CLERMONT BOOKED THEIR place in the semi-finals of the European Cup on Saturday by dispatching fellow French Top 14 foes Montpellier 36-14, while Saracens also advanced after beating Ulster 27-16.
Clermont will face the winner of Sunday’s quarter-final between Harlequins and Munster at Montpellier’s Stade de la Mosson on April 27 as they try to go a step further than last year’s semi-final defeat to eventual champions Leinster.
Three penalties from the boot of Benoit Paillaugue staked Montpellier to an early 9-3 lead but a first-half ankle injury sustained by fly-half Francois Trinh-Duc derailed the visitors with Wesley Fofana and Aurelien Rougerie touching down in quick succession to push Clermont 15-9 ahead at the break.
A sensational individual try from winger Sitiveni Sivivatu, who eluded five opposing players to cross the line after a 60-metre run, and a subsequent score from Lee Byrne then gave the hosts further breathing space.
Napolioni Nalaga became the fifth Clermont player to notch a try as he went over with five minutes remaining, while a late effort from Montpellier winger Timoci Nagusa gave the scoreline a slightly more respectable look.
Meanwhile, Ulster were brushed aside by Saracens at Twickenham with tries from Will Fraser and Chris Ashton as well as 17 points from England fly-half Owen Farrell.
Ruan Pienaar slotted over three penalties for Ulster, the second of which levelled the scores at 6-6 before Saracens responded with 13 unanswered points, also converting Iain Henderson’s late try in a losing cause.
Next up for Saracens will be an April 28 last-four clash at Twickenham against the winner of Sunday’s tie between Toulon and Leicester.
