English giants Leicester and Saracens stormed into the European Rugby Champions Cup quarter-finals on Saturday, securing crucial home ties in the process.
Leicester, the 2000-2001 and 2001-2002 winners, ran in seven tries in a 47-7 mauling of Italian minnows Treviso for a fifth win in five games in Pool 4.
Saracens also claimed a bonus-point 33-17 victory over Ulster in Pool 1 to keep their perfect record intact.
Photo: AFP
At a cold, snow-hit Welford Road, Leicester had their bonus point wrapped up by halftime, running in four tries through Mike Fitzgerald, a penalty try awarded after Treviso collapsed a maul, Vereniki Goneva and Adam Thompstone.
In between, Treviso had grabbed a shock try when they were 21-0 down as Andrea Pratichetti burst through a rare gap in the home side’s defense.
Scrumhalf Ben Youngs claimed the fifth Tigers’ try early in the second half after sprinting 50m off a quickly-taken lineout.
Freddie Burns added a sixth from close range, pouncing on his own kick ahead before replacement back-row forward Laurence Pearce registered his maiden European try.
Irish center Luke Marshall gave Ulster an early lead at Saracens, but a try from Billy Vunipola helped the English Premiership leaders into a 13-7 advantage at the interval.
Duncan Taylor, Maro Itoje and Schalk Brits added further tries for Saracens in the second half, allowing them to secure a home tie in the quarters.
Saracens, runners-up to Toulon in 2013-2014, have 24 points, while 1998-1999 champions Ulster stay in second place in the pool on 13 points, still with a chance of making the knockout rounds as one of the three best runners-up.
Four-time champions Toulouse slumped to the foot of the table after a 32-14 loss at French rivals Oyonnax.
In the same Pool 4 as Leicester, Irish province Munster severely dented the hopes of French champions Stade Francais with a 26-13 home win.
The bonus-point win was just their second success of the pool stages and left them in third place with 10 points.
Munster, the 2005-2006 and 2007-2008 champions, had the best of a physical first half at Thomond Park, scoring two tries through hooker Mike Sherry and center Keith Earls.
The French had only two Morne Steyn penalties to show for their efforts as Munster turned with a 12-6 lead.
Winger Simon Zebo extended Munster’s lead early in the second period before Stade got themselves back into the game when flanker Jonjo Jones thundered in under the posts from 25m out. The door was briefly open for Stade, but three minutes later, it shut again as the Munster pack bossed their way forward and South Africa flanker and club skipper C.J. Stander muscled his way over.
In Pool 5, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 champions Leinster recorded their first win in the tournament this season, beating 1997-1998 winners Bath 25-11, with Ian Madigan enjoying a 20-point haul.
However, neither side can make the last eight.
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