Can't say I'm overjoyed with a Sunday afternoon kick off but its better than Thursday I suppose and should be suitable for families.

Also it gives us a bit more turnaround time after a hectic period of games which can't be bad.

La Rochelle on the Saturday of the following weekend to round off the pool.

18/01/2015 15:15 P2
Connacht Rugby v Exeter Chiefs
The Sportsground Sky Sports

Niiiiice

Jasus its exciting.. booked the trip but can't wait to hear what day so I can organise the rest of the trip!

EPCRugby‏@EPCRugby·1h1 hour ago
#EPCRChampionsCup Dates and kick-off times for Rounds 5 and 6 announced today at 2.00pm. #EPCRChallengeCup dates and KOs at 3.00

It has usually been an English team versus a (home) French team. Which would put us in the clear, but puts us in a bad spot for the away game v La Rochelle

Newcastle at home to Dragons might hold some interest for Thursday. Though not quite a winner take all, Newcastle essentially wins their pool with a win and a Dragons' win at least puts them in the driving seat.

clanman wrote:
I think it's highely unlikely it will be held on the Thursday evening, Exeter play London Irish in the Guinness Premiership on Sunday 11th.

even a friday match would be a very short turnaround.

I wouldn't be so sure: this is a winner takes all game involving an English team. Whichever of Sky and BT has the Thursday game that week will be all over this.

fatgav wrote: Is there a date for Connacht-Exeter yet? A couple of websites I've looked up have no kick off time, but suggest it will be the Thursday match (presumably for TV)

I think it's highely unlikely it will be held on the Thursday evening, Exeter play London Irish in the Guinness Premiership on Sunday 11th.

even a friday match would be a very short turnaround.

fatgav wrote: Is there a date for Connacht-Exeter yet? A couple of websites I've looked up have no kick off time, but suggest it will be the Thursday match (presumably for TV)

Nothing official yet. Waiting to hear about La Rochelle

Is there a date for Connacht-Exeter yet? A couple of websites I've looked up have no kick off time, but suggest it will be the Thursday match (presumably for TV)

Pool 1
London Irish 14
Cardiff Blues 14
Grenoble 10
Rovigo 1

Results
London Irish 34-23 Cardiff Blues
Rovigo 17-20 Grenoble

London Irish moved top of Pool 1 after an 11 point victory over Cardiff Blues on Saturday. Tries in either half for wing Andrew Fenby helped the exiles on their way to victory. Having led 16-13 at half time, London Irish pulled clear after the break to lead 34-16 with 3 tries in the bag. A late try for Gareth Anscombe who scored 18 points for Cardiff Blues gave them hope of a bonus point but neither side were able to secure an important bonus point. Crucially London Irish now lead the pool on the head to head over Cardiff having come out on top by 1 point over the two games and look set to clinch a home quarter final at the end of the Pool.

Grenoble kept their hopes alive following a narrow 3 point victory away to Rovigo in Italy. Despite only scoring 20 points the French side did collect a 4 try bonus, fighting back from a 12-5 half time deficit to keep their interest alive in the competition.

15-18 Jan: London Irish v Grenoble
After edging out Cardiff Blues in the December double header, London Irish will hope to move closer to winning their pool by picking up a bonus point win over Grenoble.

15-18 Jan: Cardiff Blues v Rovigo
With their chances of winning the pool having faded following their 11 point defeat to London Irish, Cardiff Blues will hope to keep their qualification hopes alive and keep the pressure on the Premiership side by picking up the maximum haul of points against their Italian visitors.

Pool 2
Exeter 16
Connacht 14
Bayonne 5
La Rochelle 4

Results
Exeter Chiefs 41-17 La Rochelle
Bayonne 27-29 Connacht

Pool 2 is a two horse race heading into the penultimate round. Exeter completed a maximum 10 point haul from their double header against La Rochelle. Exeter Chiefs had the bonus point secured by half time against their French visitors with Fetu'u Vainikolo making it tries in successive games having scored Exeter's 3rd after 26 minutes.

A much weakened Connacht side fought back from 14-3 and 27-16. Two tries from scrum half Caolin Blade proved decisive as Connacht put themselves back in control of their own destiny in the pool.

15-18 Jan: Connacht v Exeter Chiefs
With the winner of this match likely to win the pool, both sides will be eager to put their best foot forward.

15-18 Jan: Bayonne v La Rochelle
With both sides effectively out of the competition, both are likely to use it as a chance to rotate their squad.

