The Saints also had Ben Foden and Chris Ashton in their ranks as well as Russian international wing, the former Blackrock College player Vasily Artemyev, who scored one of their four tries.

Meanwhile, Castres Olympique maintained their impressive form as they beat last season's beaten finalists Montpellier 21-16. Rory Kockott kicked seven penalties to give them their seventh successive Top 14 victory on Saturday that sees them in second place behind Clermont Auvergne on the same points.

Castres have not managed to score a try in their last four matches so will be delighted that Kockott, the 25-year-old South African who was originally drafted in as injury cover has agreed to extend his stay until the end of the season. 

Then yesterday, Scarlets, who Munster meet in the Heineken Cup December window, scored a 30-3 Anglo Welsh win over Cardiff Blues at the City Stadium.

Both sides were without their Welsh internationals although Sean Lamont was back for the Scarlets and the Scottish international was the creator of two of the Scarlet's four tries.