Brive’s Caminati out of Euro clash

MUNSTER’S Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-final opponents, Brive, eased their Top 14 relegation worries with a 26-9 win over La Rochelle at Stade Amédée-Domenech on Saturday.

Tries from France international wing Alexis Palisson, and hookers Jean-Phillipe Bonrepaux and Benoit Cabello secured the win which moves them nine points clear of the relegation zone with just three games remaining.

However Brive are expected to be without full back Julien Caminati for the clash with Tony McGahan’s side.

The 25-year-old had to be put on a respirator and spent Saturday night in hospital after receiving a blow to the chest that broke his ribs in the 63rd minute.

Heineken Cup champions Toulouse bounced back from last weekend’s heavy defeat at Racing Metro to defeat a heavily-depleted Perpignan 24-25 at Stade Aimé Giral.

Tries from Jean Bouilhou and Yannick Nyanga were enough to see off the Catalan challenge but the win was tempered by another serious injury to scrum half Frederic Michalak, who could miss the remainder of the season.

Biarritz, Toulouse’s opponents in next weekend Heineken Cup quarter-final at San Sebastian, suffered a heavy 41-13 defeat away to Clermont Auvergne at Stade Marcel Michelin. The Basque side rested France internationals Imanol Harinordoquy and Dimitri Yachvilli for the trip to Clermont-Ferrand and found themselves 22-0 down after just 18 minutes before a Magnus Lund try gave the visitors hope. Clermont and France prop Thomas Domingo went off early in the second half after rupturing his knee ligaments and could be a doubt for the World Cup.

Toulon, Perpignan’s opponents in the other all-French Heineken quarter-final, hammered Michael Cheika’s Stade Francais side 38-10 at Stade Mayol.

Controversial Wales international Gavin Henson marked his first appearance for the club with a try, and 18 points from the boot of England fly-half Jonny Wilkinson was enough to inflict the Parisians’ heaviest defeat of the season.