HEINEKEN CUP QUARTER-FINALS: Biarritz 20 Toulouse 27: HOLDERS TOULOUSE kept their dreams of back-to-back continental crowns alive as they won an epic, extra-time encounter in San Sebastian.
The four-time winners held their nerve to triumph at the Estadio Anoeta, ensuring they remain on course to become the first team since 2001 and 2002 winners Leicester Tigers to secure successive titles.
Guy Noves’ men will now take on Leinster thanks to replacement Yannick Nyanga’s last-gasp try with just a minute of extra-time left to play.
The replacement flanker charged down a Dimitri Yachvili clearance with the scores tied at 20 after another incredible all-French affair.
Toulouse had seemed to be cruising to a last-four place after first-half tries from Cedric Heymans and Maxime Medard had seen them race into a 17-0 half-time lead.
But Biarritz hit back to level affairs at 17-17 by the end of normal time thanks to the boot of Yachvili and a late, late try from Llikena Bolakoro.
The flying wing touched down with the last play of the game, leaving Yachvili with a touchline conversion to seal a heroic home comeback.
But the France scrumhalf pulled his effort narrowly wide from the left-hand corner, allowing the champions to breathe again.
David Skerla and Yachvilli traded penalties in the two extra 10-minute periods, but Toulouse’s better try count left Biarritz needing an extra score to progress.
With just moments remaining in the pouring rain, Yachvili saw his hack downfield charged down by Nyanga, who picked up unopposed to score the winning try.
BIARRITZ:Balshaw; Ngwenya, Bosch, Gimenez, Bolakoro; Peyrelongue, Yachvili; Coetzee, Terrain, Marconnet; Thion, E Lund; M Lund, Harinordoquy, Lakafia. Replacements: Afoa for Coetzee (71), Guinazu for Terrain (91), Johnstone for Marconnet (57), Lauret for Lakafia (74).
TOULOUSE: Heymans; Clerc, Fritz, Poitrenaud, Medard; Skrela, Bezy; Human, Servat, Johnston; Millo-Chluski, Albacete; Bouilhou, Nicolas, Picamoles. Replacements: Jauzion for Poitrenaud (91), Doussain for Bezy (95), Poux for Human (53), Montes for Johnston (68), Maestri for Millo-Chluski (55), Nyanga for Nicolas (37). Sinbin: Fritz (70).
Referee: Wayne Barnes (RFU).
WILKINSON AND TOULON FAIL TO MAKE BREAKTHROUGH
PERPIGNAN 29 TOULON 25
PERPIGNAN DASHED Jonny Wilkinson’s hopes of playing in a first Heineken Cup semi-final after beating their arch-rivals in Barcelona on Saturday
Wilkinson kicked four from five attempts but failed to inspire his team in both his, and the club’s, first appearance in the last eight of Europe’s top club competition.
Instead it was another England international, former Test prop Perry Freshwater, who was the hero of the game, scoring Perpignan’s winning try 10 minutes from time.
Toulon outscored their opponents three tries to two following scores from George Smith, Joe van Niekerk and a late consolation effort by Fabien Cibray.
But they failed to capitalise on their first-half domination during which Perpignan were twice reduced to 14 men following yellow cards.
The Catalans turned the tables after the break through Adrien Plante and the boot of Jerome Porical, before Freshwater’s score capped an impressive second-half display by the 2003 cup finalists.
A record crowd for a Heineken Cup quarter-final of 55,000 basked in the sunshine within Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium to vindicate Perpignan’s decision to take their home tie to the Catalan capital.
