Who the Saints had as possible opponents changed half-a-dozen times during the course of the match at Vicarage Road as the lead changed hands repeatedly.

Gloucester's five-point haul at the Twickenham Stoop earlier in the day had secured their berth in the knock-outs, and as Saracens kickers Glen Jackson and Derick Hougaard nudged their side in front it looked as though it would be the Cherry and Whites who the Saints would face.

But two tries from former Saint Will Harries helped Newport-Gwent Dragons leave Vicarage Road with a 23-22 win, and send Saracens to Franklin's Gardens for the March 14th semi-final.

Ticket details will be announced for the LV= Cup semi-final as soon as they have been finalised.

Meanwhile Phil Dowson, Shane Geraghty and Jon Clarke helped the England Saxons to a 31-5 win over Italy 'A' in Treviso. The Saxons turned around a 5-0 half-time deficit to run in four unanswered second-half tries, with Geraghty kicking a conversion and a penalty.

Dylan Hartley had a crucial role in England's win over Wales at Twickenham on Saturday. His break provoked Alun Wyn Jones into make a trip and be sent to the sin bin, and with the lock off the field England scored 17 points to set up a 30-17 win to open their Six Nations campaign.

There was no such luck for Euan Murray and Scott Gray on Friday night, however, as their Scotland 'A' outfit went down 34-19 to Ireland Wolfhounds at Ravenhill.