With Jonny Sexton’s late heroics knocking London Irish out of the Heineken Cup at Twickenham and Leicester succumbing to the Ospreys on Saturday – Guinness Premiership sides tamely waved the white flag in this season’s competition.

The Saints will travel to two-time champions Munster, who finished above Northampton in Pool One. 

Defending champions Leinster host Pool Three winners Clermont Auvergne, while three-time winners Toulouse take on Stade Francais in an all-French tie. Pool three runners-up Ospreys have to travel to 2006 finalists Biarritz.

Of the seven English sides to start the campaign, Northampton are the only ones to have made it through, which represents the worst performance by the country's clubs in the 14 seasons they have taken part in the competition.