Summary

  • Northampton Saints clinch place in Champions Cup semi-finals with emphatic win

  • Henry Pollock scores two tries as home side turn on the style at Franklin's Gardens

  • England full-back George Furbank scores try on return to side but goes off injured

  • Saints will face four-time champions Leinster in Dublin in May

  • Bordeaux Begles beat Munster 47-29 to set up last-four match with either Toulon or defending champions Toulouse

  • Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey both score for Bordeaux who had Cyril Cazeaux sent off

  1. Goodnight!published at 19:56 British Summer Time 12 April

    And so there is one place to decide. Shall it be Toulon or Toulouse who win through to face Bordeaux in the second semi-final?

    Join us on Sunday afternoon to find out.

  2. Furbank shines on returnpublished at 19:55 British Summer Time 12 April

    Mantej Mann
    BBC Sport at Franklins Gardens

    George FurbankImage 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.

  3. Postpublished at 19:52 British Summer Time 12 April

    Let's hope for good news on George Furbank. He did look sore when he came off.

  4. 'Furbank is class'published at 19:47 British Summer Time 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."

  5. 'How good was that?'published at 19:41 British Summer Time 12 April

    FT: Northampton Saints 51-16 Castres

    Henry PollockImage 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."

  6. 'In Europe we seem to go well'published at 19:37 British Summer Time 12 April

    FT: Northampton Saints 51-16 Castres

    Alex MitchellImage 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."

  7. 'It's going to be a big ask in Dublin'published at 19:35 British Summer Time 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.

  8. Elsewhere: England storm to winpublished at 19:32 British Summer Time 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.

  9. How they line uppublished at 19:31 British Summer Time 12 April

    Quarter-finals

    Friday - Leinster 52-0 Glasgow Warriors

    Saturday - Bordeaux Begles 47-29 Munster

    Saturday - Northampton Saints 51-16 Castres

    Sunday - Toulon v Toulouse (15:00 BST)

    Semi-finals (ties to be played 2/3/4 May):

    Bordeaux v Toulon/Toulouse

    Leinster v Northampton

  10. Saints win!published at 19:31 British Summer Time 12 April
    Breaking

    FT: Northampton Saints 51-16 Castres

  11. Postpublished at 80 mins

    Northampton Saints 51-16 Castres

    A very good day's work for Northampton.

  12. try

    Converted try - Northampton Saints 51-16 Castrespublished at 79 min

    Tom Pearson (con Smith)

    Replacement Tom Pearson hits the line with a short run and fires through - there is no stopping him from there!

    Fin Smith kicks them beyond 50.

  13. Postpublished at 77 mins

    Northampton Saints 44-16 Castres

    Castres have seen more of the ball in the last few minutes as, like Chris says., Saints take their foot off the pedal.

  14. 'Saints are shutting the game down'published at 19:26 British Summer Time 12 April

    Saints 44-16 Castres

    Chris Ashton
    Former England and Northampton wing on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    Northampton SaintsImage source, PA Media

    Saints are not in a rush anymore which frustrates me. I want them to want more and more instead of shutting it down.

    There are opportunities everywhere, they need to just take it.

  15. Postpublished at 72 mins

    Northampton Saints 44-16 Castres

    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.

  16. 'There are a couple more tries in it for Saints yet'published at 19:21 British Summer Time 12 April

    Saints 44-16 Castres

    Chris Ashton
    Former England and Northampton wing on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

    It's great. Saints are flying the flag for English rugby getting into this semi-final. I think there is a couple more tries in it for Saints yet.

  17. Postpublished at 71 mins

    Northampton Saints 44-16 Castres

    Into the last 10 minutes as Pollock wins another turnover...

  18. Penalty - Northampton Saints 44-16 Castrespublished at 69 min

    Fin Smith

    No nonsense again from the Saints 10.

  19. Postpublished at 68 mins

    Northampton Saints 41-16 Castres

    Northampton had two men on the last Lions tour in Courtney Lawes and Dan Biggar. How many will they have this year?

    They have won a penalty in good field position.

  20. Postpublished at 66 mins

    Northampton Saints 41-16 Castres

    Henry Pollock now drops the ball as the TV pundits continue to talk him up. He is delivering on the big stage.