French giants face must win Euro matches - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

French giants face must win Euro matches

20/01/2011 01:49:02 PM Comments (0)

French rugby giants Biarritz and Perpignan have reached three European Cup finals between them but this weekend they both need to win their last respective pool matches to be assured of reaching the last eight.

Two of their fellow Top 14 sides, four-time European champions Toulouse and debutants Toulon have already secured their places, along with two other previous champions Leinster and Northampton leaving four places up for grabs on the final weekend.

Two-time losing finalists Biarritz did themselves no favours last weekend losing 9-6 to 1999 champions Ulster, with both sides going into Saturday's matches tied on 17 points.

Ulster have not made the quarter-finals since the year they won it and are away to Italian side Aironi, who pulled off the upset of the pool when they defeated Biarritz.

Biarritz have a tough clash as they host English side Bath, who still entertain hopes of reaching the quarter-finals by topping the group, but, they would have to beat their hosts with a bonus point and hope Aironi defeat Ulster.

Victories for both Biarritz and Ulster would see both go through with one of them taking one of the two best runners-up spots.

Perpignan host Llanelli and it remains to be seen if the home side will give something extra for coach Jacques Brunel, who is heading to Italy at the of the season.

Brunel, who was assistant French coach from 2001-2007 which saw them reach two World Cup semi-finals losing both times to England, said that he had no intention of leaving on a flat note.

"Thus far this part of the story has been a beautiful one and I want it to finish well," said Brunel, who guided Perpignan to the 2009 Top 14 titles before losing to Clermont in last year's final.

"I want it to end on a high in accordance with the level of the players here. Another part of the adventure takes place with the European Cup match on Sunday."

Scarlets too still have hopes of reaching the last eight and victory in France would suffice at their hosts expense and salvage something for Welsh pride which has taken a battering with Ospreys, Dragons and Cardiff Blues all failing to reach the quarter-finals.

The winners of that match should join Leicester in the last eight, as the two-time winners should run out easy winners over visitors Treviso and that pool could well provide the other best runner-up.

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