London Irish 11 - 11 Leinster: Sexton drops a bombshell

Chris Malone, who had a horror kicking display at Twickenham, looked to have sent the Exiles through as one of the leading two group runners-up when he booted a 77th-minute penalty to put his team 11-8 up. But seconds after the restart, Ireland fly-half Sexton bisected the posts with a long-range drop as Leinster bagged two crucial points that will see them finish as one of the four highest-scoring group winners.

Isa Nacewa's try had sent Leinster into the break 8-3 up after Malone and Sexton had traded earlier penalties in this Pool 6 finale. Malone got Irish back on terms with a 67th-minute try but he missed the conversion, one of three easy shots at goal he was off target with.

The Scarlets secured a place in the quarter-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup following a thrilling 20-17 victory at Brive in Heineken Cup Pool 6. Stephen Jones booted ten points, including a decisive 63rd-minute penalty, to steer the Welsh region towards further European rugby this season. Jones sealed a fine double over Brive for the Scarlets, and they now cannot be denied a last-eight spot in the second-tier Challenge Cup.

Brive went ahead when hooker Jean-Philippe Bonrepaux burrowed over for the opening try and doubled their advantage as Horacio Agulla fended off Scarlets' Scotland threequarter Sean Lamont to crash over.

Jones scored a long-range penalty before Damien Welch crossed in the left corner, Jones converting to tie the scores at 10-10. The Scarlets took the lead for the first time when Stoddart touched down. Jones added the extras but the visitors pressed the self-destruct button in the 55th minute as flanker Josh Turnbull was sent to the sin-bin for foul play.

Brive capitalised through a Ronnie Cooke try – converted by Luciano Orquera – before Lou Reed became the second Scarlets player to be sent to the cooler. But Jones had the final say with a long-range penalty to fittingly pass 800 points in the Heineken Cup and inflict a whitewash on Brive.