Paris (AFP)

We meet once again.

In one week, Clermont and Toulouse will compete for a place in the last four of the European Rugby Cup, after their success on Saturday against Wasps and Munster, respectively, and join La Rochelle also qualified for the quarterfinals.

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Toulouse affirms its status

The Toulouse Stadium is tough.

The proof?

The Red and Black have passed forty points to Munster (40-33) at Thomond Park, where no one has won in Europe since 2015 (fifteen wins, one draw).

An "XXL performance", according to Toulouse manager Ugo Mola, and "an almost perfect match" for Romain Ntamack, which allow the Haut-Garonnais to qualify for the twentieth European quarter-final in their history.

Where they will find Clermont for a revenge of the last final of the Top 14. They can say thank you to their French internationals, Antoine Dupont, Romain Ntamack and Julien Marchand, all decisive, who return at the right time.

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Clermont stunning

A last-minute try by Kotaro Matsushima, transformed by Camille Lopez, sent Clermont to the quarterfinals.

Because the Auvergnats came back from nowhere to get their ticket in front of the Wasps (27-25) ...

Dominated, too clumsy, the Jaunards finished strong.

They only led in the score for seven minutes: between the 18th and 24th minutes and then at the last second.

"It's nice to see the group go looking for resources like that, in the last seconds, not giving up. That's what I said in the locker room, the story is beautiful and, to win something, he We have to suffer! We have found deep resources to seek victory, "said Clermont coach Franck Azéma.

ASM will therefore find Toulouse, which has not beaten it at the Marcel-Michelin stadium since 2002 (15 wins, one draw), for a quarter-final 100% made in Top 14.

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Lyon, it's no

To the experience.

Lyon paid to learn against Exeter (47-25), reigning European champion.

The LOU played his luck for a long time, even leading 17-5 in the 18th minute, on the field of the Chiefs.

But the pillar Vivien Devisme collected a yellow card (20th) and the English accelerated, to take the lead at the break (26-20).

A new yellow card for the other pillar Xavier Chiocci (58th) and the Lyonnais ended up cracking, leaving Exeter to take off, just to sign his sixth success in a row against formations of the Top 14. The teammates of Stuart Hogg will receive the Irish from Leinster in the quarterfinals in a week.

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Black anger on green carpet

Friday will have been half fig, half grape for French rugby: if La Rochelle offered Gloucester (27-16), Toulon fell in front of the Irish of Leinster.

Without playing, the fault of the pandemic.

Reminder of the facts: Wednesday, a positive case is detected in the first line of the Var;

Thursday, the player does not make the trip to Ireland, where new tests are requested, all ultimately negative;

Friday, a few hours before kick-off, the EPCR "cancels the round of 16" before formalizing "the qualification of Leinster".

Result, a new controversy between the organizers and the Toulon club.

"We are disgusted. There is a feeling of disgust. We are treated anyhow ...", whispered President Bernard Lemaître.

The Var boss is considering claiming compensation from the EPCR, deploring an empty trip and more than 250,000 euros, including the privatized plane and hotel.

Worse, the RCT, crowned in 2013, 2014 and 2015, is thinking of no longer engaging in the European Cup.

"It is no longer a competition that motivates us."

Sunday, Racing 92 receives Edinburgh while Bordeaux-Bègles challenges Bristol to expand the French contingent in quarters.

© 2021 AFP