Champions Cup Round 5 Match Reports
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Three late tries send Racing 92 into quarter-finals
Three tries in the final nine minutes helped Racing 92 secure a 39-22 win over Munster Rugby on Sunday afternoon in Paris, securing their spot in the Champions Cup quarter-finals in the process.
Munster dominated the opening 20 minutes and nudged into a 9-0 lead with a trio of successful penalty kicks from JJ Hanrahan. Full report
Northampton survive massive scare to overcome plucky Benetton
But the scoreline does not tell the full story as the Italian side led 20-19 with 15 minutes remaining before the Saints extra power eventually told. Full report
Leinster Rugby collected another bonus point success in Champions Cup Pool 1 as they comfortably defeated Lyon 42-14 at The RDS on Sunday afternoon.
The hosts dominated the early proceedings and scored a try after 10 minutes when Ross Byrne played a lovely cross-field kick to James Lowe who popped inside to Dave Kearney for the simple score. Full report
Gloucester keep quarter-final hopes alive
Gloucester Rugby kept their Champions Cup quarter-final hopes alive with a 29-6 bonus point win over Montpellier in Pool 5 on Saturday night at Kingsholm.
After a quiet opening 20 minutes, the hosts were pinged for holding on at the breakdown and that allowed Francois Steyn the chance to put Montpellier ahead from the kicking tee and he did just that with the opening three-pointer. Full report
Exeter clinch last eight spot with dramatic draw
Exeter Chiefs secured a spot in the Champions Cup quarter-finals after a thrilling 31-31 draw with Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun.
Glasgow made a perfect start and scored a try in the opening minute. It was great play by Tommy Seymour who chipped over the final Exeter defender and collected his kick to score in the corner. Full report
Four-time winners Toulouse qualified for the Champions Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, when they hit back from conceding an early try to score three of their own at a packed Sportsground.
Nine points clear at the top of Pool 5 before kick-off, the French club made it five wins from five rounds, scoring five-pointers through skipper Jerome Kaino, hooker Julien Marchand and centre Pita Ahki, all of which Thomas Ramos converted. Full report
Clermont dominate second half to see off Ulster
ASM Clermont Auvergne put in a terrific second half display to defeat Ulster Rugby 29-13 and secure a Champions Cup quarter-final spot.
It was a superb start for Ulster through Stuart McCloskey who picked a gap in the Clermont line and they got a metre or two away from the line before the hosts were penalised for going off feet at the breakdown. Full report
An immaculate goal-kicking display from Manu Vunipola allied to a superb try from Alex Lewington enabled Saracens to keep alive their hopes of qualifying for the quarter-finals from Pool 4 of the Heineken Champions Cup on Saturday.
Despite having prop Rhys Carre sent off in the fourth minute, the defending champions leapfrogged over Munster Rugby into second place with a hard-fought win at Ospreys and piled the pressure on the Irish province for their match at leaders Racing 92 on Sunday. Full report
La Rochelle scrum-half Tawera Kerr-Barlow put in a terrific performance as the French side defeated Sale Sharks 30-23 on Friday night at Stade Marcel Deflandre.
The English side got off to a great start after a clever kick from Sam James allowed the visitors to set up a driving maul and three phases later, Jean-Luc Du Preez went over at the posts. Full report
Harlequins on top against Bath after scintillating scrap
Harlequins came out on top against Bath Rugby in a highly entertaining Pool 3 match that resulted in three tries apiece.
Bath were fastest out of the blocks, with Walker running in the first try after five minutes and Freddie Burns adding the extras. Full report
