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

Live Reporting

Tom Rostance

  1. The officials are just checking some head to head contact in the build up.

  2. try

    Converted try - Northampton Saints 27-16 Castres

    George Furbank (con Smith)

    Back with a bang!

    Saints work the ball well inside and they have men outside, it's quickly furled out to George Furbank and he can't be stopped from a few metres out.

    He emerges looking in pain and holding his arm, which is not what anyone would want to see as he returns from a broken arm.

  3. Northampton Saints 20-16 Castres

    Northampton need to get the ball back in hand and find quick ball again. They were all over Castres doing just that at the start of the game.

  4. Penalty - Northampton Saints 20-16 Castres

    Jeremy Fernandez

    No mistake from the scrum half - and Castres are within striking distance now.

  5. It's getting a bit heated again between the two packs. Castres have a penalty.

    Northampton v CastresReuters

  6. Northampton Saints 20-13 Castres

    What a kick - Jeremy Fernandez landing a 50:22 kick to drop Castres into a good field position at the start of the half. They are back up to 15 men by the way.

  7. Kick-off

    Northampton Saints 20-13 Castres

    We are off. Can Northampton win through to face Leinster?

  8. Here they come...

  9. How it stands

    HT: Northampton Saints 20-13 Castres

    Quarter-finals

    Friday - Leinster 52-0 Glasgow Warriors

    Saturday - Bordeaux Begles 47-29 Munster

    Saturday - Northampton Saints v 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/Castres

  10. HT: Northampton 20-13 Castres

    Mantej Mann
    BBC Sport at Franklin's Gardens

    Saints should be out of sight but a Jeremy Fernandez-inspired Castres have remained in the fight and somehow only trail by a converted try.

    All to play for after the interval.

  11. Flying Freeman

    HT: Northampton Saints 20-13 Castres

    Tommy FreemanRex Features

    Whether for club or country, there is just no stopping Tommy Freeman.

  12. Half-time

    HT: Northampton Saints 20-13 Castres

    Well then! Northampton were on top throughout and look the business but somehow they go in with just a one-score lead.

  13. Penalty - Northampton Saints 20-13 Castres

    Jeremy Fernandez

    Lovely strike.

  14. Northampton Saints 20-10 Castres

    Castres get a penalty right before the break. And they are going for the points. Sensible.

  15. Northampton Saints 20-10 Castres

    Good news, the flanker is OK. Just winded by a stinging tackle.

  16. Pollock injured?

    Northampton Saints 20-10 Castres

    Time off and a concern here as Henry Pollock is hurt in contact. Big tackle from Louis le Brun.

  17. Northampton 20-10 Castres

    Mantej Mann
    BBC Sport at Franklin's Gardens

    Northampton have been dominant so far but Castres have just fired a couple of shots in the last few moments to keep the hosts on their toes.

    The French side are dangerous in open play and like to keep the ball alive but Saints have contained them well.

  18. Northampton Saints 20-10 Castres

    Saints are a man up but have been under heavy pressure - Alex Mitchell then does well to win a penalty for offside and his side can boot it down the field.

  19. Northampton Saints 20-10 Castres

    Northampton SaintsRex Features

    This has been another cracking game in the Champions Cup. Proper.

  20. Northampton Saints 20-10 Castres

    Ahh unlucky Vilimoni Botitu! The Castres centre chases his own kick and gathers, a kinder bounce and he would have scored but the momentum runs out and he's gathered in under the posts.

    Good response from the visitors though.