So Saracens are into their first ever Heineken Cup final, while last season's beaten finalists Clermont - the nearly men who lost 10 French finals before eventually winning the title - add another near-miss to their long list of failures.

That's got to be deflating for the team sponsored by Michelin tyres (you knew it was coming).

For fans from across the pond, you've always got Toulon tomorrow as the defending champions - English spine and all - face European powers Munster in Marseille.

Join me then.

They'll be dancing in the streets of north west London - that bit near the bottom of the M1 anyway - tonight after that record-breaking performance.

"I can't believe what I've just seen," writes one Saracens fan who was at Twickenham, and they'll not be alone in that.

Thomas Hall: , externalIncredible afternoon at Twickenham. Best performance I've ever seen from @Saracens. The whole team were outstanding.

Gilad Lipschitz:, external Stuart Lancaster has to select Chris Ashton for New Zealand after that excellent performance today #bbcrugby

Jacques Burger may have won man of the match, but once again it is Chris Ashton who will be making the headlines after his try double.

Nigel Farage might be the only right winger to divide current opinion more than Ashton, and some will always doubt his defence at the top level, but he was bang in form today, hunting the ball right across the pitch to become the Heineken Cup's all-time highest try scorer in a season with 11.

Nathan Daniels:, external Saracens have been noticeably better than the quarters against 14-man Ulster - playing fluid, attacking rugby is the way to go!

David Hunt:, external Great preparation for Clermont coach Vern Cotter. He's got a lot more scores like this to come when he takes charge of Scotland.

Nick Kennedy
England and Harlequins lock on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

Image source, Getty Images

"That's one the best English displays in Europe for years and years. Saracens have embarrassed Clermont."

Saracens to win by 40 points in the semi-final? As Matt Dawson would have said, you're having a giraffe (yes, he really does say that sort of thing).

Yes, the luck may have been on their side initially, but once they got the bit between their teeth Sarries were magnificent. Their defence had more teeth than an American soap opera and their attack was as clinical as an operating theatre.

Whether it's Toulon or Munster in the final in Cardiff next month, Saracens will fear no-one.

Nick Kennedy
England and Harlequins lock on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"Just such slick handling from the Saracens players. It's such a joy to watch."

Yet another turnover, yet another try - that's six now.

Up until last year Tim Streather was playing in the second-tier Championship for Nottingham, now he's a try scorer in a Heineken Cup semi-final. Remarkable - as is the kicking of Alex Goode as he lands another conversion from the touchline.

Nick Kennedy
England and Harlequins lock on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"This is champagne rugby from Saracens."

Humiliation for Clermont, exultation for Saracens. Chris Ashton - have I mentioned he's had quite a good game - bursts through midfield and finds the support wide on the left with a fine pass. Simple hands feed Chris Wyles on the overlap and the American international skates in at the corner.

Alex Goode's kicking has been near perfect and he slots the conversion.

We're into the final 10 minutes and it comes as no great surprise that Jacques Burger has been named man of the match. A tackling machine the Namibian, and his fellow Southern African Schalk Burger was not far behind him. They're now sitting on the bench savouring the thought of a Heineken Cup final in Cardiff next month.

Nick Kennedy
England and Harlequins lock on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"Last season Chris Ashton was taking a lot of criticism. He was in the England squad and was facing accusations of losing his spark. But now he's the record try scorer in the Heineken Cup in one season. It's a great way to answer the critics and I'm so glad for him."

Two today, 11 overall - Chris Ashton is now the all-time record try scorer in Heineken Cup history.

Yet another tackle from Jacques Burger leads to a turnover and Marcelo Bosch once more pins Clermont back into the corner.

They try to counter, Schalk Brits lassooes his man and Ashton's eyes light up. The winger hacks ahead, puts boot to ball again and happily flops onto it to score. Job done, Cardiff here they come.

Nick Kennedy
England and Harlequins lock on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"We have seen a couple of spells from Clermont, but apart from that they have been fairly quiet. As we enter the last 15 minutes I can't see them suddenly sparking into life and getting a few tries."

Image source, Getty Images

Charlie Carter:, external Bish. Bash. Bosch.

David Tomlinson:, external Saracens defence suffocating the life out of travel sick Clermont. Ashton in rude health, ready for trip to New Zealand.

And again. This time it's a turnover as the latest Clermont surge comes to an end at the hands of the Saracens back row at a ruck.

They are rapacious - open-side Jacques Burger alone has made 26 tackles and the rest are not far behind.

Clermont have all the desperate energy of a fly in a web, but the harder they struggle the deeper they find themselves in trouble as a series of forced passes, knock-ons and turnovers suck the life from them.

This time fly-half Brock James knocks on inside the Saracens 22, this is getting painful for the Frenchmen.

Nick Kennedy
England and Harlequins lock on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

"That was a brilliant kick. I wasn't sure it would make the distance because it was a lazy walk up. But three steps and it's over from 50 metres."