Montpellier defeated Toulon 23-3 in an emotionally-draining European Cup clash on Saturday to reach the quarter-finals for the first time and leave defending champions Leinster’s hopes on a knife-edge.

Montpellier, playing just days after the death of forwards coach Eric Bechu, finished their Pool 6 campaign on 22 points, enough to take one of the two best runners-up spots.

Despite the defeat, Toulon had already made the last eight as pool winners.

The result means that two-time defending champions Leinster, who travel to Exeter in Pool 5, need to win to keep their hopes alive of making the quarter-finals as a best runner-up with Clermont already having wrapped up the group.

Montpellier thrived in the driving rain, scoring tries through Thomas Combezou and Benoit Paillaugue while Toulon, who finished on 23 points, missed out on a bonus point that could have guaranteed a home quarter-final.

In the day’s other Pool 6 game, Cardiff Blues saw off Sale 26-14.

Last season’s beaten finalists Ulster rounded off their pool campaign with a first win in France at their 15th attempt, beating Castres 9-8.

All their points came from the boot of South African Ruan Pienaar, but a weakened side were unable to get the bonus point that would have strengthened their chances of getting a home quarter-final.

The 1999 European Cup winners, who topped Pool Four with 23 points, will have to wait till the end of the weekend and the outcome of other matches to see if they entertain their quarter-final opponents in Belfast.

“We wanted to win and even by a point, I’ll take it. A win is a win,” said Ulster coach Mark Anscombe.

In the pool’s other match a surprisingly effective performance by previously winless Glasgow saw the Scottish side beat English giants Northampton 27-20 which ended any hopes the 2000 champions had of making the last eight as a one of the two best runners-up.