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| Friday, 14 February, 2003, 18:11 GMT Quarter-finals made clear ![]() Leinster are the only side with a 100% record The Heineken Cup's tortuous qualifying process is now complete and the identity of the eight quarter-finalists is clear. Sunday's matches at Bristol and London Irish confirmed the final qualifiers and the seeding that will decide who gets home advantage in the knock-out phase. Each pool winner and the two best runners-up qualify for the last eight.
Leinster will carry top seeding into the quarter-finals after beating Bristol on Sunday to emerge as the only side with a 100% record. Toulouse had been expected to match the Irish province's feat and be seeded one by virtue of their superior try count. But the French aristocrats slipped up at London Irish and so end up with third spot in the seedings. However, neither the French nor Irish side will be unhappy as the final shake-up ensures that neither will have to play rivals from their own country in the quarter-finals. The final home tie goes to Llanelli, who ended up tied with Toulouse on 10 points but having scored seven tries fewer.
And Northampton complete the top six line-up. Munster sneak into one of the runners-up spots, courtesy of their sensational victory over Gloucester. And Bristol's failure to upset Leinster leaves French champions Biarritz as the final qualifiers. |
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