Australian Brock James has guided his French Top 14 rugby side Clermont to victory over titleholders Toulouse in a semi-final on Friday.

The 19-9 win could be seen as revenge for Clermont, who lost last year's final to Toulouse 26-20.

It means James's team, which has never won the French title despite nine final appearances, will face the winner of Saturday's semi-final between Perpignan and Ewen McKenzie's Stade Francais in Lyon.

James, the Top 14's leading scorer, opened the scoring with a penalty in the second minute before crossing the line for the only try of the game in the 11th minute, which he successfully converted.

Clermont went into the break 13-9 up after Benoit Baby had added a further penalty, with Toulouse's points all coming from the boot of James' opposite number, Jean-Baptiste Elissalde.

In the second half both James and Baby added two further penalties to seal a great night and put them one game away from ending a century of heartache in the French first division.

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