Saints make last 16 despite losing 12-try thriller
Investec Champions Cup Pool 3
Stade Francais 45 (19)
Tries: Dakuwaqa, Van der Mescht, Tanga (2), penalty try, Ezeala, Gabrillagues Cons: Henry (4)
Northampton Saints 35 (21)
Tries: Lockett, Pollock (2), Walker, Langdon Cons: Hutchinson (4) Lockett
Northampton Saints secured their place in the Investec Champions Cup knockout stage despite Stade Francais roaring back to win an exhilarating match featuring 12 tries.
Henry Pollock once again demonstrated his big-match mentality by scoring two tries in a minute as Northampton led 21-0 in an electric opening quarter for the Premiership champions.
The home side responded superbly at a raucous Stade Jean-Bouin, scoring three times to cut the gap to 21-19 at half-time.
Henry Walker bagged a fourth Saints try early in the second half to clinch the bonus point needed to guarantee their last-16 place with a game to play.
But a penalty try, which resulted in England scrum-half Alex Mitchell being sent to the sin-bin for 10 minutes, changed the game's momentum.
Three further Stade tries, plus a yellow card for Saints captain Josh Kemeny, enabled the home side to complete a remarkable victory.
Curtis Langdon ran in a late try for the visitors but the Stade Francais players celebrated a famous triumph which revives their hopes of progressing.
Pollock stars before Stade fightback
Pollock has caught the eye this season with a number of standout performances, prompting calls for England head coach Steve Borthwick to pick the dynamic 19-year-old in his Six Nations squad.
His first try showed his physical qualities as he bumped away an attempted tackler before stretching over the line to touch down as a second player hit him.
His second try was pure instinct, ripping the ball from the hands of a Stade player and motoring clear from 50 metres out before celebrating with a cheeky salute to the crowd.
Having pinched a line-out to initiate a free-flowing attack, lock Tom Lockett had scored the opening try after Tommy Freeman and Trevor Davison were both held up just short of the line.
The visitors, who won their opening two Pool 3 matches with bonus points, had to make a late change before kick-off with Fin Smith pulling out because of illness.
Rory Hutchinson was switched to fly-half, with Charlie Savala coming in to play at inside centre.
The change did not appear to affect Saints' slick attacking game, but their defence was unable to prevent a ferocious Stade fightback.
Peniasi Dakuwaqa produced an excellent finish in the corner to give the home side hope.
Giant South African lock JJ van der Mescht charged down Hutchinson's kick and ran 40 metres to score under the posts, and number eight Yoan Tanga powered his way over with the last move of a frantic half to reduce the gap to just two points.
Yellow cards hit Saints' hopes as Stade sizzle
The relentless pace continued in the second half with Saints getting their bonus-point fourth thanks to hooker Walker's finish.
Stade Francais replied immediately with a penalty try after Mitchell illegally attempted to stop a maul, resulting in the England star leaving the pitch.
The hosts roared into the lead for the first time in the 52nd minute when replacement scrum-half Brad Weber broke through and, with Saints short in defence, Samuel Ezeala raced over with options to his right.
The hosts have been struggling in the Top 14 league but were now high in confidence and momentum as they chased their first pool win.
Saints were unable to stop the powerful Tanga going over for his second try as Stade stretched their lead to 10 points, and the referee needed to calm tempers after a flare-up resulted in virtually every player joining a scuffle.
Saints then lost Kemeny to the sin-bin for a no-arms tackle on Tom Seabrook, and rival skipper Paul Gabrillagues made him pay by rumbling over to sink Saints' hopes of a fightback.
Langdon crashed over from a maul for Northampton's fifth try but Saints ran out of time to earn a losing bonus point.
Saints will hope to secure top spot and a home tie in the knockout stage when they face Munster next Saturday, while Stade travel to South Africa to take on the Bulls.
Line-ups
Stade Francais: Jonas; Dakuwaqa, Ezeala, Delbouis, Etien; Henry, Foursans-Bourdette; Alo-Emile, Nicotera, Gomez Kodela, Gabrillagues (capt), Van der Mescht, Halaifonua, Briatte, Tanga.
Replacements: Garcia Albo, Koffi, N'Diaye, Macalou, Pesenti, Weber, Carbonel, Marchant.
Northampton: Ramm; Freeman, Litchfield, Savala, Seabrook; Hutchinson, Mitchell; Haffar, Walker, Davison, Prowse, Lockett, Kemeny (capt), Scott-Young, Pollock.
Replacements: Langdon, West, Green, Hunter-Hill, Brown, Pearson, McParland, Makepeace-Cubitt.
Sin-bin: Mitchell (47), Josh Kemeny (68)
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ire)