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Both RCT Toulon and Stade Francais Paris are aiming to go one step further this year by lifting the Amlin Challenge Cup after falling at the final hurdle in the last two seasons. - 26/04/2012 13:01
Both RCT Toulon and Stade Francais Paris are aiming to go one step further this year by lifting the Amlin Challenge Cup after falling at the final hurdle in the last two seasons.
Toulon, runners-up in 2010, host last year's losing finalists Stade Francais at Stade Felix Mayol on Friday in the first of two all-French semi-finals.
Toulon breezed through Pool 2 and romped past reigning champions Harlequins with an emphatic 37-8 victory at the beginning of the month to book their place in the last four. They also have a formidable home record with a 14-match winning sequence that stretches back to a 17-0 loss to Heineken Cup semi-finalists ASM Clermont Auvergne last September.
Toulon are desperate to make amends for their 28-21 loss in Marseilles to Cardiff Blues in the 2010 Amlin Challenge Cup final and hooker Sébastien Bruno reckons his side are peaking just at the right time.
“We have been playing particularly well in European games. We seem to play our best rugby in European competition,” said Bruno.
“Last year, in what was our first Heineken Cup campaign, we put in some good performances to beat Munster and the Ospreys at home and London Irish home and away and two years ago we reached the final of the Amlin Challenge Cup.”
Toulon boast a glittering array of stars with Joe van Niekerk, Jonny Wilkinson and Matt Giteau all in their starting line-up. But they will be without injured centre Mathieu Bastareaud, who wore the pink jersey of the Parisians in last season's Cardiff final.
Stade Francais remain unbeaten in the competition, but have made 11 changes to the side that edged past Exeter Chiefs at the quarter-finals.
Jerome Fillol captains the side from scrum-half while former Toulon flanker George Smith, who won 110 caps for Australia, lines-up in the unfamiliar position of centre against his former Wallabies team-mate Giteau.
Stade are under no illusions of the magnitude of their task in south-west France, but will be motivated by last season's heartbreak at the hands of Harlequins.They also realise that winning the Amlin Challenge Cup provides a direct route into the Heineken Cup.
“Toulon is probably one of the hardest places to go to in France win and, while obviously we play them in the Top 14 and know quite a bit about them, we know this Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final is certainly going to be a big ask for us,” said assistant coach Chris Whitaker.
“But it is definitely a game we want to win and definitely a game we are really focusing on winning because winning the Amlin gives you the opportunity to play in the next Heineken Cup.
“After going so close last year against Harlequins only to lose 19-18 we would love to win the tournament this year.”
C'est au terme d'un final haletant que Toulon a arraché cette si précieuse victoire face au Stade Français (32-29) grâce au pied de Jonny Wilkinson
A last-gasp drop goal from Jonny Wilkinson saw Toulon win a thrilling Amlin Challenge Cup semi-final with Stade Francais.
Wilkinson struck with just 45 seconds remaining to seal a 32-29 victory and secure Toulon a place in a Twickenham Stoop Final with either Biarritz Olympique or Brive on Friday, May 19.
With extra time on the cards at the Stade Felix Mayol, Wilkinson dropped into the pocket from fully 40 metres to finally put a stubborn Stade resistance to bed.
The visitors had led 19-11 at the break at 26-23 just after the hour-mark but it was Wilkinson’s composure right at the death that ensured Stade won’t be appearing in a second successive Amlin showpiece.
Toulon enjoyed a wonder start as Steffan Armitage crossed for a solo try inside the opening two minutes. The English openside, who picked up the Amlin Man of the Match award in the quarter-final thrashing of Harlequins, powered home from 25 metres after linking up with Pierrick Gunther and Sebastien Tillous Borde. Armitage produced a huge hand off on his way to the line to set Toulon on their way to what looked like being a comfortable victory.
But the remainder of the half went nearly all Stade’s way as they shocked their hosts with a Hugo Bonneval try and a sublime kicking display from Jules Plisson.
After Wilkinson’s touchline conversion had hit the left post protector, Stade hit back with the game 12 minutes old. A fine angled run from left wing Julien Arias sent Bonneval cruising over, with Plisson adding the simple extras to push the visitors 7-5 in front.
A Plisson penalty on the quarter of an hour mark and a 21st minute drop goal extended Stade’s lead 13-5 as the Toulon faithful fell eerily quiet.
Two more Plisson kicks were met by a brace from Wilkinson – the second right on the whistle – and it was Stade who entered the break by far the happier of the two teams.
But a hat-trick of penalties and a drop goal from Wilkinson inside the opening quarter of an hour of the second half swung the game dramatically in Toulon’s favour as Stade were continually pinged, much to the annoyance of coaches Michael Cheika and Mario Ledesma.
Just as it seemed as though Toulon were taking a grip on proceedings having moved into a 23-19 lead, Stade hit back with a wonderful try from centre Morgan Turinui. The Australian rounded a fine move that began with a switch of direction at the base of a scrum. Full back Bonneval and Arias were heavily involved before Turinui danced round towards the sticks.
Plisson’s conversion saw Stade move 26-23 ahead but another Wilkinson penalty brought Toulon level moments later.
Yet another Wilkinson three pointer edged Toulon ahead 29-26 with 13 minutes left but Plisson responded almost immediately with a well-taken drop goal.
Arias’ yellow card for pulling back Sebastien Bruno handed Toulon the initiative, though, and it was the hosts who finished the stronger. It took them time to find the winner but, when it eventually came, it was well worth the wait.
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