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When ERC created a new structure for the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals in 2009 it was to create mouth-watering matches like this one. No longer can anyone claim there is a gulf between the quality of contests in the knock-out stages of ERC's two European tournaments. - 05/04/2012 09:46
When ERC created a new structure for the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals in 2009 it was to create mouth-watering matches like this one. No longer can anyone claim there is a gulf between the quality of contests in the knock-out stages of ERC’s two European tournaments.
Toulon were Amlin Challenge Cup finalists in 2010, while Harlequins won the title last year for the third time. It truly is a battle of two of the current giants of European rugby. Everywhere you look there are high-level match-ups.
Jonny Wilkinson v Nick Evans would have been worth the entry fee alone, while Nick Easter clashing with Joe van Niekerk and Steffon Armitage in the back row is another of the great prospects. And what about Mathieu Bastareaud against Jordan Turner-Hall in the midfield – explosive!
Throw in Carl Hayman and Matt Giteau for Toulon, and Danny Care, Ugo Monye and Mike Brown for Quins, and you have all the ingredients for a world class contest at Stade Felix Mayol.
Toulon dropped only one game in qualifying from a Pool that contained Petrarca Padova, Lyon Rugby and Newcastle Falcons – a narrow defeat at a windswept Kingston Park against the Falcons. Unbeaten at home since 3 September – ASM Clermont Auvergne are the only team to win at Felix Mayol this season – Toulon will be backed by 14,500 fervent supporters as they try to take a step closer to a major title.
They haven’t lost a European encounter on home turf since falling to Northampton Saints in 2009, but English Premiership leaders Harlequins have proved they have no problem overcoming formidable opposition on the road.
They beat Munster at Thomond Park on the way to last year’s Amlin Challenge Cup final, Toulouse at Stade Ernest Wallon in this season’s Heineken Cup and only last week they toppled Saracens at Wembley in front of a world record club crowd of more than 82,000.
Harlequins director of rugby Connor O’Shea expects a full-blooded encounter in the south of France but admits his players are desperate to defend their crown after dropping down from the Heineken Cup.
“Toulon are a ferocious animal in their own back yard. We are massive underdogs going into this game – you just have to look at their record at home. The mood in camp is very good. We feel comfortable with where we are but we know the next challenge against Toulon is bigger than any we have faced,” said O’Shea..
“It’s an enormous game but there’s a home semi-final at the Stoop up for grabs. That’s huge for the players. They’re playing to defend the title which they took in such a hard manner last season.
“That meant so much to them and it would mean a lot again this year. But all of that is irrelevant as Toulon is as big a test as we’ve faced all year and it’s in a place which is tough for any team to get anything.”
Harlequins' hopes of becoming the first side to retain the Amlin Challenge Cup crown came to a crushing end with a 37-8 defeat at RC Toulon on Friday night. - 06/04/2012 21:41
Harlequins’ hopes of becoming the first side to retain the Amlin Challenge Cup crown came to a crushing end with a 37-8 defeat at RC Toulon on Friday night.
Jonny Wilkinson inspired the start-studded French outfit to a comprehensive and fully deserved win as he claimed 17 points in a faultless display with the boot despite being replaced two minutes into the second period.
Tries from Sebastien Tillous Borde, Benjamin Lapeyre and former London Irish flanker Steffon Armitage ensured Quins were unable to repeat December’s famous Heineken Cup triumph at Toulouse and set up a semi-final showdown with Stade Francais at The Stoop.
Toulon started brightly against a Quins side missing England skipper Chris Robshaw and star fly-half Nick Evans through injury at the Stade Felix Mayol, with Wilkinson striking as early as the fourth minute before hitting the target again in the eighth to hand the home side a 6-0 advantage.
While the Toulon faithful took note of the neon signs calling for quiet for the goal kickers when Wilkinson lined up a shot at the posts, they choose not to pay Rory Clegg the same level of respect. But the young No10 ignored the noise to get Quins on the board with a 10th-minute penalty.
Wilkinson continued to steal the show, though, with a further three beautifully struck kicks putting Toulon way out in front before the half hour.
The first came from the 15-metre line on the right of the pitch and fully 45 metres out to re-establish the six-point gap at 9-3 on 13 minutes.
The second arrived four minutes later as Quins were penalised for offside just five metres in from the right-hand touchline, while the third was from two metres inside the Quins half when Karl Dickson crept too far around the side of a scrum with 29 minutes gone.
Things got worse for Quins just three minutes later as Tillous Borde crossed for the game’s opening try. Giant centre Mathieu Bastareaud supplied the incisive burst, with his forward pack driving him onwards before the scrum-half burrowed through underneath the posts from the resulting ruck.
Wilkinson added the straightforward extras to leave Toulon with a 22-3 lead at half-time.
Quins began the second period in a far more encouraging fashion than the first and they twice came close to scoring inside the opening four minutes.
Mike Brown was brought down just two metres short moments after the restart before Quins fell foul of the TMO two minutes later.
Prop Mark Lambert powered towards the line as Quins looked to reduce the gap but TV replays showed he had been held up by more than one Toulon defender.
Quins’ task got even harder on 49 minutes when James Johnston was yellow carded for punching following the break up of a scrum just inside his own half and Australian playmaker Matt Giteau effectively put the game beyond them when he slotted a penalty after 51 minutes.
Toulon then added a second try seven minutes later as full back Lapeyre sliced through from close range after Giteau had switched direction and blindside flanker Pierrick Gunther had produced a wonderful offload.
Giteau knocked over the simple conversion to make it 32-3 with still more than a quarter of the game remaining and man-of-the-match Armitage picked up the try his impressive showing deserved when he drove over from a lineout deep in Quins territory with seven minutes left to play.
Danny Care claimed a late consolation after slipping through two tackles having taken a quick tap penalty on 77 minutes but it was far too little too late for the Aviva Premiership leaders.
Toulon now march on to the last four, where they will have home advantage against a Stade side they beat here on the Cote D’Azur earlier in the Top 14 season.
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