Champions Toulouse withstood a fightback from last year’s finalists Biarritz to win a thrilling all-French European Cup quarter-final 27-20 after extra time in San Sebastian in Spain on Sunday.
Despite Toulouse leading 17-0 at halftime, Biarritz leveled 17-17 to ensure the tie went into extra time before last year’s winners set up a semi-final rematch with Leinster who beat Leicester 17-10 in Dublin on Saturday.
It will be the tenth semi-final appearance for Toulouse who will play the Irish side on April 30 after ousting the 2009 champions at the same stage of the competition last season on the way to their fourth title.
“Against a rival of this quality the players showed enormous self-denial and extraordinary will to succeed,” Toulouse manager Guy Noves said.
A try from substitute flanker Yannick Nyanga in the final minutes of extra time allowed Toulouse to snatch the victory.
Toulouse had gotten off to a perfect start under the driving rain in the Anoeta Stadium in northern Spain where Biarritz had lost just once in the European Cup.
“Nothing went right in the first half, we were forced to waste a lot of energy,” Biarritz president Serge Blanco said. “I think we showed we had pride and courage.”
Toulouse’s perfect first half included tries from Cedric Heymans and Maxime Medard, converted by David Skrela and Nicolas Bezy, with Bezy also kicking a penalty.
However, forwards coach Yannick Bru admitted that the “dream” start turned to a “nightmare.”
Hampered by the wind and the sin-binning of Florian Fritz, Toulouse were overrun by Biarritz with Dimitri Yachvili kicking four penalties and Ilikena Bolakoro touching down two minutes from time.
Both sides scored penalties in extra-time through Skrela and Yachvili before Nyanga’s match winner.
Earlier Northampton beat Ulster 23-13 in Milton Keynes to set up a final four showdown with Perpignan who saw off Toulon 29-25 in Barcelona on Saturday.
Northampton got off to a blistering start, taking advantage of early Ulster nerves with Soane Tonga’uiha touching down a try after just two minutes.
The Tongan prop steamrollered his way down the middle and stretched his right arm over the line to slam down with Stephen Myler converting.
However, Ulster launched a series of attacks with Andrew Trimble finally touching down and Ian Humphreys’ boot ensuring the Irish led 10-13 at halftime.
A Myler penalty leveled proceedings 13-13 with half an hour to go and 10 minutes later the Saints were ahead when Lee Dickson scored the decisive try.
A further Myler penalty put Northampton ten points ahead, as he accounted for 13 of his side’s points, to ensure Northampton will return to Milton Keynes for their game against Perpignan.
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