Leinster and Perpignan advanced to the semi-finals of the Heineken Cup on Saturday with victories over Toulon and Leicester as home advantage told yet again in Europe’s premier club competition.
In a repeat of the 2009 final, the Irish side again came out top 17-10 in Dublin’s new Aviva Stadium, while Perpignan beat Toulon 29-25 in Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium.
Leinster had the better of a scrappy but hugely physical first half and three Jonathan Sexton penalties to one by Toby Flood put them 9-3 ahead at the break.
Two-times champions Leicester were denied a try at the start of the second half when Alesana Tuilagi was ruled to have just gone into touch in the act of scoring.
Instead it was Leinster who crossed the line first with a classic score by fullback Isa Nacewa.
He threw two dummies during a jinking 35m run, then rolled brilliantly out of a tackle to open a 14-3 lead 10 minutes into the second half.
Sexton added another penalty and replacement hooker Rob Hawkins’ 77th-minute try for the visitors came too late as Leinster advanced to a home country semi-final with either Biarritz or holders Toulouse, who were to meet yesterday in a repeat of last year’s final.
In Saturday’s all-French clash, Perpignan recovered from a five-point halftime deficit and two first-half yellow cards.
Toulon led 11-6 following a tense first half in front of 55,000 fans after George Smith charged down Nicolas Laharrague for the opening try in the closing minute.
Winger Adrien Plante got his side’s first try to edge Perpignan ahead after 51 minutes.
Toulon, in their debut season in the Heineken Cup, hit back quickly with a try by captain Joe van Niekerk, which Jonny Wilkinson converted to put them 18-16 ahead.
Perpignan began to exert more pressure though and eased clear with two more Jerome Porical penalties before replacement prop Perry Freshwater powered over for the killer try nine minutes from time.
Fabien Cibray crossed for Toulon in the final moments, but it is Perpignan, runners-up in 2003, who go on to meet either Northampton or Ulster, who were to play yesterday.
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