Northampton Saints defeated Vodacom Bulls 59-22 in their Investec Champions quarter-final to earn a spot in the final four.
There were 12 tries scored at the cinch Stadium @ Franklin’s Gardens, with the hosts earning a semi-final matchup with four-time winners Leinster Rugby at Croke Park in Dublin.
Seven tries were scored in the first-half alone, four of them for Northampton Saints and three for the visitors.
Full-back James Ramm got the scoring underway for the hosts, but Vodacom Bulls No.8 Cameron Hanekom leveled the scores early on.
A trio of Northampton Saints scores then saw them take a controlling lead, with flanker Courtney Lawes, wing Ollie Sleightholme and scrum-half Alex Mitchell all dotting down, fly-half Fin Smith perfect from the tee.
But two tries in quick succession brought the South African club back into the game; first hooker Akker van der Merwe forced himself over before wing Sebastian de Klerk plucked an interception on his own five metre line to race all the way home.
Fly-half Chris Smith converted two and kicked a penalty to leave the hosts only six points ahead at the break.
But the second period saw Northampton Saints run away with the game. It began just as the first did, with the hosts scoring an early try as second-row Alex Coles finished off another breakaway move.
The hosts went on to score another four tries, with fly-half Smith, centre Fraser Dingwall, Mitchell and No.8 Juarno Augustus going over, Smith also kicking another two conversions.
Vodacom Bulls fought bravely but ultimately struggled to keep up, failing to score in the second period.
It was Northampton Saints’ night, and the Gallagher Premiership leaders will now face Leinster Rugby at Croke Park in a thrilling Investec Champions Cup semi-final.
VODACOM BULLS vs NORTHAMPTON SAINTS STARTING XV: 1. Simphiwe Matanzima, 2. Akker van der Merwe, 3. Mornay Smith, 4. Janko Swanepoel, 5. JF van Heerden, 6. Nizaam Carr (c), 7. Celimpilo ‘Mpilo’ Gumede, 8. Cameron Hanekom, 9. Zak Burger, 10. Chris Smith, 11. Stravino Jacobs, 12. Harold Vorster, 13. Henry Immelman, 14. Sebastien de Klerk, 15. Devon Williams
VODACOM BULLS IMPACT SQUAD: 16. Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17. Dylan Smith, 18. Francois Klopper, 19. Merwe Olivier, 20. Reinhardt Ludwig, 21. Keagan Johannes, 22. Jaco van der Walt, 23. Cornal Hendricks
MANAGEMENT: Jake White – Director of Rugby, Chris Rossouw – Assistant Coach, Werner Kruger – Assistant Coach, Gary Gold – Assistant Coach, Andries Bekker – Assistant Coach, Jean Tiedt – Assistant Coach, Kennedy Tsimba – Assistant Coach, Phiwe Nomlomo – Assistant Coach, John-William Meyer – Technical Analyst, Dr. Moshe Magethi – Team Doctor, Lance Lemmetjies – Physiotherapist, Andre Volsteedt – Strength & Conditioning, Yusuf Vahed – Sport Scientist, Elias Bennett – Team Manager, Simon Dyidi – Logistics Manager
>>>story courtesy of epcr.com<<<
