Published Friday, 20 January 2012
On Friday, Connacht beat Harlequins 9 -8 and Gloucester triumphed over Toulouse in the final Pool 6 match.
Those results mean Brian McLaughlin's side, who are hoping for their first win on French soil, still need a win in order to gain a home advantage and to decide who tops their pool.
Gloucester did Harlequins a huge favour in beating table toppers Toulouse, but Conor O'Shea's side blew their chances of winning the group and making sure of a quarter-final place as a nightmare scenario played out.
Niall O'Connor notched three penalty goals to push Connacht into a 9-5 half-time lead, however the hosts failed to take full advantage of a strong wind.
Sam Smith's eighth-minute try showed Harlequins' capabilities with ball in hand, but a single penalty from Nick Evans was all they could muster despite dominating possession and territory after the break.
The visitors elected to play into the elements in the first half, and pressure at scrum time on James Johnston yielded an early penalty which O'Connor stuck it over.
Meanwhile Gloucester boss Bryan Redpath hailed "a great performance" from his team after they stunned Heineken Cup heavyweights Toulouse at Kingsholm.
Four-time European champions Toulouse, though, still progress to the quarter-finals as Pool Six winners after Aviva Premiership leaders Harlequins lost by a point against Connacht in Galway.
"It was a great performance," said Redpath, following the 34-24 bonus point win.
"We knew they had picked a big, physical side and we showed them a lot of respect. I thought numbers one to 23 - our substitutes that came on made a big difference as well - were great.
"I am delighted for the boys because we finished off the Heineken Cup in style."