Powerful Perpignan clinch last four spot

TOULON boss Philippe Saint-André was left to rue his side’s inability to capitalise on a numerical advantage in Saturday’s 29-25 Heineken Cup quarter-final loss to Perpignan.

Twice Perpignan were reduced to 14 men in the first-half as locks Guillaume Vilaceca and Robins Tchale-Watchou were handed yellow cards.

But Toulon were unable to make the extra man count and ran out of steam in the last quarter as Perpignan came from behind to book their spot in the semi-finals against Northampton.

“We weren’t able to add speed to the game and score points when we were playing with 15 against 14,” said Saint-André.

“Actually, it was Perpignan who scored! We weren’t able to create more opportunities. The Catalans were the better side in the second-half and we lacked aggression in defence.”

The former Sale coach nevertheless saw a silver lining in his team’s first Heineken Cup campaign.

“This first experience in the European Cup has been exceptional. We knocked out Munster, the Ospreys and London Irish. A top team is built over a number of years. We’ve got experienced players but we lacked collective maturity.”

Perpignan had trailed by five going into the second-half but buoyed by the support of their regional Catalan fans did not disappoint the 55,000 crowd packed into the Olympic stadium.

“We fulfilled our dream of introducing rugby to Barcelona. We tried not to be overawed by the occasion, but we were weak at the beginning of the match and practically all the first half, but to our credit we knew how to channel our energies in the second half,” said Perpignan coach Jacques Brunel.

Scorers for Perpignan: P Freshwater, A Plante try each; J Porical 2 cons, 5 pens.

Scorers for Toulon: F Cibray, G Smith, J van Niekerk try each; J Wilkinson 2 cons, 2 pens.

PERPIGNAN: J Porical; A Plante, D Marty, J Grandclaude, J Candelon; N Laharrague, F Cazenave; J Schuster (P Freshwater, 47), G Guirado, N Mas (capt), G Vilaceca, R Tchale Watchou, B Guiry, D Chouly, H Tuilagi.

TOULON: R Lamont; R Wulf, G Messina (F Contepomi, 66), G Lovobalavu, C Loamanu (P Sackey 45); J Wilkinson, P Mignoni (F Cibray, 58); L Emmanuelli, S Bruno, D Kubriashvili, K Chesney, D Schofield (C Samson, 55), J Fernandez Lobbe, G Smith, J van Niekerk (capt, J El Abid 71).

Referee: A Rolland (Ireland).