 2nd - Top 14
RD1 W Toulouse 23-22 Castres
RD2 W Toulouse 37-22 Mont de Marsan
RD3 L Biarritz 22-17 Toulouse
RD4 W Toulouse 62-13 Agen
RD5 L Perpignan 34-20 Toulouse
RD6 W Bayonne 6-35 Toulouse
RD7 W Toulouse 32-9 Toulon
RD8 W Bordeaux 32-34 Toulouse
HC1 W Toulouse 23-9 Leicester
HC2 W Treviso 21-33 Toulouse
RD9 L Paris 28-24 Toulouse
RD10 W Toulouse 32-13 Racing
RD11 W Toulouse 27-9 Montpellier
RD12 W Toulouse 30-22 Clermont

POOL 3

CONNACHTRUGBY 10th - PRO12
RD1 L Connacht 9-13 Blues
RD2 W Zebre 17-30 Connacht
RD3 L Connacht 11-24 Scarlets
RD4 L Glasgow 27-17 Connacht
RD5 W Connacht 34-6 Leinster
RD6 L Ulster 25-0 Connacht
HC1 W Zebre 10-19 Connacht
HC2 L Connacht 22-30 Harlequins
RD7 L Ospreys 26-9 Connacht
RD8 W Connacht 18-3 Treviso
RD9 L Dragons 14-3 Connacht
RD10 L Connacht 23-24 Edinburgh

HARLEQUINS 1st - Premiership
RD1 W Wasps 40-42 Harlequins
RD2 W Harlequins 40-3 L Welsh
RD3 W Harlequins 37-14 Sale
RD4 W Leicester 9-22 Harlequins
RD5 L Harlequins 16-18 Saracens
RD6 L Exeter 42-28 Harlequins
HC1 W Harlequins 40-13 Biarritz
HC2 W Connacht 22-30 Harlequins
RD7 W London Irish 28-31 Harlequins
RD8 W Harlequins 28-25 Gloucester
RD9 L Bath 21-18 Harlequins
RD10 W Harlequins 22-19 Worcester

BIARRITZ OLYMPIQUE 7th - Top 14
RD1 W Biarritz 35-10 Mont de Marsan
RD2 W Agen 19-25 Biarritz
RD3 W Biarritz 22-17 Toulouse
RD4 W Biarritz 27-8 Montpellier
RD5 L Castres 28-13 Biarritz
RD6 L Racing 13-12 Biarritz
RD7 L Biarritz 15-16 Bayonne
RD8 L Biarritz 9-36 Toulon
HC1 L Harlequins 40-13 Biarritz
HC2 W Biarritz 38-17 Zebre
RD9 L Clermont 19-12 Biarritz
RD10 L Grenoble 34-21 Biarritz
RD11 W Biarritz 15-3 Perpignan
RD12 W Biarritz 25-22 Bordeaux

ZEBRE 12th - PRO12
RD1 L Dragons 37-6 Zebre
RD2 L Zebre 17-30 Connacht
RD3 L Edinburgh 41-10 Zebre
RD4 L Zebre 25-27 Ulster
RD5 L Glasgow 22-19 Zebre
RD6 L Zebre 16-34 Ospreys
HC1 L Zebre 10-19 Connacht
HC2 L Biarritz 38-17 Zebre
RD7 L Munster 29-3 Zebre
RD8 L Scarlets 22-13 Zebre
RD9 L Zebre 7-14 Blues
RD10 L Leinster 37-7 Zebre

POOL 4

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS 3rd - Premiership
RD1 W Gloucester 19-24 Northampton
RD2 W Northampton 24-21 Exeter
RD3 W Bath 14-18 Northampton
RD4 W Northampton 37-31 Worcester
RD5 W Northampton 24-6 Wasps
RD6 L L Irish 39-17 Northampton
HC1 W Northampton 24-15 Glasgow
HC2 L Castres 21-16 Northampton
RD7 L Northampton 6-16 Saracens
RD8 L Leicester 16-12 Northampton
RD9 W Northampton 23-16 London Welsh
RD10 W Sale 16-27 Northampton

CASTRES OLYMPIQUE 4th - Top 14
RD1 L Toulouse 23-22 Castres
RD2 W Castres 30-13 Grenoble
RD3 W Castres 31-10 Bayonne
RD4 D Paris 20-20 Castres
RD5 W Castres 28-13 Biarritz
RD6 L Toulon 33-12 Castres
RD7 L Montpellier 19-12 Castres
RD8 W Castres 16-13 Clermont
HC1 L Ulster 41-17 Castres
HC2 W Castres 21-16 Northampton
RD9 W Agen 14-22 Castres
RD10 W Castres 38-36 Perpignan
RD11 W Bordeaux 13-16 Castres
RD12 W Mont de Marsan 15-31 Castres

ULSTERRUGBY 1st - PRO12
RD1 W Ulster 18-10 Glasgow
RD2 W Ospreys 13-16 Ulster
RD3 W Ulster 20-19 Munster
RD4 W Zebre 25-27 Ulster
RD5 W Blues 19-48 Ulster
RD6 W Ulster 25-0 Connacht
HC1 W Ulster 41-17 Castres
HC2 W Glasgow 8-19 Ulster
RD7 W Dragons 19-46 Ulster
RD8 W Ulster 45-20 Edinburgh
RD9 W Treviso 15-16 Ulster
RD10 W Scarlets 12-19 Ulster

