Heineken Cup quarter-finalists Cardiff, Munster, London Irish and Saracens clashed in domestic action this weekend with Cardiff and London Irish coming away with the spoils.
In what was one of two potential Heineken Cup final dress rehearsals of the weekend, Cardiff Blues defeated the 2006 Heineken Cup winners Munster on Saturday evening at the Cardiff Arms Park 25-22. If both sides win their respective Heineken Cup quarter-final and semi-final matches they will meet again in the Welsh capital on Saturday, 24 May with European glory at stake.
Another possible Heineken Cup final pairing, London Irish and Saracens, clashed on Saturday in the Guinness Premiership. London Irish took the points by recording a fifth straight Premiership win defeating the Men in Black by 27 to 24 points.
In other domestic action involving the European quarter-finalists, Gloucester, Toulouse and the Ospreys all travelled away from home and lost to Harlequins, Bourgoin and Glasgow Warriors respectively.
Top 14 leaders Toulouse will sweat over the fitness of Vincent Clerc who was taken off during the championship game with Bourgoin after sustaining a knee injury. The ERC Elite award winner could now miss the France v Italy RBS Six Nations match this weekend.
Perpignan, who will face London Irish in Heineken Cup quarter-finals, recorded a disappointing 10 all draw with bottom of table Dax in their Top 14 weekend fixture.