Former European Cup champions Leinster ensured there would be at least one Irish representative in the last eight of the rugby tournament as they crushed English side Saracens 43-20 on Saturday.
Leinster, the 2009 winners, took an offensive bonus point and lead French outfit Clermont by five points going into next weekend’s final pool matches. They also edge the French champions on head to head meetings.
Leinster head coach Joe Schmidt immediately targeted a home quarter-final, which they would earn if they beat Racing Metro on Friday.
“I’m delighted to get the result we did and delighted with some of the play that we managed to construct and finish to get the six tries,” Schmidt said.
“I guess the reality is next week is a whole different ball game. It’s a six day turnaround and there are a number of things we still need to work on.
“We know we have to win in Paris to get a quarter-final back home. We will certainly endeavour to do that.”
Another Irish province, Ulster, also secured a crucial win with a 9-6 home triumph over French outfit Biarritz.
Ian Humphreys – whose elder brother David inspired Ulster to their 1999 success in the competition – kicked a late penalty to grab the points in the Pool 4 match.
Ulster can secure their place in the last eight for the first time since the 1999 success should they beat Italian side Aironi, thrashed earlier on Saturday by Bath, with a bonus point next weekend and hope Biarritz slip-up against Bath.
Defending champions Toulouse beat Welsh side Newport 17-3 at home to maintain their lead in Pool 6, but, should Wasps beat Glasgow on Sunday, they would face a pool-topping decider in England next weekend.
The runners-up in that pool, however, should take one of the two best runners-up spots available for the quarter-finalists.
Perpignan went to the top of Pool 5 after running out 44-9 winners at Italian outfit Treviso, who briefly threatened to repeat their shock victory over the same opponents the previous time they met in Italy when they were tied at 9-9.
Perpignan are tied on 17 points with two-time winners Leicester, who ran out 32-18 winners over the Scarlets in Llanelli, but the English side will be confident of overhauling the points difference of two when they host whipping boys Treviso next week.
Saracens were given a way back into their match in the 25th minute, after Leinster had eased into a 12-0 lead, as Irish and Lions international winger Luke Fitzgerald’s wild pass was snapped up by James Short.
Although Fitzgerald – who had received a late call-up to the starting XV after Gordon D’Arcy was ruled out with a calf strain – gave chase it was too late as the Saracens back ran in under the posts to touch down.
Owen Farrell – the 19-year-old son of first team coach and former rugby league great Andy – converted to leave the hosts only five points ahead in a half when the 80 kilometres an hour wind was in their favour.
Ireland fly-half Jonathan Sexton made it 15-7 three minutes later as he converted a penalty.
However, Saracens struck back with a second try just after the half hour mark as a beautifully worked move down the right saw Kelly Brown run the ball in.
Kicking into the wind, Farrell failed to convert and was then replaced by Wales centre Gavin Henson, coming on for his fourth appearance for the English side since a 21-month break from the game.
Leinster dug deep and scored their third try of the half with the half-time break approaching as Dominic Ryan bundled his way over for his second of the opening period, the try having been set up by a great break by fellow tryscorer No 8 Sean O’Brien, who was playing because Jamie Heaslip was injured.
The Irish province, though, showed their class in the second-half to score a try early on through Fergus McFadden to guarantee the all-important bonus point and followed up with further tries by Isa Nacewa and then young replacement Eoin O’Malley with his try in the competition.
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