RUGBY WRAP: French clubs dominate massive European rugby weekend

Toulouse edge Munster in dramatic penalty shootout

After 100 minutes of rugby couldn’t separate Munster and Toulouse in their Champions Cup quarter-final clash in Dublin on Saturday, the sides partook in just the second-ever penalty shootout in the 27-year history of the competition. In a match that showcased some outstanding moments of quality from both outfits, the final score was locked at 24-all after 80-minutes. In the 20-minutes of extra time, both teams attempted a number of drop goals, none of which hit the mark.

With six goal kicks set to decide the final outcome in the shootout, it was ultimately the French outfit who held their nerve to come away with a ticket to the semi-finals. It’s a strange way to end a rugby match, with many people taking to Twitter to voice their support for a “golden point” system instead, but ultimately it matters not.

Racing, La Rochelle fly the French flag; Leinster beat Tigers

Two more French outfits, La Rochelle and Racing 92, also triumphed in their respective Champions Cup quarter-finals to ensure three of the last four teams remaining in the competition are French. Ronan O’Gara’s men held off another Top 14 club, Montpellier, 31-19 at the Marcel Deflandre on Saturday, while Sunday saw a Finn Russell-inspired Racing 92 outlast Sale Sharks 41-22 at La Defense Arena.

Saturday also saw a much-hyped matchup between Premiership leaders Leicester and United Rugby Championship top dogs Leinster. In the end, Leo Cullen’s side’s 23-14 win proved that those doubting the competitiveness of the URC are wide of the mark — though it’s tough to argue against the Top 14 currently reigning supreme.

The semi-finals this weekend are Leinster vs Toulouse in Dublin on Saturday and Racing vs La Rochelle in Paris on Sunday. Strap in, folks.

No room for upsets in the Challenge Cup

The quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup saw wins for all the big names in a weekend that went largely as expected. Toulon, three-time Challenge Cup finalists, snuck past a dogged London Irish outfit 19-18 at the Felix Mayol on Saturday. The match was a fiery one, with Eben Etzebeth and Augustin Creevy getting into a proper scuffle, but the Top 14 side ultimately came out trumps. Lyon also came back from 14 points down against Glasgow on the same day to record a 35-27 win at the Matmut.

Friday saw Saracens blow fellow Prem team Gloucester out the water in a 44-15 rout at the Kingsholm, while Wasps saw off Edinburgh 34-30 in the Scottish capital on Sunday. The semi-finals this Saturday will see Lyon host Wasps and Toulon entertain Saracens.