Toulouse hooker Peato Mauvaka says last season’s painful Investec Champions Cup exit still burns.
The French giants, however, are ready to settle the score against in Sunday’s quarter-final against Bordeaux-Bègles.
Mauvaka missed that dramatic encounter through injury – along with superstar scrumhalf Antoine Dupont – as Bordeaux stunned the six-time champions on their way to a maiden European crown.
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“We weren’t lucky enough to play that match,” Mauvaka told AFP. “Seeing your mates losing that semi-final, it was heart-breaking for us. We can’t wait for this weekend.”
Both sides booked their places in the quarter-finals in emphatic fashion. Toulouse hammered the Bristol Bears in the last 16, while Bordeaux followed up by thrashing the Leicester Tigers a day later.
The rivalry between the two clubs has intensified in recent seasons, with Toulouse lifting the Champions Cup in 2024 before Bordeaux claimed the title a year later.
Bordeaux also had the upper hand in their most recent meeting, running out 44-20 winners in the Top 14 last month.
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While the spotlight will inevitably fall on attacking stars such as Dupont and Bordeaux flyer Louis Bielle-Biarrey, Mauvaka believes the real battle will be decided up front.
“The game at their place three weeks ago, the score was heavy but if you watch the game in details, there was a battle up front,” he said. “Especially in the first half. We blew up a bit in the second half.
“It’s part of the work we have to do, to stay in the game, it promises to be war.”
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Elsewhere, the Northampton Saints travel to face Johann van Graan’s Bath in the first all-English Champions Cup quarter-final since 2020.
Saints director of rugby Phil Dowson welcomed the clash between two Premiership heavyweights.
“I think it’s good for the game,” said Dowson. “It’s good for the Saints to be in that position, to be mixing it on these stages.
“We know the power of Bath as a club and that’s something that we enjoy competing with.”
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Meanwhile, Toulon will travel to face the Glasgow Warriors without veteran centre Ma’a Nonu, who has been banned for three weeks following a high tackle in last weekend’s win over the Stormers.
Four-time champions Leinster host Sale Sharks as they chase a sixth straight Champions Cup semi-final appearance.
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Investec Champions Cup quarter-finals (SA times)
Friday, 10 April
Bath vs Northampton Saints (9pm)
Saturday, 11 April
Glasgow Warriors vs Toulon (4pm)
Leinster vs Sale Sharks (6:30pm)
Sunday, 12 April
Bordeaux Bègles vs Toulouse (4pm)
– AFP
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