Saints flew into Italy on Thursday night ahead of the last pool fixture which was scheduled to take place on Friday night. However, the game was postponed due to the frozen pitch and foggy conditions.

A further pitch inspection at 8.30am yesterday revealed the pitch was still frozen and although an alternative venue was suggested, Viadana decided to concede the game.

The ERC met yesterday and ruled Saints should be awarded the full five points for the game on the grounds Viadana had forfeited the game, Saints had remained available to fulfil the fixture and had missed the opportunity to win the match and to obtain a bonus point.

Therefore Saints finished the pool stage with 25 points as fourth seeds behind Gloucester in 1st place with 29 points, Newcastle in second with 28 and London Irish with 27 in third. Worcester finished the pool stage with 24 points. The rest of the seeds will be decided once this afternoon's game between Bristol and Narbonne has been completed.

Fourth-seed Saints will play fifth seed Worcester at Franklin's Gardens on Saturday, April 1.

Director of rugby Budge Pountney said today. "We were terribly disappointed not to play the game on either the Friday or the Saturday. The players were looking forward to the game as were all the supporters who made the journey to Italy to cheer them on. However, we are pleased to have got through to the quarter-finals and to have secured the home draw. We look forward to playing Worcester in what will no doubt be another cracking Midlands derby."