Exeter had to battle back against Sale Sharks on Friday to eventually record a 32-22 victory at the AJ Bell Stadium, with fly-half Joe Simmonds racking up 17 points in the win alongside tries from flanker Jacques Vermeulen, full-back Stuart Hogg and hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie.

The Chiefs’ quarter-final opponents, Northampton Saints, put on a second half masterclass to see off London Irish with a 27-3 win at Twickenham Stoop.

Drawing 3-3 at the break, Northampton dominated the second period and scored a pair of penalty tries as well as wing Tom Collins and full-back Ahsee Tuala crossing the whitewash.

The two English sides clash in a huge Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final on September 20 at Sandy Park, live on BT Sport and beIN SPORTS.

Defending champions Saracens also got back to winning ways as they defeated Harlequins 28-24 at Allianz Park.

Tries from wing Sean Maitland, lock Maro Itoje, scrum-half Aled Davies and wing Alex Lewington as well as 18 points from the boot of fly-half Owen Farrell did the damage for the three-time Champions Cup winners, who face Leinster Rugby in their quarter-final next month in a repeat of last season’s final.

The Irish province returned to action in the Guinness PRO14 with a narrow 27-25 win over Munster Rugby at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Prop Cian Healy, centre Garry Ringrose and wing James Lowe scored the tries to maintain Leinster’s winning run in domestic competitions, having already won all six Heineken Champions Cup pool stages earlier this season.

Saracens, Northampton Saints and Exeter Chiefs all picked up domestic wins this weekend as they gear up for their Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals next month.