Il Messaggiere - Northampton, Leinster claim Champions Cup pool top spots

English winger Tom Seabrook scored a hat-trick in a rousing encounter as 2000 winners Northampton secured their place as one of the four pool winners to guarantee potential homes tie in the competition until the semi-finals.

Two-time champions Munster, who brought themselves within two of the hosts with 80 seconds to play, had booked their place in the next round before kick-off, after the Bulls hammered Stade Francais 48-7 earlier in the day in Pool 3.

The Bulls' win, another lop-sided result including a South African team this season, also sent Castres into the knockouts of the top-tier competition for the first time since 2002.

In Dublin, Leinster trailed 14-0 after just seven minutes to English Premiership leaders Bath before New Zealand centre Jordie Barrett and South Africa lock RG Snyman inspired the four-time winners to claim top spot in Pool 2.

Snyman scored two of Leinster's seven tries.

The Irish province's success handed Clermont a last 16 berth, after an 86th minute try from replacement lock Thomas Ceyte helped the French side to a 33-26 victory over Bristol.

In the same group, Treviso stunned two-time winners La Rochelle 32-25 to reach the last 16 for the first time.

Three spots in the next round remain up for grabs with three-time runners-up Racing 92 welcoming the Stormers and Glasgow, already through to the next round, heading to Harlequins in the final games of the day from Pool 4.

On Sunday, holders Toulouse play Leicester two days after the French club's captain Antoine Dupont questioned the competition's format and knock-out seeding system.

Record six-time winners Toulouse are unlikely to finish above Bordeaux-Begles in Pool 1 and would have to play away from home in the quarter-finals if they are second in the group.

The Sharks are at Bordeaux-Begles eyeing the final knockout spot from their group and three-time winners Toulon travel to Sale in Pool 4.

L.Sabbadin--IM