The Vodacom Bulls have qualified for the Investec Champions Cup round of 16 despite winning just one pool match.
The Bulls lost their first three pool games, against Bordeaux Begles (46-33), the Northampton Saints (50-5) and the Bristol Bears (61-49) before edging Pau 26-24 in France on Friday night.
However, that was enough to finish fourth in Pool 4 above Pau and the Scarlets, who lost 43-28 to the Saints on Sunday.
The Bulls will meet the Glasgow Warriors at Scotstoun Stadium in the last 16.
MORE: Ackers hails Bulls’ character after gritty Pau win
In Pool 1, the Sharks were eliminated from the Champions Cup despite thumping Clermont 50-12 at Kings Park on Saturday as Toulouse thrashed Sale and Saracens avoided a big defeat to the Glasgow Warriors.
The fifth-placed Sharks drop down to the second-tier Challenge Cup and will travel to Cardiff for their last-16 clash.
In Pool 3, the Stormers booked their place in the last 16 with a 39-26 win against the Leicester Tigers in Cape Town on Saturday but ended third after Harlequins beat La Rochelle on Sunday.
The Stormers face Toulon at the Stade Mayol in the last 16.
Investec Champions Cup Round 4 results
Pau 24 Bulls 26
Bath 63 Edinburgh 10
Sharks 50 Clermont 12
Bayonne 13 Leinster 22
Stormers 39 Leicester Tigers 26
Toulouse 77 Sale Sharks 7
Munster 29 Castres 31
Gloucester 14 Toulon 31
Bristol Bears 15 Bordeaux 27
Northampton Saints 43 Scarlets 28
La Rochelle 17 Harlequins 27
Glasgow Warriors 28 Saracens 3
Photo: Ryan Byrne/INPHO
The post Bulls sneak into Champions Cup playoffs appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.