It’s been an extremely successful eight days for the Irish provinces as the three Champions Cup contenders completed a historic double-treble over English opposition.
Leinster, Ulster and Munster won their six games in the back-to-back double headers for the first time in the competition's history.
It’s the kind of achievement that serves as a counterpoint to the moneybags theory of modern rugby and shows that those without the deepest pockets can still compete.
Whether that trend continues in the medium to long term remains to be seen but within the provinces there’s an ingredient that can’t be bought, and Leo Cullen, Les Kiss and Johann van Graan can reflect on jobs well done as they prepare for the Pro14 Christmas schedule.
There are, of course, eight quarter-final places up for grabs, with home games for the four best pool-toppers, and a trip away for the group winners with the lowest return.
Five of the second-place finishers must battle it out for the three remaining knock-out places with two runners-up bowing out.
Leinster
Leinster are in pole position to claim one of the home berths.
Cullen’s men have won four from four and have 18 points in Pool 3. They are five points clear of Montpellier and the double over Exeter all but ends the English champions’ hopes.
The three-time champions will expect nothing less than five points against out-of-contention Glasgow in the next round.
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If they achieve that target in the RDS then a single point – four tries or a defeat by seven or less – in the final round away to Montpellier will mean top spot regardless of results elsewhere.
Clermont are the only other side with 18 points after four rounds so that scenario would probably be enough for a home quarter final for the Blues.
Munster
Munster’s double over Leicester leaves them top of Pool 4 on 15 points, four clear of Racing, whom they face in the next round.
The southern province took four points from the Thomond Park fixture, while the Paris club claimed a losing bonus point.
That could prove crucial as, should the sides end level at the end of the pool stages, it will come down to match-points gained from their two clashes.
After that it boils down to aggregate scores from the games and then match tries.
Restricting Racing to fewer than four tries and taking a losing bonus point will be deemed a job well done.
Castres' chances are slim as they sit on just seven points, with the Tigers one behind.
That fact means that Van Graan’s men will eye a bonus-point win in round six at Thomond, a realistic target given how the French sides generally approach away games when they are out of contention.
Racing’s last game is away to Tigers.
Ulster
Ulster’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions Cup quarter-finals received a boost after Wasps beat La Rochelle at the Ricoh Arena.
The result means that Ulster's destiny is now in their own hands: two wins from their two remaining games, while stopping the French side claiming a bonus point when they meet in the next round on 12 January, it would be enough to top Pool 1.
The Top 14 side, who had taken maximum points from their three games to date, still top the table but the 21-3 loss means that they remain just two points ahead of Les Kiss’s team.
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Wasps, meanwhile, move to 10 points, three behind Ulster, but failed to pick up a bonus point in the victory.
La Rochelle will still be favourites to top the group but defeat in Ulster without a bonus point would change the shape of the pool.
La Rochelle host out-of-contention Harlequins in round six but should Ulster, who beat Quins 52-24 on Friday, take four points off them it will set up a fascinating clash away to Wasps, where a win would see Ulster finish top.
Connacht
Connacht, meanwhile, remain on course for top spot and a home quarter-final in Challenge Cup Pool 5.
They have 19 points after four rounds.
Only Edinburgh in Pool 4 have more points at this stage, 20, while Pool 3 toppers Pau also have 19.
Kieran Keane’s side face Worcester away and host Oyonnax in their remaining fixtures.
