The Scarlets, Clermont and Leinster secured home quarter-finals in the European Champions Cup, while Toulon also booked their place in the playoffs on Saturday.
In a straight shootout for top spot in Pool 5, the Scarlets held on desperately to clinch a riveting 30-27 win over Toulon. The result sees the Scarlets secure a first home quarter-final and makes them the first Welsh side since 2012 to advance to the knockout stage.
Toulon’s losing bonus point secured them a quarter-final berth as one of the three best runners-up across the five pools.
The Scarlets led 27-21 after an action-packed first half. Captain Duane Vermeulen was outstanding for the visitors and scored one of their two tries.
Toulon outscored the Scarlets 6-3 in a compelling second half with Vermeulen, JP Pietersen and Juandré Kruger all playing starring roles. But in the end, their efforts weren’t enough as the Scarlets hung on for the win.
Staying in this pool, Bath defeated Treviso 47-28, but neither side qualified for the next round.
Clermont emerged as Pool 2 winners after beating the Ospreys 24-7. The outcome gave Clermont a home quarter-final and ended the Ospreys’ run in the competition.
Prop Vincent Koch crossed for one of seven tries as Saracens smashed the Northampton Saints 62-14 in London. The win keeps Saracens’ hopes of reaching the last eight alive, but because Clermont are the pool winners, the defending champions will need other results to go their way if they are to stay in the competition.
Leinster comfortably took out Pool 3 with a 23-14 win against Montpellier. And the bottom-feeders in this pool, the Glasgow Warriors, eliminated the Exeter Chiefs with a shock 28-21 victory.
The winners of Pool 1 and Pool 4 will be decided on Sunday.
Champions Cup results (Round 6):
Scarlets 30 Toulon 27
Treviso 28 Bath 47
Clermont 24 Ospreys 7
Saracens 62 Northampton 14
Leinster 23 Montpellier 14
Glasgow Warriors 28 Exeter Chiefs
Remaining fixtures (Sunday):
Leicester Tigers vs Racing 92
Munster vs Castres
Wasps vs Ulster
La Rochelle vs Harlequins
Photo: Geoff Caddick/Getty Images
