Snyman steers Leinster into playoffs
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A RG Snyman second-half brace of tries helped secure a Leinster win over Bath on Saturday, and safe passage to the last 16 of the Investec Champions Cup.
Two-time Springbok world champion Snyman scored two of Leinster's seven tries as Leinster claimed a 47-21 comeback victory over Bath in Dublin.
Leinster trailed 14-0 after just seven minutes to English Premiership leaders Bath before New Zealand centre Jordie Barrett and Snyman inspired the four-time winners to claim top spot in Pool 2.
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.
Northampton Saints held on to beat Munster 34-32 to secure the top seed spot from Pool 3. English winger Tom Seabrook scored a hat-trick to help 2000 winners Northampton secure their place as one of the four pool winners to guarantee a potential home tie in the competition until the semi-finals.
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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 Vodacom Bulls hammered Stade Francais 48-7 earlier in the day in Pool 3.
The Bulls' win also sent Castres into the knockouts of the top-tier competition for the first time since 2002.
In Pool 4, Harlequins' good start set them on their way to a 24-7 victory over already-qualified Glasgow and became the 14th side through to the next round.
Struggling Racing 92 edged the Stormers 31-22 but the French outfit will have to wait for the result from Sale's game with Toulon on Sunday to see if they advance.
Elsewhere 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 face a tough task 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 will be at Bordeaux-Begles eyeing the final knockout spot as the only South African side left in the tournament.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile via Getty Images
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