Eventual Heineken Champions Cup 2022/23 winners Stade Rochelais faced a stern test against Gloucester Rugby, only narrowly defeating the English side at the Stade Marcel Deflandre 29-26 courtesy of a late try from wing Teddy Thomas.

There was also late drama at Exeter Chiefs’ Sandy Park, where the Gallagher English Premiership side went through at the expense of Montpellier Hérault Rugby. The game went to extra-time, Exeter going through courtesy of scoring five tries to Montpellier’s four after a 33-all draw, which was secured by a try from Jack Yeandle in the final play of the additional period.

In a cross-border clash, Leicester Tigers eased past Edinburgh Rugby 16-6. Saracens were the other English side to go through courtesy of a 35-20 win over Ospreys, coming from behind twice to take the win.

Harlequins, however, fell short of making it a clean sweep of English wins - they lost 32-28 to DHL Stormers in Cape Town. Cell C Sharks joined their fellow South Africans in the quarter-finals with a win in a high-scoring game against Munster Rugby, defeating the Irish province 50-35.

The other two Irish provinces played each other at the Aviva Stadium, Leinster Rugby proving too good for their domestic rivals Ulster Rugby as they won 30-15 to leave themselves the only remaining Irish representatives in the competition.

Finally, five-time winners of EPCR’s leading competition Stade Toulousain defeated newcomers Vodacom Bulls 33-9 to secure safe passage to the quarter-finals. The TOP14 side scored three tries with none in reply.

We're into the knockout stage of our Heineken Champions Cup 2022/23 season review, as the sides who managed to fight their way out of the Pool stage faced off in the Round of 16.