▁at ▁home ▁and ▁away ▁in ▁the ▁group ▁stage , ▁beginning ▁on ▁the ▁week end ▁of ▁ 1 2 / 1 3 / 1 4 ▁October ▁ 2 0 1 7 , ▁and ▁continu ing ▁through ▁to ▁ 1 9 / 2 0 ▁January ▁ 2 0 1 8 , ▁before ▁the ▁pool ▁w inners ▁and ▁three ▁best ▁run ners - up ▁progress ed ▁to ▁the ▁quarter ▁final s . ▁ ▁Teams ▁are ▁awarded ▁competition ▁points , ▁based ▁on ▁match ▁result . ▁Teams ▁receive ▁ 4 ▁points ▁for ▁a ▁win , ▁ 2 ▁points ▁for ▁a ▁draw , ▁ 1 ▁attack ing ▁bonus ▁point ▁for ▁scoring ▁four ▁or ▁more ▁tries ▁in ▁a ▁match ▁and ▁ 1 ▁def ensive ▁bonus ▁point ▁for ▁losing ▁a ▁match ▁by ▁seven ▁points ▁or ▁fewer . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁event ▁of ▁a ▁tie ▁between ▁two ▁or ▁more ▁teams , ▁the ▁following ▁tie - break ers ▁will ▁be ▁used , ▁as ▁directed ▁by ▁E PC R : ▁ ▁Where ▁teams ▁have ▁played ▁each ▁other ▁ ▁The ▁club ▁with ▁the ▁greater ▁number ▁of ▁competition ▁points ▁from ▁only ▁matches ▁involving ▁tied ▁teams . ▁ ▁If ▁equal , ▁the ▁club ▁with ▁the ▁best ▁aggregate ▁points ▁difference ▁from ▁those ▁matches . ▁ ▁If ▁equal , ▁the ▁club ▁that ▁scored ▁the ▁most ▁tries ▁in ▁those ▁matches . ▁ ▁Where ▁teams ▁remain ▁tied ▁and / or ▁have ▁not ▁played ▁each ▁other ▁in ▁the ▁competition ▁( i . e . ▁are ▁from ▁different ▁po ols ) ▁ ▁The ▁club ▁with ▁the ▁best ▁aggregate ▁points ▁difference ▁from ▁the ▁pool