You can lose all your matches and not be eliminated (yet).
This is the case of Racing 92, defeated three times out of three in this Champions Cup, the old European Cup with a convoluted formula and not only because it is no longer European since it welcomes southern teams -African.
Thanks to the 3 bonus points gleaned despite the defeats, Racing 92 can still qualify for the round of 16, since 4 places out of 6 per group are qualifying.
The Ciel et Blanc are currently 5th in group 2.
For Stuart Lancaster's players, they will have to win at home this Saturday (4:15 p.m.) against Cardiff and hope that in the 2 p.m. match, the Harlequins, already qualified, win at home against Ulster, 4th in the ranking with 5 points.
Racing 92 will therefore be determined at the start of their match on what they must do to get past the Irish.
If Ulster lost in London, a victory for the Ile-de-France residents over Cardiff, with or without bonuses, will be enough.
If the Irish drew, it will take a victory with an offensive bonus for Racing to advance.
But if the Irish win, it will be the end of Racing's hopes of continuing the adventure in the Champions Cup.
Their only meager consolation prize would be, in the event of a victory over Cardiff, to retain their 5th place, which would put them back in the Challenge Cup, the less prestigious little sister of the Champions Cup.
For this high-stakes match, Stuart Lancaster has chosen to field a big team, including 4 of the 5 French internationals who will join the Blues on Monday to prepare for the regular Six Nations Tournament: Cameron Woki in the 2nd row, the hinge Nolann Le Garrec-Antoine Gibert, and Gaël Fickou in the center.
Only right pillar Thomas Laclayat is not in the group.
“I think this summons reflects the work they have done.
It’s fantastic to have five Racing 92 players in the French team,” said Stuart Lancaster.
But before the Blues, they must qualify the Ciel et Blanc.
Racing 92 - Cardiff
Referee: Mr. Ridley (ENG)
Racing 92:
Tedder - Wade, Fickou (cap.), Tabuavou, Imhoff - (o) Gibert, (m) Le Garrec - Kolisi, Kamikamica, Diallo - Rowlands, Woki - Nyakane, Chat, Kolingar.
Substitutes: Tarrit, Ben Arous, Kharaishvili, Sanconnie, Baudonne, Le Bail, Klemenczak, Taofifenua.
Cardiff:
Beetham - Summerhill, Lee-Lo, Thomas, Grady - (o) de Beer, (m) Williams - Jenkins (cap.), Martin, Mann - Thornton, Williams - Assiratti, Daniel, Carre.
Subs: Hughes, Barratt, Litterick, Davies, Timani, Young, Bevan, Lane.