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RC Toulon No.8 Sergio Parisse
RC Toulon have been handed a chance to avenge their comprehensive 30-12 EPCR Challenge Cup final loss to Lyon last season when they welcome their TOP 14 rivals to Stade Félix Mayol in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
The three-time Heineken Champions Cup winners were bidding to add a first Challenge Cup trophy to their cabinet, but for the fourth successive time they fell at the final hurdle.
For Lyon, it was their first EPCR honour and their first victory over Toulon in the competition at the third attempt after two pool defeats in the 2011/12 season.
This season they began in the Heineken Champions Cup but dropped back into the EPCR Challenge Cup after winning only one of their Pool A games.
Toulon, by contrast, stormed through the group stage of the Challenge Cup, topping Pool A by three points after winning all four of their games, and followed that achievement by defeating Toyota Cheetahs 36-21 in the Round of 16, when Lyon triumphed 41-24 at Stade Français Paris.
The game kicks off at 12:30 UK and Irish time, and can be watched on France TV, beIN SPORTS, BT Sport, SuperSport and FloRugby.
One of the best tries any #ChallengeCupRugby Final has seen 🤩@LeLOURugby claimed the 2022 finale, but will @RCTofficiel get revenge in this year's QF?#ThrowbackThursday to that epic showpiece ➡️ https://t.co/J6OoEfTUUY pic.twitter.com/q4UYtpwGf7
— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) April 6, 2023
RC Toulon
- Jiuta Wainiqolo has made more offloads than any other player in the EPCR Challenge Cup (11), including five in the last round.
- Sergio Parisse has disrupted the most opposition rucks in the competition (19).
- Toulon won more turnovers than any other team last weekend (13).
Lyon
- Lyon’s rate of tackle dominance is an unrivalled 12%.
- They also have the highest rate of tackle success of any team left in the competition (93%).
- Lyon had the highest rate of gain-line success in the Round of 16 (70%).
Toulon's Jiuta Wainiqolo dotted down twice against Lyon
RC Toulon powered into the EPCR Challenge Cup semi-finals with an emphatic 48-23 win over reigning champions Lyon at the Stade Félix Mayol on Saturday.
Jiuta Wainiqolo (2), Teddy Baubigny, Dany Priso, Waisea Vuidravuwalu, Charles Ollivon and Aymeric Luc were the hosts’ try scorers, Ihaia West kicking 11 points.
Lyon were well beaten at their TOP 14 rivals – who they defeated in last season’s EPCR Challenge Cup final – but got over for two second-half scores, through Baptiste Couilloud and Toby Arnold.
Space identified 🎯
Wainiqolo in play ⭐️
Footrace activated 🏃A beautiful try from @RCTofficiel, they’re back in front! 🔥#ChallengeCupRugby pic.twitter.com/8c8EP0e6qO
— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) April 8, 2023
Lyon won the battle of the opening stages as two Lima Sopoaga penalties saw them in front, fly-half West responding with one for Toulon as the game lacked any clear try-scoring opportunities.
But the hosts would provide the first score on 29 minutes when Baptise Serin took a penalty quickly and kicked forward for wing Wainiqolo to streak through and dot down.
Two tries from lineout mauls in the final minutes of the first half then put Toulon in command at the break, with hooker Baubigny crossing before prop Priso crashed over.
Lyon fans… look away now 🫣
An unlucky kick hands @RCTofficiel’s Aymeric Luc the try 🔥#ChallengeCupRugby pic.twitter.com/sTpnz2iarh
— EPCR Challenge Cup (@ChallengeCup_) April 8, 2023
Toulon’s big runners continued to cause Lyon problems after the restart, with centre Vuidravuwalu powering over from close range on 49 minutes before flanker Ollivon cruised in shortly after.
Replacement scrum-half Couilloud darted across the whitewash to provide Lyon’s first try of the afternoon on 61 minutes, but Toulon hit back as Wainiqolo was sent over in the corner with ease for his second try.
Lyon full-back Arnold grabbed a second score for the visitors when he muscled over on 71 minutes, but Lyon capped their impressive display when wing Luc profited from a mistake by Thibaut Regard late on.
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