Northampton edge out battling Munster in Champions Cup thriller

Today at 12:33 PM

• Northampton 34-32 Munster
• Seabrook runs in hat-trick as Saints seal home tie

Saints had the team that won the Champions Cup back in 2000 out on the field at half-time of this match, for an anniversary lap of honour. It's maybe long odds that this current squad will be doing likewise in 25 years time given the strength of the competition, but they are at least a step closer along the way, at least. They beat Munster 34-32 in their final pool game, and earned themselves home advantage in the last 16 by doing it.

They had to work hellishly hard for it. The Munstermen just didn't quit. It was a game that Saints had to win once, twice, three times before they were finally able to kick the ball into touch and celebrate their victory. Munster clawed their way back to within two points once, when Conor Murray set up a try for Diarmuid Kilgallen with a wizardly flick behind his back, and then again, when Kilgallen scored a second with a couple of minutes left to play.