Munster set for O'Gara reunion in Champions Cup last 16; French favour sends Ulster through

Munster will go head-to-head with club legend and former out-half Ronan O'Gara as they will face La Rochelle in the last 16 of the Investec Champions Cup.

The Thomond Park side finished third in the pool following Saturday's defeat to Northampton Saints and now face a daunting trip to Stade Marcel-Deflandre to face the 2022 and 2023 champions in their quest to reach the quarter-finals.

Ulster will also face a tough challenge in the first knockout stage as they travel to take on Bordeaux Begles, the team that aided their progress to the last 16.

Bordeaux's demolition of the Hollywoodbets Sharks in their final European Champions Cup Pool 1 game allowed Ulster to sneak through to the knockout stages where they will take on the tournament's top seeds.

Leinster will enjoy a home tie, set to be played at Croke Park, however, their opponents are yet to be confirmed with Sale Sharks versus Toulon still ongoing.

Ulster won just one of their four Pool 1 games – a Cormac Izuchukwu hat-trick inspiring the province to a 52-24 hammering of Exeter Chiefs on Friday night – but knew that a favour from Bordeaux would earn a European reprieve.

Level with the Sharks in the standings, Murphy’s side needed Bordeaux to win by more than 28 points at Stade Chaban Delmas, while denying the Sharks any losing bonus.

At half-time it looked a tall order as the hosts led by just seven points despite a Damian Penaud’s hat-trick, but the floodgates opened after the interval as Bordeaux reeled off 47 unanswered points to win 66-12.

It means there will be no South African representation in the knock-out stage of the competition.