Northampton joined Irish heavyweights Leinster in the final of the Heineken Cup on Sunday as both French squads crashed out of European rugby's flagship competition.
Every Monday, "Le Sportcast" brings you the latest news in French sports. In this first edition, we look at Ligue 1 club upsets at the French Cup, the European campaign for Top 14 clubs and French failures at the Australian Open.
Biarritz full-back Iain Balshaw scored two tries against Bath on Saturday to ensure that last season's runners-up qualified from the group stage of the Heineken Cup.
Toulon fought off a second-half challenge by London Irish to secure a bonus win and move to the top of a fiercely contested Group 3 ahead of Munster, who fell to Welsh side Ospreys.
Munster showed Heineken Cup newcomers Toulon no mercy on Saturday, scoring six tries in a 45-18 rout at Thomond Park. Earlier, Racing Metro picked up their first tournament win with a 16-9 defeat of French champions Clermont Auvergne.
Three-time winner of the Heineken Cup, Stade Toulouse will be seeking a fourth title against former French rival Biarritz Olympique, Saturday at the Stade de France.
Biarritz defeated Ireland’s Munster Sunday 18-7 to join Toulouse in the European Cup final. The all-French match is set for 22 May in Paris’s Stade de France.
Toulouse crushed French rivals Stade Francais 42-16 on Sunday to set-up a Heineken Cup semi-final clash against holders Leinster, who advanced with a 29-28 win over French side Clermont on Friday.
