The line-up for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals has now been determined, and all eight clubs now know who they will have to beat for a place in the semis.

However, the weekend was not without controversy. Leicester Tigers were particularly aggrieved after a 16-man mix-up against Ospreys at the Liberty Stadium – it’s now expected that they will take action and appeal after they were eliminated from the competition.

Pool Three was always going to be the tightest of all six groups, but it was this unusual incident which has prompted the Leicester hierarchy to come out and call for an investigation. Although their hopes of being reinstated are slim, the Tigers have a valid reason to complain after Ospreys full-back Lee Byrne prevented them from scoring a try when he shouldn’t have been on the field of play.

For the meantime, Ospreys are the quarter-finalists and go through alongside Clermont Auvergne, who finished top of the group after inflicting a heavy 59-20 defeat over Viadana.

Munster and Northampton Saints both qualify from Pool One, even though the Guinness Premiership side were beaten 12-9 at Thomond Park. Ronan O’Gara’s four penalties sealed the Irish club’s fifth win from their six group matches and ensured their place at the top of the pool; while Saints qualify for the last eight as the second best runners-up – but face the daunting prospect of playing Munster again in the quarter-finals.

Biarritz got back to winning ways in Pool Two with a resounding 41-20 win against Glasgow Warriors and are now set to play Ospreys in the last eight – although Leicester supporters still cling on to hope that their club will be reinstated before April.

Meanwhile, Gloucester will have to make do with a place in the European Challenge Cup after other results failed to go in their favour. They bowed out on a high, though, with a convincing 32-23 away win at Newport-Gwent Dragons – their third consecutive European victory.

Elsewhere, there was a surprise in Pool Four as Stade Français were beaten at Murrayfield by Edinburgh. The Top 14 side still finish top of the group, but were downed by the spirited Scottish outfit, who gained revenge for October’s 31-7 hammering.

Stade will now play their part in a mouth-watering clash against three-time champions Toulouse in the last eight of the competition.

Ulster, though, miss out on a place in the last eight and even more frustratingly, a place in the quarter-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup – despite a 28-10 win against Bath – after other results failed to go their way. One more try would have been enough, but because both Cardiff and Gloucester sealed unlikely bonus-point victories, Ulster will now have to wait until next season before the play in Europe again.

Toulouse are seen by many as the most revered team still left in the tournament. A 19-13 away win against Sale Sharks on Sunday afternoon in Pool Five once again outlined their credentials as potential champions.

While Cardiff Blues secured a place in the European Challenge Cup latter stages with a quite brilliant 45-20 win at the Stoop against Harlequins, who ended up losing all six of their Heineken Cup group matches.  The Blues struggled early on but recovered superbly to record a bonus-point victory, scoring six tries in the process.

Clermont’s opponents will be the reigning champions, and Pool Six victors, Leinster. The Irish club drew 11-11 against London Irish at Twickenham – a draw which consequently consigns the Guinness Premiership outfit to elimination from all European competitions.

However, a 20-17 away win against group whipping-boys Brive, earned Magners League side Scarlets a place in the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

So, that’s it then. 24 have been whittled down to just eight, and the Heineken Cup now takes a three-month break before returning again in April. Expect even more breathtaking action and controversy when the latter stages get underway – who’s your favourite for glory?

Rob Swan