By Phil Hollis
January 23 2010

Well, what a 24 hours but what a result! Events at Twickenham this evening confirmed Northampton Saints as the only English team in quarter-finals of the 2009/10 Heineken Cup.

SAINTS MARCH ON IN THE HEINEKEN CUP!

Well, what a 24 hours but what a result! Events at Twickenham this evening confirmed Northampton Saints as the only English team in quarter-finals of the 2009/10 Heineken Cup.

After a nail-biting encounter at Thomond Park on Friday, Saints knew that they could now do no more and qualification for the latter stages of rugby’s premiership club competition was out of their hands.

All eyes shifted back across the Irish Sea to see London Irish welcome Leinster to HQ and it all came down to the last plays of the game. With the scores tied at 8-8 into the dying minutes Chris Malone struck a penalty to edge the Exiles in front and, it seemed, to resign Saints to the Amlin Challenge Cup. Hello Jonathan Sexton! His sweet drop-goal sailed through the posts to tie up matters once more and, despite Malone’s two desperate drop-goal efforts of his own, the match ended drawn. Irish hearts are broken and Saints are through!

Saints are joined in the last eight by Munster (their likely opponents back at Thomond Park), Leinster, Biarritz, Clermont Auvergne, Ospreys, Stade Francais and Toulouse.

The quarter-finals of the Heineken Cup will be held on the weekend of 9/10/11 April.

They won’t put us on the Friday night again, will they?

COME ON YOU SAINTS!

NEWS: SAINTS MARCH ON IN THE HEINEKEN CUP!

Discussion started by ComeOnYouSaints.com , 23/01/2010 20:45

ComeOnYouSaints.com
23/01/2010 20:45

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Phil.
23/01/2010 20:47

Quite probably the quickest article I've ever written!

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Shaddo
23/01/2010 20:58

I'd rather it was Friday night than a Sunday, that way we get the benefit of Euan Murray.
I would imagine, though, that Sky will see it as their main game and want it played on Saturday.

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Phil.
23/01/2010 21:02

Yep, my thoughts too, Shad. Top seeds against the plucky Saints, the re-match etc.


Just received a text from St. Marlowe...

Required - a Jetsco T-Shirt...

"COMING BACK - with NO FEAR"

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Chris Hoddle
23/01/2010 21:09

I remember Dav sexton from chelsea I bet dave bowen would have put him in his place as we will...I hope!

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WilliamBlessing
23/01/2010 21:45

It could backfire on Leinster. The Saints could well be the team that might defeat them in the Final! Here's hoping!

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Ben_D
23/01/2010 21:52

Are any of the QF's likely to be on the Friday? 2 on Saturday 2 on Sunday was what happened last year. Can't see us being at the very top of the bill the way some of the fixtures are likely pan out. Although being the only English side is bound to effect the decision.

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Phil.
23/01/2010 22:04

re Fridays and stuff...just going on what is said here, Ben.

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Ben_D
23/01/2010 22:08

I guess it gives them the option if required.

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Eif Jones
24/01/2010 02:17

In my view, having a return fixture from one of your pool is wrong. Because of the Italian situation it tends to happen quite frequently. They should switch the fixtures of the 2 best runners up to avoid the situation.

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Shaddo
24/01/2010 02:37

I agree, Eif. In fact, I'd simply give the top four qualifiers the home advantage and then draw their opponents out of the hat.

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shendy
24/01/2010 13:07

This is the third time we've had it. We've played away to Toulouse, Biarritz and now (probably) Munster in the QF's having had them in our group as well.

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Saint Dom in Hanoi
27/01/2010 18:42

Why is it wrong to have a re-match? It will be even more dramatic, more exciting.

The best team will win in the end, whoever they play.

Last man standing, and all that...

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