GLASGOW WARRIORS 5th - PRO12
RD1 L Ulster 18-10 Glasgow
RD2 L Glasgow 13-18 Scarlets
RD3 W Ospreys 10-28 Glasgow
RD4 W Glasgow 27-17 Connacht
RD5 W Glasgow 22-19 Zebre
RD6 W Blues 3-18 Glasgow
HC1 L Northampton 24-15 Glasgow
HC2 L Glasgow 8-19 Ulster
RD7 W Treviso 13-24 Glasgow
RD8 W Glasgow 37-6 Dragons
RD9 L Glasgow 0-6 Leinster
RD10 L Munster 31-3 Glasgow

POOL 5

CLERMONT AUVERGNE 3rd - Top 14
RD1 W Bayonne 6-13 Clermont
RD2 L Montpellier 13-8 Clermont
RD3 W Clermont 53-31 Perpignan
RD4 W Clermont 13-12 Racing
RD5 W Mont de Marsan 6-14 Clermont
RD6 W Clermont 44-20 Grenoble
RD7 W Clermont 28-25 Paris
RD8 L Castres 16-13 Clermont
HC1 W Clermont 49-16 Scarlets
HC2 W Exeter 12-46 Clermont
RD9 W Clermont 19-12 Biarritz
RD10 W Agen 11-18 Clermont
RD11 W Clermont 24-21 Toulon
RD12 L Toulouse 30-22 Clermont

LEINSTERRUGBY 3rd - PRO12
RD1 L Scarlets 45-20 Leinster
RD2 W Leinster 45-25 Dragons
RD3 W Treviso 18-19 Leinster
RD4 W Leinster 22-16 Edinburgh
RD5 L Connacht 34-6 Leinster
RD6 W Leinster 30-21 Munster
HC1 W Leinster 9-6 Exeter
HC2 W Scarlets 13-20 Leinster
RD7 W Leinster 59-22 Blues
RD8 L Ospreys 19-10 Leinster
RD9 W Glasgow 0-6 Leinster
RD10 W Leinster 37-7 Zebre

EXETER CHIEFS 6th - Premiership
RD1 W Exeter 43-6 Sale
RD2 L Northampton 24-21 Exeter
RD3 L L Welsh 25-24 Exeter
RD4 W Exeter 14-12 Saracens
RD5 L Leicester 30-8 Exeter
RD6 W Exeter 42-28 Harlequins
HC1 L Leinster 9-6 Exeter
HC2 L Exeter 12-46 Clermont
RD7 L Bath 23-15 Exeter
RD8 W Exeter 33-9 Worcester
RD9 W London Irish 23-27 Exeter
RD10 W Exeter 30-23 Wasps

SCARLETS 2nd - PRO12
RD1 W Scarlets 45-20 Leinster
RD2 W Glasgow 13-18 Scarlets
RD3 W Connacht 11-24 Scarlets
RD4 L Scarlets 16-23 Ospreys
RD5 L Treviso 22-20 Scarlets
RD6 W Scarlets 24-13 Dragons
HC1 L Clermont 49-16 Scarlets
HC2 L Scarlets 13-20 Leinster
RD7 W Edinburgh 28-29 Scarlets
RD8 W Scarlets 22-13 Zebre
RD9 W Munster 6-13 Scarlets
RD10 L Scarlets 12-19 Ulster

POOL 6

TOULON 1st - Top 14
RD1 W Perpignan 15-21 Toulon
RD2 W Racing 21-23 Toulon
RD3 W Mont de Marsan 15-29 Toulon
RD4 W Toulon 42-12 Bordeaux
RD5 W Montpellier 25-32 Toulon
RD6 W Toulon 33-12 Castres
RD7 L Toulouse 32-9 Toulon
RD8 W Biarritz 9-36 Toulon
HC1 W Toulon 37-16 Montpellier
HC2 W Blues 14-22 Toulon
RD9 W Toulon 59-0 Bayonne
RD10 W Toulon 24-19 Paris
RD11 L Clermont 24-21 Toulon
RD12 W Toulon 39-3 Grenoble

SALE SHARKS 12th - Premiership
RD1 L Exeter 43-6 Sale
RD2 L Sale 16-23 Saracens
RD3 L Harlequins 37-14 Sale
RD4 L Sale 19-29 L Welsh
RD5 L Bath 31-10 Sale
RD6 L Sale 8-20 Leicester
HC1 W Sale 34-33 Blues
HC2 L Montpellier 33-18 Sale
RD7 L Worcester 23-16 Sale
RD8 W Sale 21-9 London Irish
RD9 L Gloucester 29-3 Sale
RD10 L Sale 16-27 Northampton

MONTPELLIER 5th - Top 14
RD1 L Paris 32-16 Montpellier
RD2 W Montpellier 13-8 Clermont
RD3 W Montpellier 32-15 Agen
RD4 L Biarritz 27-8 Montpellier
RD5 L Montpellier 25-32 Toulon
RD6 W Bordeaux 15-23 Montpellier
RD7 W Montpellier 19-12 Castres
RD8 W Racing 12-16 Montpellier
HC1 L Toulon 37-16 Montpellier
HC2 W Montpellier 33-18 Sale
RD9 W Montpellier 23-6 Grenoble
RD10 W Montpellier 32-16 Mont de Marsan
RD11 L Toulouse 27-9 Montpellier
RD12 W Montpellier 29-22 Bayonne

CARDIFF BLUES 9th - PRO12
RD1 W Connacht 9-13 Blues
RD2 L Blues 19-21 Edinburgh
RD3 W Dragons 5-16 Blues
RD4 W Blues 34-18 Treviso
RD5 L Blues 19-48 Ulster
RD6 L Blues 3-18 Glasgow
HC1 L Sale 34-33 Blues
HC2 L Blues 14-22 Toulon
RD7 L Leinster 59-22 Blues
RD8 L Blues 18-24 Munster
RD9 W Zebre 7-14 Blues
RD10 L Ospreys 33-12 Blues