Exeter will take some stopping in the knockout stages, Leinster have top-seed status and Racing 92’s reward is to face Clermont
Leinster secured top-seed status after a hard-earned victory at Treviso. They did not need a bonus point which was just as well as they scored only two tries and it took them an hour to manufacture the first one. At one point it seemed Leinster would repeat their 3-0 Pro14 victory at Zebre in October but tries from Caelan Doris, who had spent 10 minutes in the sin-bin in the first half, and James Tracy ensured a stress-free final 15 minutes. The game in Lyon was far more open, generating eight tries, five of them scored by Northampton who again overcame a poor start to finish with a flourish. The bonus point left them with one leg planted in the quarter‑finals with the other landing the following day after Saracens failed to sprinkle their victory against Racing 92 with a fifth point. Paul Rees
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