Furbank shines on returnpublished at 19:55 British Summer Time 12 April
19:55 BST 12 April
Mantej Mann BBC Sport at Franklins Gardens
Image source, Reuters
George Furbank marked his return from injury with two assists and a try as Northampton Saints powered past Castres to set up a semi-final rematch with Leinster in the Investec Champions Cup.
After missing England's entire Six Nations campaign the 28-year-old could have been targeting a late charge for British and Irish Lions consideration, but worryingly for the player and Saints' European ambitions, his return lasted less than an hour as he looked in discomfort before being replaced by Rory Hutchinson.
It would not dampen the partisan atmosphere inside Franklin's Gardens, though, as young starlet Henry Pollock continued his meteoric rise with a quickfire double to quell any suggestion of a Castres fightback, before Tom Pearson added the gloss late on.
The visitors showed glimpses but lacked the cutting edge of their hosts and were limited to a 16-point haul by scrum-half Jeremy Fernandez.
Saints will be looking to avenge their defeat by four-time winners Leinster in last year's semi-final when they meet the Irish side in Dublin next month.
'Furbank is class'published at 19:47 British Summer Time 12 April
19:47 BST 12 April
FT: Northampton Saints 51-16 Castres
Northampton fly-half Fin Smith on Premier Sports: "We all watched Leinster last night and asked how do you stop this lot? But we will go there and try and ruffle some feathers.
"George Furbank is a classy operator and a calming presence isn't he? He's a playmaker who sees space. He got a whack on his arm but I think he'll be alright."
'How good was that?'published at 19:41 British Summer Time 12 April
19:41 BST 12 April
FT: Northampton Saints 51-16 Castres
Image source, Reuters
Northampton flanker Henry Pollock on Premier Sports: "We have had a tough couple of weeks in the Prem but we came into the game with confidence and how good was that? Bring on Leinster.
"That was hard. I have never been hit like that, that was mad. We are so happy. It's been a whirlwind year for me, last year I went to Leinster as a fan and now I'm in the team.
"We are buzzing. The coaches give me confidence to roam on the pitch and Mitch is one of the best nines in the world to pick them off."
'In Europe we seem to go well'published at 19:37 British Summer Time 12 April
19:37 BST 12 April
FT: Northampton Saints 51-16 Castres
Image source, Reuters
Man of the match Alex Mitchell on Premier Sports: "We are very pleased, in Europe we seem to go pretty well and we are very happy to get to the semi-final.
"We found a good balance today, 51 points shows that. We can't wait to play Leinster they are one of the best around.
"We are the ones on the pitch, we have to look at ourselves and push on."
'It's going to be a big ask in Dublin'published at 19:35 British Summer Time 12 April
19:35 BST 12 April
FT: Saints 51-16 Castres
Chris Ashton Former England and Northampton wing on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra
It's going to be a big ask in Dublin against Leinster, but that is why we are here and that is why we love sport because you never know what is going to happen.
Elsewhere: England storm to winpublished at 19:32 British Summer Time 12 April
19:32 BST 12 April
Media caption,
Women's Six Nations highlights: Ireland 5-49 England
England produced a clinical second-half performance to defeat Ireland in Cork and maintain their bid for a fourth successive Women's Six Nations Grand Slam.
It has been quite rightly pointed out that Leinster will have more men than Northampton in the forthcoming Lions squad - and that's who Saints will play in the semi.