Pool 3
Dragons 16
Newcastle 15
Stade Francais 10
Bucharest 1

Results
Stade Francais 31-24 Newcastle
Dragons 69-17 Bucharest

A try from hooker Remi Bonfils proved crucial in securing an entertaining 31-24 bonus point victory for Stade Francais over Newcastle. Stade led 24-14 at half time but Newcastle fought back to level during the 2nd half. However, while they picked up a losing bonus point, they lost control of top spot as Dragons made it 10 points from a possible 10 from their double header with Bucharest. Full back Tom Prydie scored 3 of their 11 tries in a 69-17 rout.

15-18 Jan: Newcastle v Dragons
After defeating Dragons at Rodney Parade in Round 2, Newcastle will be anxious to do the double over their Welsh visitors and go back top of the pool heading into the final round.

15-18 Jan: Stade Francais v Bucharest
With their bonus point victory over Newcastle having given them hope in the pool, Stade will expect to pick up another 5 points against their Romanian visitors.

Pool 4
Edinburgh 16
Bordeaux-Begles 11
Lyon 10
London Welsh 0

Results:
Lyon 37-28 Bordeaux-Begles
London Welsh 6-24 Edinburgh

Edinbugh remain one of just two sides unbeaten in the Challenge Cup after they made it 4 from 4 away to London Welsh on Sunday. Tries from Dougie Fife and Stuart McInally helped them shake off London Welsh who have now lost their opening 15 games in all competitions in what is proving a miserable return to the Premiership. Two tries from out-half Romain Loursac helped Lyon to their 2nd victory in the competition which in the process dented Bordeaux/Begles' hopes of progressing to the last 8.

15-18 Jan: Bordeaux-Begles v London Welsh
Bordeaux/Begles will hope to keep their hopes of qualification alive by securing a maximum return against bottom of the table London Welsh

15-18 Jan: Lyon v Edinburgh
Edinburgh will hope to maintain their unbeaten record in the competition against a Lyon side who have won both their home games in the competition to date.

Pool 5
Gloucester 19
Oyonnax 12
Zebre 4
Brive 2

Results:
Zebre 16-32 Gloucester
Oyonnax 22-17 Brive

Gloucester continued their march towards a home quarter final with a comfortable 32-16 win away to Zebre. Leading just 10-6 at half time, 3 tries in the 3rd quarter sealed the win for the Premiership side. Zebre pulled back two tries late on but it was too little too late.

Oyonnax completed a double over Brive with a 22-17 win on Saturday. However, their failure to secure a 4 try bonus may prove costly later in the pool with a trip to Kingsholm still to come.

15-18 Jan: Gloucester v Oyonnax
Gloucester will secure top spot in the pool with a win at home to 2nd place Oyonnax who need to try and get some return from the game to remain in contention for one of the best 2nd spot positions.

15-18 Jan: Zebre v Brive
With both sides out of contention in the competition, they are unlikely to risk many front-liners in this game. However, the match will present Zebre with a rare opportunity to secure a double, having beaten Brive in France earlier in the pool.

Good result for us tonight with Lyon beating Bordeaux/Begles by 37-28. What that means is that 18 points could well be enough to make the q/f as a best 2nd place team. It could easily be more or (its unlikely) 17 could even be enough. We have 10 in the bag so another 8 may be enough. We'd still be dependent on a couple of results elsewhere though.

I'm not getting in to it. I think everyone knows my view at this stage. We've had dozens of posts over and back on this i'm just setting out some permutations.

You really want this spot...?

swift4prez wrote: Great game between stade and Newcastle. Stade won 31 - 24. 5trys to 3

Unsure yet to see how this works out for connacht

Newcastle 15
Dragons 11
Stade 10
Buc 1

Also, I loved how biased sky sports got (which is fair enough) made it more enjoyable and got me shouting for Newcastle as the attacked into the 84th minute

I'd expect Newcastle to end up on 24. Dragons and Stade will probably decide the 2nd spot. Dragons probably on 16 or 17 going into the final game and Stade on 15. 20 or 21 points will I'd imagine be 2nd place in that pool.

We'll know a lot more by the end of the weekend but I'd expect Newcastle will get a home quarter final which is impressive for them. They haven't a huge amount to play for in the league so may give this a decent rattle.

Lyon and Bordeaux-Begles is the one I'd be keeping an eye on tomorrow. A win for Lyon there would give us a bit of leeway in terms of getting one of the best 2nd place positions if we don't win the pool.

Great game between stade and Newcastle. Stade won 31 - 24. 5trys to 3

Unsure yet to see how this works out for connacht

Newcastle 15
Dragons 11
Stade 10
Buc 1

Also, I loved how biased sky sports got (which is fair enough) made it more enjoyable and got me shouting for Newcastle as the attacked into the 84th minute