Toulon 32
Wasps 18
TOULON SET UP a European rematch with Leinster by seeing off the threat of Wasps in today’s Champions Cup quarter-final.
The reigning champions defeated Matt O’Connor’s side 29 – 14 at Stade Felix Mayol in last season’s quarter-final, but will temporarily move their home to Marseille for the clash on Sunday 19 April (KO 15.15 Irish time).
Mathieu Bastareaud’s seventh minute crash underneath the posts was an ominous sign for the English visitors to the south of France. However, despite Freddy Michalak adding five penalties before the half-time whistle, the onslaught never really arrived from the richest club in Europe.
Two penalties from Alex Lozowski made Wasps’ half-time deficit 22- 6 and to their credit, they retained a belief that the back-to-back champs could be reeled in.
A brilliant try finished off by William Helu on 53 minutes made the score 22 – 13. And after that sweeping move off a left wing line-out the hosts were forced to dig deep to reawaken the accuracy that made the first half a landslide of penalties.
Michalak slotted his sixth penalty before Helu crossed the line a second time with eight minutes remaining. However, Ali Williams’ efforts to slow the ball in the build-up to that try went unpunished and Andy Goode’s conversion trailed wide leaving Wasps needing a third try to force extra time.
Instead, it was Toulon who found room to open their stride and the extra man they found when spinning the ball right across the Wasps 22 was Williams and the All Black crashed into the corner to push the result beyond the realm of doubt again.
Confirmed Champions Cup semi-finals (both KO 16.15 local time):
18 April, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, St Etienne: Clermont Auvergne v Saracens.19 April, Stade Vélodrome, Marseille: RC Toulon v Leinster.
