A bumper weekend of European cup action saw the semifinalists for the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup decided across 3 days.
After an enthralling set of games on Sunday, we now know that Clermont will play Saracens in Saint-Etienne, while Toulon will face Leinster in Marseille in what are set to be 2 titanic battles.
Champions Toulon remain in the hunt for what would be a 3rd successive European title. No side has ever achieved that before but Toulon unquestionably have the players to do so.
They were too smart and too strong for a stubborn Wasps outfit at the Stade Mayol on Sunday, winning with Juan Smith and Bryan Habana watching on from the stands due to injuries. Both are expected however to be in contention for the semifinals.
Bakkies Botha did start in the second row as Toulon won 14 out of 15 lineouts, contributing to their success. Another trophy or 2 for the cabinet remain on the horizon for the Springbok legend ahead of his retirement. Michael Claassens was on the bench.
Defeat for Wasps of course also meant defeat for Ashley Johnson, as the former Cheetahs back rower’s side fell short despite a late rally in the 2nd half. Twice European champions in the past, Wasps are certainly on the up again.
Toulon will face Leinster in the semifinals after Zane Kirchner’s side knocked out Francois Louw’s Bath in Dublin. The former Bulls back was called from the bench early on at the Aviva Stadium and nearly scored a try in the corner not long after his arrival.
Louw was typically ferocious for Bath, topping the tackling stats for the match with 13 as the Premiership side ran Leinster close at the end with England flyhalf George Ford in fine form.
Saracens’ South African contingent meanwhile face the ominous task of taking on Clermont in France, after the French club absolutely thrashed Northampton Saints 37 / 5 (they led 27 / 0 at halftime.)
Alastair Hargreaves was forced out of the quarterfinal in Colombes against Racing Métro but Petrus du Plessis and Jacques Burger started in the pack up against Francois van der Merwe and Antonie Claassen. A real scrap of a knockout contest ended in thrilling fashion, with Marcelo Bosch’s winning penalty sending Saracens through to the last 4.
Switching over to the Challenge Cup, Edinburgh will host Newport Gwent Dragons while Gloucester face Premiership rivals Exeter Chiefs in the semifinals.
Edinburgh defended valiantly to hold out their hosts London Irish on Sunday, triumphing 23 / 18 to book a home semifinal. WP Nel and Anton Bresler scrapped hard in the Edinburgh pack, with Nel being one of Edinburgh’s 2 try-scorers as the Exiles were denied.
The Dragons now travel to the Scottish capital after their success in the all-Welsh quarterfinal in Newport. Brok Harris anchored their scrum to hold off the Cardiff Blues threat late on.
Gloucester defeated Connacht and Exeter hammered Newcastle to set up the other last four encounter.
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