Clermont Auvergne 29-9 Toulon: Clermont to face Leinster in Champions Cup semi-finals
By Tony Tighe
Last Updated: 02/04/17 5:37pm
Clermont Auvergne will face Leinster in the Champions Cup semi-finals after they powered to a 29-9 win over Toulon.
Noa Nakaitaci's 61st-minute try was the decisive score in a dour contest at Stade Marcel Michelin where the wet conditions made it impossible to play free-flowing rugby.
The sides were tied at 9-9 when two big carries from Remi Lamerat brought Clermont to within metres of the tryline, and after a flurry of pick and drives drew in defenders, Fritz Lee and Camille Lopez combined to put France winger Nakaitaci over in the corner.
Morgan Parra kicked 16 points for the victors with Lopez slotting a drop goal, while replacement Damien Penaud put the gloss on a first European win over Toulon when Nick Abendanon sent him racing down the touchline in the game's final play.
Clermont will now face Leinster in Lyon's Matmut Stadium on the weekend of April 22/23, with the game broadcast live on Sky Sports.
The teams couldn't be separated during a forgettable first half as the wet ball made it difficult to build phases.
Parra and Leigh Halfpenny exchanged penalties at the sides retreated to the dressing rooms level at 6-6, although the Wales full-back did miss two kicks from in front of the posts that you would normally expect him to convert.
Parra put Clermont back in front on 45 minutes but Halfpenny responded when Lopez conceded his second ruck penalty of the afternoon.
However, Lopez atoned for gifting Halfpenny six points when his pass put Nakaitaci over in the corner, and he followed it up with a drop goal.
Parra kicked his fourth penalty with two minutes remaining and Clermont gave the scoreline a more one-sided look from the final play when Fritz Lee stole the ball at a ruck and Abendanon put Penaud away.