Lyon have reached the French Top 14 semi-finals for the first time despite drawing 19-19 with favourites Toulon, advancing courtesy of scoring two tries to their opponents’ one.
The extra-time win against the three-time European champions gave Lyon a semi-final clash against Montpellier next weekend.
Toulon led 13-6 and then 19-16 in extra-time before New Zealand-born Australian international fly-half Mike Harris booted his third penalty of the match seven minutes from the end to secure the draw and victory.
“To come here to the Stade Mayol and win, it’s incredible,” said Lyon coach Pierre Mignoni whose side were only promoted to the top flight two years ago. “I said to the players that we had everything to win, even if journalists said we had nothing to lose.”
Lyon had lost 39-11 to Toulon on the same ground in the regular season in December, an occasion that Mignoni described as his team being “in a hole”.
Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe has retired.
— Paul Tait (@Argentina_2027) May 19, 2018
Final game was last night, 71 mins for Toulon vs Lyon.
Played in 3 RWCs
2 time RWC Semi Finalist
Puma 2004-2015
71 caps
Argentina captain
Top 14 Winner 2014
Champions Cup Winner 2013, 2014, 2015
Sale Sharks Captain
“We were on a run of defeats then after a good start to the season but I always knew we’d qualify [for the play-offs]. We could have sunk but the players all worked very hard.”
Toulon skipper Mathieu Bastareaud was left heartbroken after another fruitless season for the big-spending club, whose last Top 14 title came in 2014.
They were runners-up in the last two seasons while this year’s European Champions Cup campaign ended in a quarter-final loss to Munster.
“It’s a huge disappointment, it’s sad and very frustrating,” said the French centre. “We had lots of chances but couldn’t take them. It’s a bad season. The club has ambitions to win titles but again we have won nothing.”
WATCH: Toulon's Chris Ashton dropped two sitters with the try line begging during the first half of their Top 14 quarter-final against Lyon: https://t.co/2bHOnOsUCj pic.twitter.com/rxaDRD9s57
— Sky Sports Rugby (@SkySportsRugby) May 18, 2018
In the other elimination match an impressive Castres overcame Jody Jenneker’s sending off to win 23-11 at Toulouse and secure their place in the semi-finals.
South African hooker Jenneker saw red in the 60th minute for his aggressive response to Maxime Medard’s swinging arm, but the visitors held on to book a date with Racing 92.
