Summary

  • Northampton Saints thrash Bulls to reach Champions Cup semi-finals

  • Brilliant Saints score nine tries in dazzling victory at Franklin's Gardens

  • Northampton will travel to Dublin's Croke Park to face Leinster in May

  • Leinster crushed defending champions La Rochelle 40-13 to reach last four

  • Harlequins edged out Bordeaux-Begles 42-41 to make semi-finals for first time

  • They will face Toulouse or Exeter who play on Sunday

Live Reporting

Tim Oscroft

  1. try

    Try - Northampton 40-22 Bulls

    James Ramm

    That is a lovely move, the Saints going to the right from under the posts, switching it in and then out again to James Ramm who dives over.

  2. Northampton 35-22 Bulls

    A lovely chip through from Fin Smith gives Trevor Davison a chance to cross, but Bulls prop Mornay Smith gets there first.

    The Saints must have had a rocket from coach Sam Vesty at the break, as they look a different side to the one from the last 10 minutes before the break.

  3. 'What a play!'

    Tom Varndell
    Former England and Leicester wing on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    That was brilliant! Exactly the start they wanted. What a play! Some beautiful interplay by the backs and forwards working together.

  4. converted try

    Converted try - Northampton 35-22 Bulls

    Alex Coles (con: F Smith)

    Like I was saying...

    Tommy Freeman races clear and then feeds Alex Coles, and then we see the very modern sight of a lock forward rampaging to the line from around the 22.

    Alex ColesGetty Images

  5. Kick-off

    Northampton 28-22 Bulls

    Here we go, plenty more points in this one so strap yourselves in!

  6. 'I'd be livid with the lapses of concentration'

    Tom Varndell
    Former England and Leicester wing on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    I'd be livid if I was the Northampton coach. There were so many lapses of concentration and passes they should have held on to that have gifted tries to the Bulls.

    Northampton are trying too much too often, they took confidence from the first 20 minutes and thought the game was over.

    Forwards were getting in on the act, it was almost perfect rugby, but they've not been switched on defensively since then and it's given the Bulls the lift they needed.

    Fin SmithGetty Images

  7. Half-time

    Northampton 28-22 Bulls

    But that decision does not pay off, with the Bulls holding firm in the maul from the lineout. Saints knock the ball forward and the whistle blows.

    The Bulls look very happy with themselves - the momentum was with them in the last 10 minutes.

  8. Northampton 28-22 Bulls

    Tommy Freeman runs into traffic in midfield, then a high tackle on Juarno Augustus gives Saints a penalty.

    But they kick for the corner, rather than opt for the points.

  9. 'That try has changed the game'

    Tom Varndell
    Former England and Leicester wing on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Game on! It looked like Northampton were going to score but that was a great read from the Bulls winger because if he didn't make it that was a try for Saints.

    That has changed the game. The Bulls have not had many but they have taken their chances when they have had them.

    Northampton need to tighten it up. It's far too loose.

  10. converted try

    Converted try - Northampton 28-22 Bulls

    Sebastian de Klerk (con: C Smith)

    Thought the Bulls were out of this? Think again!

    Saints are close to the Bulls line until Alex Mitchell passes straight to Sebastian de Klerk. He races back downfield and kicks in the afterburners when Ollie Sleigthholme looks to be closing in.

    Sebastian de KlerkGetty Images
  11. try

    Try - Northampton 28-15 Bulls

    Akker van der Merwe

    Saints are caught out on the blindside, with the ball scooting out to hooker Akker van der Merwe. He rampages over with a little hitch-kick by the flag, but Chris Smith misses the tough conversion.

  12. Northampton 28-10 Bulls

    The Bulls make a rare foray into the Saints 22, Mpilo Gumede spilling the ball in the tackle.

    The visitors' lack of experience may be showing up here, with the bang-in-form Saints not the team you want to face when your side has not played together much.

  13. 'Saints running riot'

    Tom Varndell
    Former England and Leicester wing on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    The Saints are running riot. The build-up play is brilliant. They are carrying hard and making yards every time.

    The Bulls defence can't set themselves quickly enough to stop it. The speed of ball from Northampton and the options available are just too much for them.

    Northampton are going for everything and pulling the Bulls defence apart.

  14. converted try

    Converted try - Northampton 28-10 Bulls

    Alex Mitchell (con F Smith)

    This is getting silly.

    Another probing Saints attack, then the scrum-half Alex Mitchell darts to his right five metres out, throws a dummy and touches down for a simple try that Fin Smith converts.

  15. Northampton 21-10 Bulls

    It's been a breathless opening 20+ minutes, it has fairly flown by.

    And it only seems like yesterday I was watching Ollie Sleightholme's dad Jon playing for England. Time flies, eh?

  16. converted try

    Converted try - Northampton 21-10 Bulls

    Ollie Sleightholme (con: F Smith)

    The Saints winger cuts in from the left and makes an angled run to the posts, getting down over the line despite having three Bulls around him for another fine try.

  17. Penalty - Northampton 14-10 Bulls

    C Smith

    Bulls reduce the arrears straight away with a simple penalty for their fly-half Chris Smith.

    What a great start!

  18. 'Second rows who run like wingers'

    Tom Varndell
    Former England and Leicester wing on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Great awareness from Courtney Lawes to finish that off.

    There was a great run from Alex Coles. The Saints forwards are so athletic and when you have second rows who can run like wingers, it's very impressive.

  19. converted try

    Converted try - Northampton 14-7 Bulls

    Courtney Lawes (con: F Smith)

    Back at you!

    Great work from Fin Smith gives enough space for Courtney Lawes to race towards the line. He's tackled initially, but gets up and then stretches his left arm back over behind him to touch the whitewash.

  20. converted try

    Converted try - Northampton 7-7 Bulls

    Cameron Hanekom (con C Smith)

    The Bulls roar back!

    The number eight has been excellent so far, and he's unstoppable from close range. he goes over under the posts, and a simple conversion levels the scores.

    Bulls scoreGetty Images