Chris Ashton rescued Saracens from disaster as injury-ravaged Northampton's brave attempt at causing a major upset in the fierce rivals' Champions Cup quarter-final at Allianz Park ended in a 29-20 defeat.

CHAMPIONS CUP: YOUR TEAM-BY-TEAM WEEKEND GUIDE

Northampton 9 Racing 92 9: Northampton’s England contingent failed to make an impression as Eddie Jones resumed his busy pre-Christmas scouting tour of the Aviva Premiership clubs last night.

Worcester 13 Northampton 12: It wasn’t just a new dawn for English rugby that kicked off at Sixways last night, just six days removed from the World Cup hosts’ disastrous exit. 

England have named Danny Cipriani and Nick Easter on the bench for Friday night’s RBS 6 Nations opener against Wales in Cardiff.

England’s preparations for the RBS 6 Nations continued to unravel with the news Owen Farrell will miss the entire Championship because of a knee injury.

Danny Cipriani and Nick Easter have the chance to reignite their Test careers in England’s 34-man Six Nations training squad, with Sam Burgess also handed World Cup lift-off.

Champions Cup

Names are flying around for a quality replacement at Munster following the announcement JJ Hanrahan will quit the province and join Northampton at the end of the season.

Why does JJ Hanrahan’s decision to leave Munster for Northampton Saints hurt so much? Because he’s one of our own, writes Ronan O’Gara.

It should have been a day when the retention of Ian Keatley for another two seasons was celebrated by Munster supporters, along with the commitment shown by three up and coming players, writes Simon Lewis.

“We are extremely disappointed to announce that we will lose the services of a home-grown talent such as JJ.”

George North’s quartet of tries reinvigorated Northampton’s European campaign, but the 34-6 victory over the Ospreys came at a cost with England centre Luther Burrell departing early through injury.

Danny Cipriani is set to make his first appearance in an England squad since 2008 when head coach Stuart Lancaster names the players selected for next week's training camp.

England Saxons 8 Ireland Wolfhounds 14

Leinster 9 Northampton 18

The awards, accolades and praise for George North just keep on coming after another stellar year for the explosive Wales wing.

Former Munster favourite Paul Warwick tasted defeat to Northampton Saints on Saturday but the Australian reckons Leinster have the quality to overcome the English title chasers when they meet at Franklin’s Gardens this weekend.

Northampton 27 Ospreys 16

Northampton 27 Ospreys 16

Toulon full-back Delon Armitage has been slammed by former and current players for his behaviour during Saturday’s Heineken Cup final win over Clermont.

Glasgow 27 Northampton 20

Ulster last night became the first side to qualify for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals with a 23-6 victory over Glasgow – and coach Mark Anscombe then challenged his men to secure a home tie.

Ulster 9 Northampton Saints 10

Ulster 9 Northampton 10

John Afoa is adamant the three components of Ulster’s recent good form must be repeated if the northerners are to achieve the double over Premiership giants Northampton at Ravenhill this evening.

Danny Cipriani was Sale’s hero as the Premiership strugglers overturned a 15-point deficit to gain a dramatic, morale-boosting 34-33 triumph over Cardiff on their return to the Heineken Cup.

Northampton 24 Glasgow 15

Scarlets 17 Northampton 29

HARLEQUINS stunned four-time champions Toulouse 31-24 yesterday to reignite their European Cup quarter-final hopes a week after the French giants had seemingly delivered a fatal blow on the English side.

NORTHAMPTON coach Jim Mallinder has questioned the consistency of refereeing in the Heineken Cup after his side suffered a crushing defeat at sunny Stade Pierre Antoine.

PREMIERSHIP club Northampton Saints gained a small measure of revenge as they won this Heineken Cup final rematch at Donnybrook last night.

Leinster 33 Northampton 22

Northampton coach Jim Mallinder has today named his side for tomorrow’s Heineken Cup final clash with Leinster at the Millennium Stadium (kick-off 5pm).

NORTHAMPTON captain Dylan Hartley believes Leinster are over-playing the seriousness of Brian O’Driscoll’s knee injury and expects to be lining up opposite the centre in Saturday’s Heineken Cup final.

Northampton 23 Perpignan 7

ULSTER have grown used to the pain of defeat in the Heineken Cup over the last 12 years, but this quarter-final loss will be excruciating.

Northampton 23 Ulster 13

Ulster Coach Brian McLaughlin had named his team for Sunday's Heineken Cup quarter-final clash against Northampton Saints at the Stadium:MK in Milton Keynes, kick-off 2pm.

They’re providing the backbone to England’s rejuvenation but Northampton Saints have hit a glass ceiling, as Julian Bennetts explains

LEICESTER come into their Heineken Cup clash with Leinster on the back of a controversial 17-13 win over Harlequins.