Toulon and Leinster, who between them have won the last four European Cup titles, will have a Sunday semi-final showdown in Marseille to determine who will be at Twickenham on May 2 looking for another prestigious European crown.
Last year’s winners Toulon, bidding to become the first to win three successive titles, and three-times European Cup champions Leinster will clash at the Stade Vélodrome after coming through their quarter-final clashes.
On a weekend when three of the four quarter-final ties went with home advantage, Saracens won on the road at Racing Metro 92 in a drama-packed climax to book their place against Clermont Auvergne at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in St Etienne, a new tournament venue.
While Saracens had a last-gasp penalty by Marcelo Bosch to thank for a 12-11 success in Paris, it was the boot of Ian Madigan that took Leinster through with six out of six in an 18-15 Aviva Stadium win over Bath.
There were plenty of tries in the other quarter-finals with Clermont crushing English Premiership champions Northampton Saints 37-5 and Toulon beating Wasps 32-18.
Both semi-finals have recent history as the St Etienne tie is a repeat of last season’s semi-final, which Saracens won 46-6 at Twickenham, while Toulon beat Leinster 29-14 in the 2014 quarter-finals.
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP SEMI-FINALS:
Saturday, April 18 –
Clermont Auvergne v Saracens, Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, St Etienne, 4.15pm local time
Sunday, April 19 –
Toulon v Leinster, Stade Vélodrome, Marseille, 4.15pm local time/3.15pm Irish time
TOULON v LEINSTER – TICKETS ON SALE NOW
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS CUP FINAL:
Saturday, May 2 –
Clermont Auvergne/Saracens v Toulon/Leinster, Twickenham, 5pm
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